the season of marigolds

To celebrate Dia de Los Muertos I have my altar in place. And I've surrounded myself with marigolds both outside and in.

new mexico 2018 and a recipe for canned mushroom soup

Arriving in Dixon, New Mexico (about 20 miles southwest of Taos, with the largest population of organic farmers in the state and a head count of 926 according to 2010 census) at about 4:00 pm we discovered the only restaurant in town was closed. We had stocked up on wine and lunch snacks in Santa Fe but we needed something warm. So we headed to the Dixon Coop. There we purchased a can of mushroom soup, some selzer water, and a bag of Ruffles (well we are on vacation). Here we encountered a young, cheerful, and enthusiastic checker who asked "what are you going to do with that", referring to the soup. A bit taken aback by the question we replied "eat it". We were then given the tip if you mixed the mushroom soup with some hamburger you could make really good tacos. Now we didn't make tacos but it is amazing how tasty a can of mushroom soup can be when you make it with half and half, eat it with crackers and a glass of wine. So we settled into the Long House.

We headed to Penasco Sunday morning for brunch at Sugar Nymphs where they start the meal with hot scones and chokecherry jam. Rain came and we got serious about reading. The afternoon gave us a rainbow.

We awoke Monday morning to snow.

We headed down to the Rio Grande before making our way to Taos, wearing most of the clothes we had brought.

But arriving at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House there was a fire and cookies and coffee. And five days of yoga and fishing to enjoy.

It's difficult to convey the feeling at staying at Mabel's. There are ghosts hiding in all the walls and kitchen and conversations of art and music, and politics both current and past seem to be had over the dining table.

From the kitchen come amazing meals which add to the enjoyment of the company sharing them.

Trying to describe the events of this group can not be put into words. It was a magical experience of twenty-two people that came to together to enjoy, help, laugh and cry, share wine and stories. There were experiences in and out of the yoga room, on the river, and the Penitente.  Mushroom gatherers and residents who shared New Mexico with us on drives and walks.

The last night gave us light that feeds the soul.

So happy and satisfied many of us ended up in the Albuquerque airport waiting to be brought to the reality of our everyday lives.

We'll come back.

illahe lodge and the rogue

Located 36 miles east from the coast at Gold Beach, Oregon, Illahe Lodge is about at the end of the road. It is the farthest upstream one can drive a wheeled vehicle. Only a jet boat can take you farther up river.

So despite the Klondike Fire (burning since July 15th), we decided to take our chances and brave the smoke.  And smoky skies we had for the middle of the trip, along with 90 degree days.

But the fishing was good and the rain that fell on our last full day seemed to come directly from heaven.

We made the transition from our Alameda bubble by spending nights coming and going in Eureka, where our airbnb hosts cooked dinner for us on our return home and helped ease us back into our cocoon.
Avoiding political discussions at Illahe was almost impossible, there was TV reception and wifi. You add to that a fire that has been going on for two and half months and questions from the locals as to it's management and it makes for some interesting thoughts. The usual guests at the lodge are on guided fishing trips, spending only one night, the last of three on the river. This makes for so much work for Coleen, the proprietor, who has had almost no help this summer, it is a wonder how she manages. But somehow she does, cheerfully, too. Staying there for five nights and parking the car made for a holiday that suited us perfectly. And besides we got to listen to Ernie's stories.
Our day consisted of breakfast, a walk to the river, fishing for a few hours, a walk back up the road, lunch, a nap, a walk back down to the river, fishing, a walk back up the road and dinner. No complaints from us. We are planning on going back next year.