What A Treat!

How exciting!  Our daughter came to join us for a couple of days--!

We took a walk to River Run Plaza across the bridge

Gondolas swept by us heading to the top of the mountain 

In the afternoon we walked through Dillon Farmer's market  where

we bought lots of goodies--like this smoked salmon.

and in the evening we watched the sunset from our condo deck--

it was great to share with our daughter--now, she heads back

to the big city to begin another work week.

But we continue to Chill in the mountains!

Keystone Arrival!

Here we are!  Cool mountain air! and a View!  We're here for the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival--we attend the seminars and avoid the tastings set up in River Run plaza.  This is our ### year to attend--!  we could take advantage of all the tastings that surround us in the courtyard, but, we decide to partake in the four seminars--two that are featured each day.

The view from our condo's deck.

How about open doors and windows to enjoy the cool fresh air!

First Seminar here we come:

“War of the Roses” It’s not just White Zinfandel anymore. Wines described as magenta, rose, salmon, blush, fuchsia, watermelon or coral can be dry, sparkling, crisp and refreshing…a perfect combination for a hot summer day or leisurely afternoon on a patio. Rosé is now a serious wine, made from many different grape varieties and countries. 

• The following wines featured for this seminar:
  Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah, Colchagua Valley- Chile
  Kim Crawford Rosé, Hawkes Bay- New Zealand
  Marques de Caceres Rosé, Rioja- Spain
  Guigial Rosé, Côtes du Rhône- France
  Chateau Miraval Rosé, Côtes de Provence- France
  Planeta Rosé, Sicily- Italy
  Klinker Brick “Bricks and Roses” Rosé, Lodi-California
  La Crema Rosé, Monterey-California
• Second Seminar “Say Cheese (and Wine) – Finding the Perfect Cheese for your Wine”
  Each texture, flavor, ripeness, and even firmness of cheese classification generates a unique catalyst effect – and when strategically joined with the proper varietal – results in an optimal fusion. 
  The following wines featured at this seminar:
  Ladoucette Deux Tours Sauvignon Blanc
  Gary Farrell Chardonnay
  Bouvet Brut NV
  SA Prum Riesling
  Fonseca Port NV
  Smith & Hook Cabernet

The High Road to Taos

I'm sharing this map of the high road to Taos from Santa Fe--

we have made many trips to Taos, usually in the fall to attend

Taos Wool Market--we've stopped along the road to visit

several of the weavers along the way--there are side trips to

take--Chimayo is a favorite stop for lunch.  We can visit

many Pueblos.

Out of Santa Fe, we drive past Santa Fe Opera!  OMgosh,

what a view from this location!

should we take trip up to Ghost Ranch Living Museum?

or stop to see Georgia O'Keeffe's House?

We are staying at lovely Palacio de Marquesa where each of the eight rooms is dedicated

to a remarkable women of Taos.  Our room was the Socialite I named for Millicent Rogers.

A museum in her name is outside of Taos and where one can find the most marvelous

collection of Navajo weavings and other arts.

Millicent loved the intricate detailing of Native American jewelry and soon became

a collector and an advocate of American Indian Rights.

The peace and quiet of the neighborhood with the surrounding grounds gives us an

enjoyable stay--not to mention breakfast that is delivered to our room!

Now, A Moment For Something Completely Different

I'm taking a pause in my travelogue to post about Christmas in July Blog --it begins Friday!  I'm saving each step so I can sew upon my return to my machine.

Just think 12 days of Christmas NOW!

And it's possible we can make this quilt--I've always fancied this

Trip Around the World--didn't like to think of all those little tiny squares!

Sarah promises a tutorial makes it relatively fast and easy - no individual piecing of tiny squares.

Here is what you need:

Fabric Requirements:

10” x WOF of 16 different fabrics - you can choose to use 16 different fabrics, or repeat certain fabrics as desired.  NOTE:  You'll need a clean 10" of yardage - you'll be cutting four 2.5" strips from each piece.  Be sure that you'll be able to get that from your cut after it's pressed and squared up!

One 2.5” square for center of quilt; fussy cut if desired.

1/2 yard for binding; scrappy binding looks great with this quilt and can help eat up some of your Christmas scraps!

3 5/8 yards for backing - can be scraps. 

This is going to be fun--happy stitching!

Santa Fe--Absolutely!

• Another day in SouthWest--Santa Fe--brings us to our breakfast visit to Chocolate Maven!  We found this place on a visit years ago--so we make a point to return to sit near the kitchen
  
  and watch as the meals are prepared!  Where else can you get Green eggs and ham or Tofu scramble-- onto another museum visit--or that walk through the Plaza!

The sights off the beaten path

The colorful art pieces that dot the landscape

And the adobe!  I love the adobe structures!

• Of course, for us, we must visit the local wineries and taste the fruit of New Mexico--one of the first wineries in America.   Our first stop is into Gruet Winery--where bubbly is king! We happen upon friendly folks visiting from Dallas and Rhode Island--we talk and talk for hours over a glass of chardonnay bubbly wine--it can not be called champagne but it's made in the style of the finest French wines.

• Chocolate tasting is right at the top of the list!  Great chocolate can be found right here.  The rich chocolate you can just pour from your cup at Kakawa chocolates.  Just look at those lovely cups filled with chocolate!

• Eat, Eat, Eat some of that delicious New Mexico red and green chili!  It seems we can never get our fill of New Mexican food--"do you want red, green or Christmas chili?"  I'll take Christmas anytime!

Ahh, Santa Fe!

There is just something about Santa Fe--.  Is it the landscape with the wonderful evening sunsets or the marvelous food or culture or maybe, it's just the people--native Americans who hold a special place in the heart of Santa Fe?

We make our list of things to do while here:

• walk around the plaza--the heart of the ancient town:  Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital, sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It’s renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and as a creative arts hotbed. Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, it has at its heart the traditional Plaza. The surrounding historic district’s crooked streets wind past adobe landmarks including the Palace of the Governors, now home to the New Mexico History Museum.  Elevation:  7, 198'  It's hard to believe that this desert town sits at this elevation--be sure to drink plenty of water!! 

• Visit Museum of International Folk Art--always a special exhibit.  Last time I viewed "RED--the story of Cochineal".  This time there is an exhibit of "Tramp Art" and "Quilts of Southwest China"  
  

• A Walk along Canyon Road to pop in and out of the art galleries--Always exciting art to view and enjoy.
• A visit to the Museum of Indian Arts And Culture, a stroll along the Governor's Palace to view and purchase Indian Arts and Crafts.
• Of course, it wouldn't be Santa Fe, if you didn't stop into view Georgia O'Keeffe's Museum of work.  
  

Tomorrow is another day in Santa Fe--how will I Stand it?!

Lost Draw Vineyards

Today we drove a short distance (in west Texas, it's all relative--little, a lot, who cares!) to Brownfield and High Plains Vineyard--

this is the vineyard that many wineries in Texas receive their grapes--

acres and acres of grapes.  AT one time it was cotton; now, grapes are the 

King!

You can understand why this is great for Vines--climate, location, soil, etc.

We came to visit vineyard owner Andy Timmons and to see his new Texas Wine Company in Meadow, Texas.  This is full Scale custom crushing facility.  The facility has three coolers on site, as well as two presses. And tanks. Bright stainless steel tanks line the room as there are three different sizes of tanks : 6,600 gallons, 3,300 gallons, and 1,650 gallons. The tanks are designed to perfectly do their job. The diameter of the larger tanks is the same as the height. This has proven to be the best dimension for fermenting red wine.

What a great opportunity to see this operation first hand!  Harvest will begin soon--grapes

straight to the crushers to the bottle to make some super duper wine!