Under a Red Roof

Land of Enchantment III

July 23, 2008 in Making, Traveling by Colleen | 1 comment

I believe one of the greatest privileges I have been given as a consumer is to meet with the people who have made or grown what I am purchasing. I love talking with tradespeople of all kinds: farmers, designers, painters, potters, and jewelers. They all have such interesting lives and passions, and it is a pleasure to share a moment with them, speaking earnestly about what it is they do. It gives the purchase a certain weight and reverence.

I feel particularly lucky to have met with the artisans responsible for the creation of jewelry and pottery purchased on our trip. This is Marie Moquino, of the Santo Domingo Pueblo. She and her husband Tom, set out their wares at Ojo Caliente. I bought the bracelet she is stringing in the photo and a beautiful gaspeite and onyx necklace. I asked her if I could take a picture of her working, and thankfully, she agreed. We learned that she and her husband have lived in New Mexico, as she says, “For life.” Kind and peaceful, we talked about their travels to various Pow-Wows around the west, relatives in Oregon, and the fact that they’ve been married for forty-nine years. I hope to make this milestone with the joy they possessed.

We also got lucky and ran into the man responsible for making the summer owl we purchased on our last visit, and then bought its counterpart, the winter owl. He explained that there are only two owls, despite there being four seasons. This is representative of his people and the union of opposites. What is even more interesting is that we bought the summer owl on the opposite side of the plaza – talk about balance and union!

Here is some of the adobe architecture I love so much, but please don’t ask me why. I really can’t say. I just like it. This and the above photo are the Church of San Felipe in Albuquerque. This building was constructed in 1793 and is still going strong. I wonder how long our little house will last?

Finally, the return to Denver. This was my eastern view of New Mexico. Goodbye gorgeous!

Branches on the Tree

July 22, 2008 in Loving, Remembering by Colleen | 1 comment

As part of our trip east, we drove (rather Gregory did) my grandparents to New Mexico so they could visit with my grandpa’s older sister Shirley. They spent three days together in Albuquerque while we were gallivanting around Santa Fe and Ojo Caliente. We met up on the final leg of their Albuquerque journey, and got to see Shirley, too. I had only met her once when I was very little, and actually have no recollection of her, just her house. It was far from the hotel where we stayed and had a lot of wood paneling. Aren’t memories funny?

I think my grandma jinxed this picture. They were both smiling nicely and looking at the camera, when she exclaimed, “I never take a good picture!” Well, whaddya know, it is a little blurry, and neither one of them is looking in the same direction. They both look happy, though. That is what really counts.

Look at this handsome couple: my Mom and Daddy, high school sweehearts that will be married for forty years in September!

Here we are, all together – the infamous Sohn family. We all look so happy because we ate dinner together for the first time since, jeez, I don’t know. It didn’t hurt that our bellies were filled with Daddy’s yummy green chile. Food IS love sometimes, especially when it is Mexican. Left to right, Aaron (the baby), Colleen (number two daughter), Mom, Daddy, Lara (number one daughter), and Chris (right after me). It is a good picture. I’ll bet my mom gets misty when she looks at it.

My adorable nephews – they are Lara’s boys, though not for much longer. Chaz, on the left, is sixteen! Jett is nine! That makes me feel much older than I look, I hope.

A little background – this is the yard where I grew up. It is rather large, and full of fun places for hiding and adventure. The boys are sitting on and we are standing in front of one of a series of rocks that divide the upper and lower parts. When we were little, we used to have so much fun racing, jumping from rock to rock. I tried it again this time, but, even with longer legs, I’m not as fast as I once was. I think a fear of falling has something to do with it. I find it amazing to think of all I was capable of doing before fear came into the picture. I think I’ll post more about that later…

Handsome Birthday

July 21, 2008 in Celebrating, Loving by Colleen | 2 comments

Gregory is another year sweeter, stronger, wiser, and greater.

“For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.”

Dag Hammarskjold

Happy, happy day mon amour…

Pottery Shards!

July 19, 2008 in Watching by Colleen | 1 comment

Do you ever get that feeling after watching a movie, like you’ve just witnessed something so wonderful that it fills you with giddiness?

That’s precisely how I am feeling right now, after viewing King of California. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood star as Charlie and Miranda in this kooky film about a bi-polar father and his daughter. Upon being released from a mental institution, Charlie purchases a GPS system and follows what he believes to be the trail of a treasure lost in 1624.

After having a rather unconventional childhood, Miranda is none too pleased to have him home again and with a new obsession to boot. In his absence, she enjoyed a degree of calm and normalcy previously unknown to her. Though she is only a teenager, she’s purchased a car and kept up with the bills, all while working at McDonald’s.

In the beginning, Miranda struggles to keep the family afloat with Charlie’s spending and lack of a job, constantly battling him in his quest, and wishing for better days, until, there is that shift, where the impossible seems possible.

It is a thoughtful, sweet, and hilarious film about forgiveness, love, and finding a purpose in life.

Tags: Movies

Jam and Chowder

July 18, 2008 in Cooking + Baking, Eating by Colleen | 1 comment

I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen over the past few days. With such an abundance of delicious produce available at New Seasons, I went a little gonzo and made two kinds of jam: mixed berry and nectarine-apricot. I saw the No Sugar Necessary version of Ball’s Pectin and the old reliable Sure Jell and tried one of each. I definitely preferred the former, as it actually allows you to choose exactly how much sugar you use. I used 1 1/3 cups in addition to some apple juice, and the end product was perfection. The Sure Jell made a great jam, but it is really sweet in comparison, using a whopping three cups of sugar for the same amount of fruit.

As for the chowder, we had something like this while staying at Ojo Caliente. They have a nice restaurant at the hotel with some great local cuisine as well as some odd choices, like Northwestern Salmon, hmmm…

I don’t really use recipes, making it up as I go along, so here is the approximate version.

2 poblano peppers

2 ears corn, kernels cut away from the cob

1/2 dried pasilla chile, soaked in warm water until soft, then diced fine

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, pressed

4 T flour

1 t chile powder

1/2 t salt

1 c chicken broth

1 c milk

1/2 c whipping cream

Roast peppers and corn at 400 degrees until golden brown, stirring and turning, so everything browns evenly, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, saute the pasilla, onion, and garlic in olive oil until browned. Peel and chop peppers when they are cool enough to handle. Add to onion and garlic mixture. Stir in chicken broth.

Mix dry ingredients together, then whisk into milk and whipping cream. Pour over corn and pepper mixture, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. Bring to gentle boil, then simmer for 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

This tastes great with corn bread. I have tried and failed at many recipes, so I recommend using the Jiffy corn bread mix. Even though it isn’t organic (something I usually strive for), I’ve found nothing beats it, and it is super cheap. Add some grated pepper jack cheese, freshly ground black pepper or chile powder, and you are good to go. Muy delicioso!