Fall In

Since my last dispatch, one hurricane has come and another approaches. As I write this, hurricane Rita has been upgraded to a catagory 4 and looks like another monster storm not unlike the destructive Katrina. One may wonder why...but I don't. This planet is an active volatile place that we try and tame but we are deluded and our species in the meantime thinks that living on the flood plains, the bases of volcanos, the fault lines of earthquakes, below sealevel on the coast can be without consequences...but it is not and is proven time and again. We silly humans will rebuild time after time in places we shouldn't and then bemoan our fates. According to the Dalai Lama, this is the age of compassion and we have plenty to feel compassionate about.

Lots has happened in this cowgirl's life, two shows in the Sacramentos, a party on the deck and the Farmer's Market continues until mid-October. Jan and I did the Ruidoso Down's All American Festival and as usual had a great time and a good show.

Then Cecil and I did a little show in Lincoln, New Mexico , the Art in the Orchard which turned out to be one pleasant experience overall. That Saturday started out stressful enough as Cec and I did the Farmer's Market in the morning, packed the tent after our four hour stint and headed up to Lincoln to unpack and set up the tent again for the show on Sunday. The show was supposed to be in an orchard but due to the rains this time of year, we gypsies set up in a vacant lot not far from the little town of Lincoln. (Nathan stayed in Phar Lepht with John and Robyn's daughter Autumn keeping an eye on him as he insisted on not going...I have burned him out on shows, I guess.)

After setting up, the artists were invited to a reception on the lawn of the Ellis Store Bed and Breakfast hosted by David and Jennie Virgil. Jennie is a gourmet cook and won the award for Best Cook in New Mexico a couple of years ago and we could quickly see why. She put on a wonderful spread of appeteasers, puff pastries with crab filling, little quiches, egg rolls, stuffed jalapenos were just some of the tasty morsels...man o man...it was delish! And beer or wine to go with! A gal from the New Mexico tourista bureau served as waitress and kept us all happy through the evening. The setting was devine too as the Ellis Store is one of the oldest and best kept buildings in Lincoln and surrounded by a huge lawn with old shade trees and comfortable wicker chairs. A great ending to tiring day.

Sunday, the day of the event was great too. They had a homemade pie contest for the locals and Jennie outdid herself again with peach, apple, apple and green chile, blueberry and raspberry cobblers for the attendees (with vanilla ice cream!) There was live music, the sherrifs posse and their horsies, and a very congenial atmosphere. John and Robyn both made it up from Ruidoso to visit our tent (Ruidoso is about a 30 minute ride away.) To top it off, our tent won second place in a contest for the best decorated tent (the blacksmith and his little wagon won first place...as he should) and we received a gift certificate at the grocery store in Ruidoso which we turned into wine later. Got our picture taken for the local rag but wonder if I will ever see that.

Besides these events, Cecil and I are still doing the Farmer's Market at Ardovino's Desert Crossing in Anapra, New Mexico every Saturday morning until noon. I love the Farmer's Market. This is our first year to do this event and we are having a ball. Besides all the fresh locally grown produce, there is some great art there (including us of course) but the best thing of all is the other vendors, a really great group of people. Of course you must arise at 4:30 and get your butt in gear to get there and set up before dawn but it has been a wonderful experience. Besides my jewelry and Cecil's prints and photos, we also sell our pomegranates which have have been very popular especially after promoting the idea of my fresh pomegranate salsa (pico de gallo) and a few tips on cutting open pomegranates. (Past years of making tons of pomegranate jelly has made me an expert.)

Besides the shows, we took on the task and joy of inviting a few very close friends over to the Lee house for a little celebration (yes folks, the house is finally ours...no more lawyers, the deed is passed and the release from any future litigation has been signed!) Nothing like a party to make one tidy up and get things in order. Cecil and I worked most of the week on the yard, bought a new grill, put up lights on the deck and shopped for the fixin's. Hey, we even sent out little invitations! After the FM on Saturday, we had a nice get-together that evening with brats, beans, beer and bolillos. I think it was a great success as our dear friends who have wined and dined us many, many times seemed to feel comfortable, congenial and well fed.

I am now officially pooped...I slept all day Sunday after the party and all night Sunday night and all day Monday. Today, Wednesday, September 21 is the first day this week I have had any energy and I have to get back in the saddle and ride again as there are shows all the way up through December.

Happy Birthday to Janice who shares the same birthdate as myself and to Jacob, Nate's best bud and hey, Happy Birthday to me...I made it another round.