Climate Change Woes

I recently taught a class on Climate Change. All that preparing, reading and teaching really caused me to think and reflect on what's going on. I got really concerned! Here is an article I read today that shows what we already know to be true - that climate change is real and it's already happening. Very good article, and great graphics - GO read it!
Arctic Sea Ice Melts to Record Low

In "other" news, it is 10 degrees above average here in Albuquerque today - 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Very warm for October. hmmmm.

Apples and Pumpkins

Apple season is in full swing around here! About a week ago, I went to the Dixon's Apple Orchard for a friend's birthday party and bought a huge bag of champagne apples and two gallons of apple cider. Since then, I have eaten apples every day, sliced and frozen apples, and baked with apples. It seems like everyone's kitchen is full and overflowing with apples! Last night, two girlfriends and I got together and baked Apple and Cranberry Crisp from the Betty Crocker Fall Baking book (one of my favorite cookbooks ever!), and Apple Bread from my friend's cookbook. The warm crisp, paired with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is heavenly!

Recently, however, pumpkins have begun showing up everywhere. Two of my favorite things, one right after the other! Every fall, I seek out the Pumpkin goodness everywhere I go - Pumpkin muffins and Pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks, Pumpkin ale from Cost Plus, Pumpkin cream cheese and bagels from Einsteins - well, you get the picture. I am also planning, as I have the last two years, to cut up, cook, puree, and freeze a very large pumpkin in the next couple of weeks. That ensures that I will have a ready supply of yummy goodness for the whole year to make recipes like pumpkin praline dessert, pie, bread etc. Today, I saw this article that made me very happy: The Top 10 Pumpkin Recipes. I am especially eager to try:
Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake
Pumpkin Flan with Pumpkin Seed Praline
Curried Coconut Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Seed Goat Cheese Pesto

The Pumpkin Lasagne seems interesting, but I am not too sure about that.... Has anyone ever tried pumpkin lasagne or anything like it?

Taos Wool Festival

This week, I had a friend visiting, so we decided to go camping in Taos and see the fall colors up there. It just so happens that the Wool Festival was also this weekend. What a coincidence!!! (sic)

My camera was out of batteries most of the weekend, so you will just have to imagine the beautiful poplars and aspens covered in bright gold leaves against the bright blue New Mexico sky and the deep green of the spruces and firs. It was fantastic! We camped along Taos Canyon just a few miles NE of Taos. For breakfast, we came in and met a friend at Gutiz. I chose a Spanish omelette garnished with tomatoes, marinated cucumbers, melba toast and a green tapenade with basil pesto - it was delicious! Maybe I can recreate it sometime!

I did get batteries in time to go to the Wool Festival at Kit Carson Park. The yarn selection was just the types of yarn I usually go for - hand-painted, hand-spun, variegated, natural fibers etc. I really enjoyed going from stall to stall petting the yarn. More information to come on the yummy skeins I actually purchased!

Anyway, here is an alpaca - He was smiling at me. And here is an Angora rabbit - he didn't care. Beautiful Taos - from my friend's porchBack in Albuquerque, the balloon fiesta is in full swing. Here is Lucky looking at balloons from the yard where we are housesitting.

Rustic Lace Scarf

I have finished and gifted my Rustic Lace Scarf. It used an unknown amount of a pink and grey unknown natural fiber (churro, maybe?). How's that for details? :) I used a very simple lace pattern adapted from a sweater pattern I saw a long time ago, and then added fringe. Gentle washing with shampoo and blocking really improved the appearance and feel of the scarf.