Wrapping The Week

More celebrating with the family this weekend. We are a joyful bunch for sure. The weather has been so glorious this week. Audrey and I went on a picnic after preschool yesterday and literally ate grapes and cheese while lying on a big old quilt under a tree. It felt decadent and from a different era. So relaxing and fun. On our long walk after dinner, she grew weary so Lindsey carried her home. I walked behind and watched her blow raspberries on his neck, both of them giggling with delight. I am lucky in about 5,000 ways.

I am kind of looking forward to no shave November (for Lindsey, of course). Sigh.

Oh, what promise!

Seasonal gourds have never been so hilarious.

These goodies from our trip have been so soothing.

Butternut squash with brown butter and rosemary was a big hit.

Library love.

On a somber note: This has been a sad week for St. Louis. On Monday, Bob Cassilly, artist and creator of the beloved City Musuem, died in a bulldozer accident working on his Cementland project. His contributions to the region are immense. He was a hero to creatives and dreamers and those of us who really love this city and recognize what a gem it is and all the potential it still has. He will be missed.

Frida Halloween Costume

Not sure I can top last year's chicken costume. Audrey has declared she wants to be a witch and a ghost, but later retracted deciding those would be too scary. Then she wanted to be mommy, so she could drive and wear lipstick (really, is this all I do?) Then she said she wanted to be a banana.

My Frida costume last year was frankly, a little creepy.While Frida could pull off facial hair, it certainly wasn't a good look for me. Maybe I should have made the uni-brow and mustache a bit more overt - sort of a parody. Without the jewels and hair accessories, I look uncomfortably too much like a few of my (male) relatives. My giant Timex really adds some authenticity, no?

Honky Tonk Angels

This is a song I sing in the car. Alone, of course.

Food: Albuquerque and New Mexico

Our first stop on our Albuquerque dining was the famous Frontier Restaurant. Since we had to get up at 4 a.m. to get to the airport on time and our layover in Dallas was so short, we were starving. As the photos indicate, we divulged in some serious bad for you, but oh so good, stuff.

Our first breakfasts at Los Pablanos consisted of polenta topped with eggs and their own farm made sausage and crepes with goat cheese, dragon beans, and other vegetables. The localvore and organic theme would continue with most of the meals on our trip.

Our second morning we were treated to what was one of my favorite dishes the entire trip--creme anglaise folded with whipped cream, fresh figs, and anise. Soooo good. Also on the menu, eggs benedict with fresh greens, and Danish pancakes with homemade applesauce and local bacon.

Our first night, we enjoyed the "Field to Fork" dinner at Los Pablanos and dined under the stars. The homemade pappardelle with rosemary brandy cream was especially lovely. I had our server take our photo because we never have pictures of us (together) anymore. So focused on Audrey.

Our last night, we dined at Jennifer James 101. Wow! Located in a very unassuming strip mall area, I was initially wary. But I had read great things and we were not disappointed. It is pretty small and the kitchen is open, which I loved. I could see everything. Our service was fantastic. I couldn't take photos without looking like a real rube, but I couldn't resist with the appetizer--a porter cheddar with green garlic jam and arugula. Simple and amazing. Lindsey got halibut with a summer succotash and basil aioli and I got a crab pasta with bacon. We shared a divine chocolate pot de creme.

On our anniversary, we ate at Max's in Santa Fe. I don't have pictures, but it was incredible. Treated to an amuse-bouch of watermelon gel with white wine foam and microgreens. I know. Sounds goofy. Surprisingly not. Lindsey got foie gras that he oohed and ahhed over more than I've ever heard. I had a stone fruit salad with buttermilk panna cotta, fennel, and balsamic. We both ordered the Wagyu flank steak with roquefort polenta and wild mushrooms. Um. No. Words.  After chocolate cake (Hey, it was our anniversary!) and coffee, another surprise. This time it was a white chocolate ball (sort of like a small translucent truffle) infused with liquefied passion fruit sorbet and topped with lemon zest and black pepper.  The chocolate was very thin and  it burst open into your mouth like some kind of crazy lemony candy. Delightful. I highly recommend. 

As Lindsey reminded me, we don't go on vacation to eat at Hardee's. Our anniversary trip was short and we tried to make every part of the experience memorable. It really was.

Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm

Well I can't say enough fantastic things about our vacation to New Mexico. After landing, we bumbled around Albuquerque, visiting the Tamarind Institute,  The University of New Mexico Art Museum, and The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.  Then we drove out to Los Poblanos, which was beautiful beyond all expectations. We took advantage of the farm to table dinner and were served an amazing meal in the courtyard overlooking the oldest swimming pool in Albuquerque. Picturesque and pure magic. The next morning we wandered around the farm (chickens, goats, a cow, a bunny, a turkey, peacocks--including an albino, Albert!) before heading out to Santa Fe. The highlight there was the Museum of International Folk Art. Their website isn't that hot, but the exhibits are outstanding and the breadth of the Alexander Girard collection is especially impressive. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum was less enjoyable, mostly because it was so crowded, making it very difficult to experience. Back in Albuquerque on Saturday, we took a tour of the inn and the grounds provided by the Los Poblanos owner, Armin Rembe. I'm so glad we took advantage of that because the history of the place is very interesting. I highly recommend Los Poblanos for anyone with interests in slow food, organic farming, agri-tourism, or architecture. It is very special. Overlooking the lavender fields to the mountains was so beautiful. And the bed in our room was THE most comfortable pillow of luxury I've ever experienced.GO!

I am going to do a separate post about our dining experiences. Below are some of my favorite photos, but I have more Los Poblanos photos and Folk Art Museum photos on Flickr.

The farm shop had a nice assortment of the organic products created from the lavender harvested on the farm. In addition, it has unique kitchenware, and hosts classes and tastings. 

The Sandia Mountains serve as the backdrop of the organic lavender fields.

We were in the Gallinero Room, a detached guesthouse next to one of the original greenhouses and had a private patio. It was somewhat secluded, but fairly close to the pool. The cosmos and sunflowers spilled over the walkway.

 

This adorable child was at the farm both mornings with her mom, who milked the goats and cow. She and her brother played under an enormous weeping mulberry tree whose branches created the most magical natural playhouse. 

View from the inn entrance and breakfast patio.

Wrapping The Week

To my darling, happy five year anniversary.
You and our little sunshine girl are my heart, my world, all my dreams, and then some.

I can't imagine life before or after you.

Thank you for loving me and all my big ideas.
You are loved beyond all measure.

xoa

A weekend of love to you and yours.

Los Pablanos - New Mexico

Dear New Mexico,
So happy to meet you. Treat me right. I've had a rough couple of months at work.

Love,
Andrea

P.S.
Los Poblanos looks mighty promising!

Travel Jitters

I love to travel, but I hate to fly. Duh, I know statistically it is safer than driving, but I'm more of an open road type. Feet on the ground, thank you. Fortunately my love of experiencing new things, trumps my fear of flight. And I really appreciate that our upcoming trip to Albuquerque will be three hours instead of 16.

But I will be anxious. Very. What is difficult and embarrassing to admit is that my anxiety has grown so much worse since becoming a mom. I worry too often that something will happen to us and Audrey will be left without parents. (Geez, I love that kid something crazy.) I don't think this is normal. But I don't think it is something meditating is going to fix either.

So, say a prayer and fly girl, fly!

{Flickr: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archive}

Haji Haji

My friend Thomas Crone, worked on this amazing little video about the delightful Haji Haji. "Let's rock n' roll and eat us some pizza!"

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Kitty Store. Carnival. Park. Bike Works Opening. Supper Club. And that was just on Saturday. (Oh, and I made a tart and homemade ice cream too.) Yesterday, it rained nearly all day. I made the saddest two puppets in the universe, sewing by hand instead of getting out the machine. Really, they are ghastly--but she loved them and the five of us ended up playing about 28 games of hide and seek.

Wrapping The Week

{Vegas-Neon Boneyard 2005, my Holga} 

We have a supper club date Saturday night and I'm bringing dessert. Probably a rustic fruit tart and some homemade rosemary honey ice cream. Our friends Jackie and Jay are hosting at their new house and I'm excited to hang out with everyone. This is only the second supper club we've been able to make. This weekend we also hope to take Audrey to a little church carnival in the neighborhood. We've seen them preparing the grounds and rides on the way home from preschool this week and she is very excited. I want to go pick apples Sunday, but it looks like it may rain. What do you have planned this fall weekend?

Folk art girls by unknown artists

You know I have a soft spot for weird potatoes.

Sort of love this ring and I'm not usually a gold person.

Mechanical devices sculpted from paper. Heck yes.

Sweet post on baby girl growing up. 

Sarah Dougherty's paintings...sigh.

Happy. To. You.

Anniversary

Stayed up way too late working on a little anniversary surprise for Lindsey. I have got to get more sleep and take better care of myself. I am burning the candle at both ends. Is that how that saying goes? I think I had a plan to start yoga and meditation to help with stress. What happened? I stinkin' can't wait until our mini-vacation next week. I feel like we haven't had a conversation about non-family topics in weeks and weeks. Woot! Look out New Mexico.

Meeting my Parents - Thanksgiving, 2004

Photobooth, 2005

Married, 2006

Kin: Great Aunts

More from the vintage archives of my family.

This picture cracks me up. Great Aunt May and Edith ALWAYS looked like this. And leaning on the back of my grandma's Ford Escort with a pile of wood and tractor behind them--priceless.  

Front row left to right is Edith(?), Georgia, Pauline (my grandma), and Hester. The short woman in the back row is my great grandma Stella. I am assuming most of the other women are my great aunts. My grandma had a 14 brothers and sisters, and all the boys had rhyming names.