It has been a dibs and dabs day as we settled in. Travel left me with quite a bit of pain so we stayed close to home.
Our favorite coffee spot is currently take-away only, so we got our cuppas to go and drove home to enjoy coffee by the kiva.
A brief shopping trip to town reflected the reality of increased presence of the corona virus.
A late afternoon visit to say hello to Hilary, Kamala and Stacey – along with the newbie, Dawn.
Around dusk we drove to a spot we picked out during last May’s trip for prime sunset viewing. Oops! We didn’t factor in the earth’s changing rotation and it wasn’t a prime spot after all. Still, the muted colors seen ar day’s end were quieting.
It’s always wonderful to feel the aircraft’s landing gear touch down in New Mexico. This enchanted land beckons to me often. My friend and I have traveled here so many times we easily settle into the rhythm of the place.
It’s about a 2 1/2 drive from Albuquerque to Taos.
Sustenance first, at The Range Cafe.
From there the interstate highway north leads to a state highway which then carries us north alongside the Rio Grande river.
Thanks to vaccinations, boosters and rapid-tests, travel to Taos for the annual January trip is possible. With a sigh and a yay, I am on my way.
Before I could leave, however, a rapid-test the day before departure was necessary. The red line says it all.
A year ago my friend and I missed our annual Epiphany trip due to lack of any form of disease protections or testing. But after receiving our two vaccination jabs, we were able to travel to Taos in May. It was Spring gorgeous!
Now we return. Still, with Omicron cases increasingly on the rise, it has felt like a long slog to this departure day.
If also feels celebratory!
And freeing!
After what feels like a long time of wondering, are we or are wenot going, I’m going!
We are headed to Texas to share Thanksgiving with our older son and his family. We have not ventured beyond the forest for Thanksgiving travel for a good while.
Last year we had quite a feast for two. As sheltering at home was required, we made do. The fancy turkey I ordered was to be 12 pounds. Instead the bird was at least 8 pounds overweight. Regardless, it was delicious.
My son fries his turkeys. Taking just thirty minutes or so to fry, it’s streamlined turkey cooking. It’s quite a show when the bird gets dunked in the hot oil. Thankfully, this is an outdoor event.
I’m so grateful for the invitation to gather with the Keller (TX) Heckels. We are bringing the world’s best turkey gravy, prepared and frozen a week ago. This was a two-day cooking effort.
I’m likely to leave the rest of the food prep to others as I relish conversation time with my grandchildren. You can do that when you’re eighty.
I’ll soon take my chair in the sky. Traveling mercies.
Found in Lisa Fain’s Homesick Texan cookbook, the recipe calls for dried ancho chiles. That is what the fuss about finding the chiles was all about. The enchiladas were amazing!
While I’m here in Arizona, I’m in charge of two dinners. I’m really looking forward to cooking for our gathering. While I brought measured-out spices and seasonings with me, I did not bring dried ancho chiles. I was certain I could easily find them here in the Southwest.
Not true. Since these are critical to one dish, we set out yesterday on a quest to locate them. I called eight grocery stores.
When I called Fry’s grocery store, I could only speak with a virtual customer service member. After many attempts to speak clearly – dried ancho chiles – I heard this: “you are looking for dry ice? Yes or no?” I hung up.
My favorite call was to Bashas’. When I called, a human answered: “It’s great day at Bashas’! How can I make your day better?!”
I’ll tell you how…. Well, I guess not.
With no other stores left to call, I called my nephew’s wife. They live nearby and she’s quite the cook. She’s also a Brit so she was not familiar with these chiles. I explained they are poblano chiles which have been dried. She suggested buying a poblano and drying it. I didn’t know how to actually do this. She also suggested trying Food City, a local Mexican market.
By now it was time for dinner. We decided to dine at Barrio’s, a local Mexican restaurant. As we were settling up, my sister asked our wait-person if he knew where we could find the chiles. He suggested Food City!
This morning we took off early for Food City. Voila!
A plethora of dried ancho chiles.
Tomorrow I’ll prepare dinner using dried ancho chiles. Stay tuned.
Both my sister and brother live in Arizona – just over an hour apart.
When I travel to see one or the other, I can count on seeing them both. This is such a gift! The bonus is getting to see my sister-in-law as well.
The last time I was in Arizona was 2019. That’s far too long. While my sister came to visit me a few months ago, I’ve not seen my brother in all that time.
So we shall make up for lost time. We will celebrate gathering as siblings once again. And we shall celebrate my brother’s recovery from a recent serious health scare. There will probably be tears all over the place.
My brother’s diet has detailed restrictions so recipe choices for our dinners were screened by his wife who wants to be sure he’s kept on the road to better health.
We’ve chosen three wonderful meals for the three nights they will stay with my sister and me. Packed in my suitcase are the recipes, measured-out spices and seasonings, and my just sharpened chef’s knife. I’m prepared!
It’s been a beautiful day to fly. I love Arizona and gazing out my two windows – yes, two windows, I can already feel the high desert below.
I’m on the second leg of today’s return trip to the United States. I’m flying to Houston with my friend to spend a few days before I return home the end of the week.
I’m listening to music as I soar south. As I write this, Margaret Rizza’s exquisite composition, her music for Eucharist is soaring through my ears. It makes me feel “this is just too beautiful”.
I’m reflecting on my trip to the Faroe Islands and I realize this reflection is soaring in my heart just as the music soars in my ears. And I think “this was just too beautiful”.
There were so many beautiful moments during the ten days we lived in the Faroes.
Moments that showed the out-loud majesty of the islands.
Moments that showed the quiet majesty of the people.
And the many moments of delight seeing sheep quietly munching at all times and along all by-ways.
Also moments of surprise when driving through tunnels with art installations.
Having around twenty-four hours between touch-down from the Faroe Islands and take-off for the United States, allowed for a drive from Keflavik airport to the capital city of Reykjavik to have lunch.
It’s about a thirty mile drive from the airport to the restaurant. What else are you going to do on a rainy day? In our case, it’s go to Reykjavik for lunch.
Skal! was our choice for lunch. Located in the first food court in town, we found it to be unlike any we had experienced when we dined there several years ago.
Arctic char for my friend and beef skirt steak for me. The food was exquisitely prepared and delicious!
For dessert we shared a Skyr mousse with rhubarb granité and hazelnut crumble. Bliss! Happy milestone birthdays to us!
After lunch we drove to my favorite church in the world, Hallgrimskirkja,
We have worshipped here several times on previous travels.
We then walked around town for awhile in the chilly drizzle, ending up at Reykjavik Roasters to complete our lunch trek to the city.
A short drive back to the airport to return the rent car and check into the hotel.
A quick early morning walk to the airport and we’ll be on the way home.
Cometsgirl 