Good Bye Summer, Hello Green Chile!!

Well, it is time to say good-bye to summer even though technically summer doesn't end until Sept. 21st, but in Santa Fe, one begins to know it is Fall by the smell of Green Chile roasting throughout the city. It is exciting to see the roasters in the parking lots of grocery stores... the first sign of Fall. I am always sad to see summer end but I must admit that I love Fall in Santa Fe...something I never quite experienced living in CA. The weather gets cooler and the leaves change to red, yellow and orange. The Aspens begin to turn and it is a beautiful sight to take a drive up to the basin and see the Aspens first hand. Their golden leaves are amazing!!

Saturday, Gene and I got up early and went to the produce market to buy our bag of green chile, and Ziplock Freezer bags. We were so excited to be able to get our chile so we can bag it and load up the freezer with quart size bags of peeled green chile. It was an all day production, but we managed to get 30 bags done! Gene's eyes were dancing with excitement as our bag of chile was being roasted! He was so happy to have his green chile for the season... We were down to 1 bag from last years batch so we knew it was time to load up the freezer for the year.

I must admit that I enjoy the flavor of green chile. I am not a chile eater, but I do like the taste of green chile. When the cold hits I bring out the ever famous "Crock Pot" (Andrew cringes when I bring out the crock pot) and make green chile stew, pot roast with green chile and whatever concoction I can think of... Gene will make his famous green chili chicken enchilada casserole from time to time and is it ever yummy! Comfort food is in order for Fall and especially Winter around here. It is nice to come in from the cold and have a warm meal ready to gobble up and warm up them bones.

So, good-bye summer... I am going to miss wearing my capri pants, slipping on my sandals, and wearing light cotton blouses. Time to bring out the long pants, light sweaters, and my closed toe shoes... But I feel a bit better saying good-bye to summer because just knowing I have green chile in my freezer makes things look a whole lot brighter!!


The best green chile comes from Hatch, NM... Green Chile capitol of the world!



Bags of green chile waiting to be roasted... this year we got medium-hot.


Our bag of green chile getting fired up for a tumble in the roaster.



Our bag of green chile getting roasted... the smell is fabulous!!



Gene carrying our roasted chile to the car! We could not wait to get it home, let it cool a bit so we could start peeling it, bag it and then freeze it.

Does wine and coffee mix??!!!

You know you are having it rough when at 10:00 a.m. your asking yourself, "Is it to early to have a glass of wine?" I was out of Baily's Irish Creme to add to my coffee and the only alcohol I had in the house was a bottle of Merlot. I pondered for awhile, "Could I add wine into my cup of coffee?"

This morning Andrew and I had a an appointment at the photography studio for his senior picture... my first question was, "A consultation?" We walked into the studio and Denise greeted us with a smile and walked us into a small room to share a digital presentation about their photo studio. We saw a small presentation video that last approx. 5 minutes and then she moved us to another area of the studio. Mind you, I am still fuzzy about the consultation. Anyhoo, Andrew and I sat there with Denise as she explained to various poses that Andrew can have and what he should wear, what were his hobbies, what was his favorite color, etc, etc, etc... I finally asked her, "Denise, what type of packages do you offer?" She looked at me like I was speaking in tongue and then said, "We do not offer packages. We have selections." Selections?! I knew right then and there I was going to have to sell Andrew in order to buy these Senior Selections!!! The cheapest "SELECTION" which is an 8 x 10 with a border and 5 shots of Andrew in various poses is priced at $325!!!! My head started spinning, my eyes began to cross and then my mouth went dry.

All of a sudden, my mother flashed into my head and I went back in time to 1980 when I was taking my senior pictures and my mother said, "Buy the cheapest package Sylvia!!!" I remember going in with my friends to take my pictures. It was held at school in the old Art Room. I took a picture in my cap and gown, one in a blue fur drape, and then one in an outfit of my choice. That was it!!! The package I chose was $25 and my mother still thought that was too expensive. Now we have SELECTIONS!! I just couldn't believe my ears! What a scam! I told Denise that we had to think about it and I would get back to her about my decision.

As Andrew and I drove away we were both silent in the car. I broke the silence and said to him, "What in the world was that all about?!" I told him maybe we should consider going to Sears to take his pictures... he did not find any humor in my comment and did not respond. We made it home and I found my way to the coffee maker. I poured my coffee into my favorite mug and thought... "Hmmm... does wine and coffee mix?" I am still in shock about the cost of those pictures and realize that this is just the beginning of Andrew's Senior Year.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom Helen's birthday and needless to say, she is on my mind from the moment I woke up. I got up, poured a cup of coffee, lit my candle near her picture, and just sat on the couch thinking of her. She would have been 72 years old.

I miss my mom very much and there are days that it seems like she has been gone a lifetime and then there are days it seems like she has been gone since yesterday. I can't get past the "It was God's will" as of yet, because the daughter in me wants her here with her daughters and grandchildren... each time I go home to CA and watch my niece's Bella and Maggie and I think of Mom and how much she would have loved her precious granddaughters. She would be at her sewing machine making cute summer dresses for them and would love buying them all kinds of books, crayons, coloring books, and fun little girl toys. Oh, and she would be so amazed with Andrew. She loved him dearly and Andrew could do no wrong in her eyes. She just loved being a grandma and Andrew just adored her. He remembers her and does ask me questions about her, but I do wish he could have known her better.

Lisa and I keep her traditions alive. Lisa really keeps the holiday traditions going and has mastered the Tamale making to a "T". She has even mastered the making of Bunuelos and the Mexican style of Posole. Yumba!! Mom would have been so proud of her and I am so grateful that Lisa has kept that important part of Mom's traditions alive. It really makes our holiday's extra special.

My mother was an amazing woman. She was quirky at times (something I got from her) but so much fun! She made our lives safe and both Lisa and I felt such love from her. She was strict and very consistent as a parent and that would drive Lisa and I insane when we were young, but I am grateful to her for that... it kept me on track and I don't crash and fall when life doesn't keep on a straight path. That is the gift that both Lisa and I cherish.

For those that knew my Mom you know how loud she was! From her conversations, her laughter and her slapping doors shut! Lisa and I were laughing this summer because we both noticed how loud we are too! We were driving my poor brother-in-law crazy with our loud conversations and slapping and slamming of cabinet doors, the microwave door, the fire door into the garage and every other object that has a door. Right then and there I knew I didn't want to change who I was because that would be letting go of some of my mother's characteristics. So I will continue to talk loud, slam doors and laugh loud because that is part of my Mother that I have in spirit.

So, today I will continue to celebrate the day of my mother's birth; I will buy a cake and sing Happy Birthday to her. I will have a glass of her favorite wine, Johannesburg Riesling, and make sure I laugh out loud while I share silly stories about her to Gene. So, Happy Birthday my beloved mother... not a day goes by that you are not in my thoughts and prayers!



Mom at a student activity event at her school she worked at: June 20, 1978