That’s Izzy on Doreen’s lap, and Junie B. Jones on Don’s lap.

Tom had taken a bag of peaches from the farmers’ market over to Dorene and Don. Last night they invited us over for peach pie, with a gluten-free crust.

They didn’t use a frozen crust from the co-op, like we do when we make a pie. The crust was made by Don himself. It was incredible! Crisp and buttery and sweet and salty. We took home 2 gigantic pieces of pie and ate them for breakfast.

That’s Dorene’s college roommate from Boston, Beth, standing behind Dorene and Don. When I asked Beth what she was into, she said, “Well, I tot ought.” Tom had to ask her to repeat herself several times until he realized she had “taught art.” Now she decorates cakes in her daughter’s fancy bakery, and paints seascapes.

 

That’s Linda in the center, who owns and runs Jumpstart Farms. We had her over for dinner a few weeks ago, and she must have noticed that we didn’t have any cheese knives—only paring knives and steak knives with which to stab the cheese.

This gives you one tiny example of what a fun person she is: We met at Los Poblanos last night for drinks, and she brought one of those flannel Crown Royal bags full of cheese knives. She said we could choose our favorites.

When our cheese plate was delivered, I decided I wanted to use my new cheese knife. When we got home I was horrified to discover I had left mine at the bar. I had to call Los Poblanos late last night and ask them to please look for it.

This morning they called to say they had found it! (Mine was the 3rd from the left and is now safe in its new home.)

Around the house today

We are lusting after this countertop material.

I remember now one reason we decided to order the paper version of the NYT on Sundays: the fantastic kids’ section!

This painting is getting ready to be shipped to Holly & Bill for their new house.

Mike, our grading contractor found this ammonite fossil in the desert and gave it to us. The animal itself died out 66 million years ago. The fossil is about five inches across.

New Book!

Proofs for Mem Fox’s and my book

Chicken drives the tractor

We’re having our front area re-graded. Chicken has everything under control.

Below: Taking a break with Nugget

Amy

 

Amy cannot go anywhere without stopping in at a bookstore. And whenever we go to lunch, she drags me along with her. Her favorite four ABQ bookstores in order of preference are: Organic Books, Under Charlie’s Covers, Downtown Books, and Bookworks.

Today we happened to pass Downtown Books, and she grabbed the steering wheel and we swerved across two lanes of traffic into the parking lot. She ended up scoring a signed book of Tony Hoagland’s poetry, and a book by Janwillem van de Wetering.

I bought the two books on the right. I don’t even read books! (I have to read on my iPad so I can make the type 48 pt.) One book looks perfect for Aggle's and my Christmas reading ritual, where every year one of us chooses a book to read together. The other is written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. You know. The guy who wrote the Madeline books and drew all over the walls of Bemelmans Bar, where Katy took me for cocktails that time in NY.

 

 

Linda visits us.

 

Margy's Show

The show was held at the ABQ Open Space Gallery across the river. We had never been! A swell time was had by all.

Margy lives across Candelaria from me, and her show opened this afternoon. Behind us is one of my favorite pieces, called A Dress for All Seasons. Margy found the “hanger” in the woods, and decided to make a dress for it. The dress folds up into a book, and there’s another tiny book in its pocket.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back 50 years tonight!

I didn’t want to go. I wanted to mope and mourn and crawl back under the covers. But what could I say when Amy offered to swing by and pick me up? I put on some black clothing and found a tube of yellow paint. Our magnificent Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury spoke, as well as representatives from Equality New Mexico, the NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the Black Voters Collaborative. It made me feel proud to be a New Mexican.

Santa Fe

Rug shopping

We took this one home with us, but it didn’t work. We’ll be back.

me, Eric, Deb, Tom

Visiting Linda's Farm

Linda makes the best pesto in the world. Here we are inspecting the basil.

Max

Having an enchilada or two.

More pizza with Deb & Eric

Mother and Child Reunion

It’s been a year and a half since Sue has seen her son Sam, who now lives in Denver.

Bambi and Bro

Bill, Tom’s brother, pulled Bambi all the way from Virginia. Sue flew in today. And suddenly here we all are, in front of Bambi.