Pottery

Over the past two months, I've been taking pottery classes again, after an eight year hiatus.  I took the classes from June Vinall, at Bucketlist Studio in Willcox.  What fun to throw pots again!  My pots are far from perfect, but I love the process and the results. 

Circle the Cows

As Papa and I were hiking to Fairchild Dam a few days ago, there were a couple dozen cows grazing along the way that must have thought we were trying to move them.  They got in front of us and walked toward the meadow below Fairchild Dam.  As we came to the meadow, they lined up and stared us down, then they turned and ran in a circle around us three times.  I had my camera but we were so startled during the first circle run that we just watched.  I got out my camera and took photos of the second and third circles.  It was pretty cool!  Their hoofs hitting dirt, running as fast as they could go, and all on the meadow at the foot of Muskhog Peak.  Unforgettable!

Sonoran Desert Toads

This Sonoran Desert Toad has been on our porch several nights over the past couple of weeks, after several inches of rain over the past month. Giant toads known as Sonoran Desert Toads appear during the summer rainy season.  They can reach up to 7 inches in length and are one of the largest toads native to North America.  Adults have a uniformly green to greenish-gray topside of the body and creamy white underside.  Large white “warts” are found at the angle of the jaw, but this species has relatively smooth skin.  Sonoran Desert toads are active from late May to September, principally during the summer rainy season. They are nocturnal during the hot summer months.  Eggs are laid in temporary rainpools and permanent ponds. This species lives 10 - 20 years.

Chicken Salad

We have always enjoyed chicken salads and I found a new favorite recipe that I've made several times this summer.  I found it at Epicurious.com where I find lots of recipes we love. 

You can view the complete recipe online at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/358017
Chicken Salad with Grapes and Walnuts
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
5 cups water
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup seedless grapes, halved crosswise
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (3 ounces)
3 tablespoons drained capers, chopped

Toss chicken with 2 teaspoons salt.

Bring water and broth to a boil in a large saucepan, then add chicken and cook at a bare simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain and cool, then tear into 1-inch chunks.

Meanwhile, stir together yogurt, mayonnaise, and mustard.

Stir chicken and remaining ingredients into dressing with salt and pepper to taste.

Gourmet
June 2010

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

We were in Santa Fe on Sunday and went to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.  Papa and I spent a week at Ghost Ranch during the summer of 1981 and it made a lasting impact.  Georgia O'Keeffe bought a home on Ghost Ranch in 1940 and lived and worked in that area for over 40 years.  The cliffs of Ghost Ranch inspired some of her most famous landscapes.  I visited Abiquiu three years ago for the second time, where she had a second home and lived into her 90's.  Georgia O'Keeffe's work speaks to me.  http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/

Flowers of the Desert

I am amazed by the flowers of the desert in every season.  Flowering cacti are especially beautiful. 

DALE Bags

In 2001, Papa ordered a custom made saddle from a saddle maker in Weatherford, Texas (before he had a horse).  He went to Weatherford several times to watch the saddle maker and to give him direction about his preferences.  Papa had done some leather work in middle school and wanted to do more.  He made a large leather bag for me for Christmas the year he ordered his saddle.  My bag was beautiful and the girls wanted bags too.  At that time, they liked Kate Spade style bags, so Papa made several bags with similar dimensions.  Since then, he has made close to 100 DALE bags, including tote bags, clutches, computer bag, and more.  He has made DALE bags for everyone in the family and close friends.  Its become a fun hobby for Papa and we all love our DALE bags!

Tower

Before we bought Winchester Ranch, we looked at ranches in Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Arizona.  One of the features we liked on Nutt Mountain Ranch in New Mexico, was a rock water tower.  Nutt Mountain Ranch structures were built of stone, including a chapel, barns, three houses, drinkers, water tanks, and more.  The rock water tower was particularly interesting as it was round, two stories tall, and built from rocks on site.

Our architect, Guy Peterson, designed a three story rock tower for us, sitting within 25' of our house, and housing our water storage tank and Bob (our ATV) on the first floor, fitness equipment and storage on the second floor, and an observation room and deck on the third floor.  Papa and I collected over 100 tons of rock within site of the tower.  Building it was a big effort, from getting a crane to put the steel posts in place to the rock mason laying the stone, to the builder hanging out on a single board to put on the roof.

Summer on the Ranch

We are enjoying a beautiful summer on the ranch.  With our home at an elevation of 5420' and our highest peak at 7428', we have rather mild weather year round.  High temperatures this month have been in the 80's and humidity under 30%.  We've had humidity as low as 0% and as high as 90.9% when it was raining.  Our nights are in the 60's.  We've had 5" of rain since late June, so our mountains have come alive with green and we have running water in many canyons. The cattle are loving this!

Chocolate Fondue

This recipe will serve 6-8.
1-12 oz. package semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat all ingredients together in a small saucepan.  When melted, pour into fondue pot and serve with a platter of fresh sliced fruit (strawberries, pineapple, apples, and dried apricots are favorites), angel food cake, and whatever else you like dipped in chocolate.  Yum!

New Granddaughter

I flew to DC last week to welcome Claire and David's new daughter, Emerson.  She is adorable!  She sleeps a lot, squeaks, and is a really good baby.  I am taking lots of photos.