What's so special about a southwestern springtime?

Ahh, springtime in the Southwest is like no other springtime I know of. One day winter is still with us, with heavy comforters on the bed, thermostats set to 70 degrees, and long sleeved shirts. The next day we wake up to 80 degree temps, brilliant sunshine, and a blue cloudless sky. And the calendar tells me it is mid-March. I find myself rummaging through the closet for something appropriate to wear. My warm weather clothes look pretty tired after last year's long summer.

I throw open the doors and venture out to see if Mother Nature thinks it is springtime.  She has been kinder than I feared after a freak hailstorm last October.

Creosote Bush

A gangly creosote bush in the front yard is covered with small, fragrant yellow blossoms.  As a bonus, the nearby area has a crop of volunteer creosotes. I counted over thirty of various sizes. What a satisfied feeling to know I won't have to buy a creosote bush in the nursery, priced at $30.00.  As a matter of fact, my husband, Wayne, is threatening to chop down some of the smaller creosotes because Mother Nature provided us with so many.

Fairy Duster

The Fairy Duster, located in a neglected part of the yard, is covered with pink blooms that look like, you guessed it, tiny dusters that Tinker Bell might use.  This plant is so generous, requiring virtually no care.

Desert Marigold

And before leaving the topic of easy to care for native plants, this Desert Marigold appeared voluntarily in a part of the yard we dubbed the Tucson Yard.  This plant requires very low water usage. I suspect if I watered it like other plants, it would not survive.  It's always a joy to see where it is going to pop up each year. The Desert Marigold has a mind of its own and does not like to be disturbed.

Sunset Heights Garden

I was pleased to see native plants emerging in an area we nicknamed "Sunset Heights," after an historic neighborhood in El Paso where you can also view the western setting sun.  The pumpkins are real, but they didn't grow there.  I hated to toss them out after last November, and they did provide some color through the dull winter months.

Climbing Rose Bush

Blooming climbing roses are one of the harbingers of springtime.  This plant grows in a bed surrounding the swimming pool, and often presents us with blooms throughout the year.

Potting bench in backyard

Springtime means lots of empty pots are available for new plantings.  The former residents of the pots didn't make it through the hailstorm or winter weather. Fortunately I don't remember which plants they were, so I don't have to mourn their loss too deeply.

Springtime weather means living al fresco.  A new seating area in the vegetable garden under the pear tree provides a place to admire the tomatoes, jalapeños, pattypan squash, tomatillo, oregano, and sage that we planted this year, with fingers crossed for an abundant harvest.

Seating area in garden

I'm thoroughly enjoying each day of our southwestern early springtime.  Until the spring winds arrive.  But that is a story for another day.

Rosa's Cantina - El Paso, Texas

Sometimes it takes out of town visitors to pry you out of your comfort zone.  Our friends, Charlotte and Pierre Thibaudeau, visiting from the province of Quebec, mentioned they think of us every time they hear the Marty Robbins 1959 song "El Paso."  And can we go to Rosa's Cantina as one of our outings, they suggested? 

My husband, Wayne, and I had never been to Rosa's. although we had heard good reports recently about the quality of the food.   Taking guests to a restaurant that hasn't been thoroughly vetted can be a dangerous practice.  But the online reviews looked good with four stars, so we piled in the car and headed to West El Paso. 

A sign on the side of an old rock building announced that "Rosa's Cantina Food" adds life.  As if on cue, when we opened the front door and walked in, Marty Robbins was again singing "El Paso."  Two gentlemen who entered as the same time were discussing the history of the song.  And as we sat down, I heard two other customers exchanging information on the legendary El Paso basketball coach for the University of Texas at El Paso, Don Haskins (1966 NCAA champs).  Wow!  Were we part of a Chamber of Commerce tour?

The restaurant was spacious with ample seating at tables covered with red-checked tablecloths.

A large bar at the back of the restaurant was empty at the noon hour, but I imagined that nighttime brought life to that area.

Our table opted for iced tea all around and two orders of nachos.  Ordering nachos in El Paso is often like a role of the dice.  Too often one is served a plateful of commercial corn chips with canned yellow cheese poured over the top.  But fortunately, not this time.  The nachos were picture perfect, corn tostadas topped with refried beans, grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with side containers of guacamole and sour cream.  Sliced pickled jalapeños were not included, but the waitress cheerfully provided a plate of them (fresh!) on request.  Our friend Charlotte speculated on the amount of calories contained in a plate of nachos, but I extolled the nutritional value of beans, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeños, perhaps relieving some of her guilt.

The feeling of being a tourist must have affected all of us in the group.  Yes, souvenirs were for sale.  How about a sign for a garage wall to remember our visit? Yes, Pierre thought that would be just the thing.

Wayne checked on buying a T-shirt for a friend from Virginia but decided to wait until short-sleeved shirts were available.  (El Paso springtime warm weather has only recently arrived, so only long-sleeved were on sale.)

As we left the restaurant in high spirits, Marty was again singing "El Paso."  Just in case a reader of this blog post hasn't hear the song, here is a YouTube video that will have you singing about my home town.

"El Paso"

Slowing Down Southwest Style

Is your hectic life style getting you down?  This blog post describes a short trip my husband, Wayne, and I recently took to alleviate that very problem.  Fortunately, the Desert Southwest provides multiple opportunities for short, relaxing getaways.

We left early on a Thursday driving east from El Paso, letting wide open spaces and distant mountains bring us out of our morning stupor.  Before we knew it, we had arrived in the small West Texas town of Van Horn.  Margie's Bakery provided us with coffee and breakfast.  Another hour and a half drive, and we were in Alpine, Texas, home of Wayne's alma mater, Sul Ross State University.

Our first stop was at the Museum of the Big Bend, located on the attractive Sul Ross campus.

Museum of the Big Bend

We learned about Native American pictographs, early settlers of the region, and mining operations.  I especially enjoyed the depiction of a primitive kitchen.

Settler's kitchen

We arrived at our final destination, Ft. Davis, in the afternoon and checked into a room in the Orchard Suites of the Limpia Hotel.

Limpia Hotel, Ft. Davis

The next three days we spent like typical tourists, sightseeing, shopping, and dining, We also found the quiet atmosphere conducive to writing and were glad we had brought laptops to work on our next book, Forts, Farbs, and Phantoms. 

Both Alpine and Ft. Davis are built around impressive courthouses.

Courthouse in Ft. Davis

Courthouse in Alpine

We had a variety of dining experiences, from a small restaurant in Alpine that had great food along with their own ideas about how to prepare and serve it,

Restaurant signs

to the elegant Bistro at the Hotel Limpia for an evening meal.

Bistro, Hotel Limpia

Short drives around the area provided many photo ops.

Ft. Davis, wonderfully preserved from the 19th century

Windmill and tank

Horses, waiting to be fed?

Deserted House

Mattie, a Blue Heeler visiting from Virginia

What I can't depict in photos is the blissful peace of the Alpine-Ft. Davis area.  We slowed down and let time flow on its own.

Now my mind has a happy place to return to as I face the everyday challenges of a busy life.

How to enjoy a 70 degree winter day

The month of February is just beginning in my home town of El Paso, Texas.  I'm  deeply troubled by the thought of at least two more dreary months of winter weather. But the morning newspaper promised a 70 degree day with no wind.  Could Mother Nature truly be so kind as to give us a brief respite from winter weather?

I tentatively opened the back door to the porch where the feral cats find their daily food and water. Yes, a chill was definitely missing from the air.  So I opened the kitchen door to the courtyard and left it open. Next I unlocked the bedroom door to air out the upstairs.  My spirits were beginning to soar.

One of my greatest summertime joys is walking around the yard to admire each and every plant. But a month or so had passed since I had even ventured out of the house. A freak November hailstorm wrecked havoc on our property. I didn't even want to look at plants with frayed leaves, broken pots, and dented and scarred stucco walls.

But the beautiful, warm, sunshiny day lured me outside.  I wanted to find something that was blooming, if only to remind me that spring will be here again this year.  Here is what I discovered.

Vinca major

The vinca major vine under a grape arbor is looking much healthier than it does in the blazing heat of summer.  It even managed to put out several bright purple flowers.

Alyssum

Alyssum is another plant that seems to prefer winter weather.  Several clumps of white alyssum are growing around the yard, and, on more humid days, you can catch their sweet aroma.

Hearts and Flowers

Hearts and Flowers is a hardy plant that is growing in many different locations in our garden.  It is so easy to propagate that I have to laugh when I see it for sale in plant nurseries.  Often I pull up large clumps of this plant and throw them in the trash because it becomes invasive.  But this winter I was happy to see Hearts and Flowers flourishing and even putting on small pink blooms where the sunlight hits it.

Pyracantha

The pyracantha bush that I bought on sale at a nursery that was closing has flourished through many years.  In autumn, it is covered with orange berries that turn bright red in the winter.  A welcome sight!

Rosemary

Rosemary is another plant that thrives in the winter months.  When it is happy, it produces small blue flowers.  Rosemary is great to use as a rub for pork chops or to bake with roasted root vegetables. The distinct aroma of fresh rosemary reminds me of the gypsy women selling sprigs of rosemary to tourists in Granada, Spain.

Agarita

The spindly agarita bush in the front yard is also enjoying a respite from the scorching summer sun. It is putting on small red berries that can be used to make agarita jelly by more dedicated cooks than I.

Finding plants surviving under difficult conditions, and even prospering, gives me inspiration that we humans can do the same.  Dark, cold, windy days may be ahead, but we know that sunlight and colors and soft breezes will greet us with the first days of springtime.

Beating the January blahs - Southwest style

It's that inevitable moment in early January when I realize the holidays are truly over. Grey skies mirror my mood, with no bright holiday decorations to dispel the gloom.  I take out a 2017 calendar and contemplate the blank spaces waiting to be filled in with life's new happenings.

Each year I order a calendar from the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). I look forward to pictures of rescued cats and dogs and their heartwarming stories.  My own special pet, my cat Bitsy, is curled up beside the computer keyboard, wishing I would rub her head instead of type on the keyboard.

So what does a Southwesterner do to beat the winter blahs?  What can I write in those empty blocks on the January calendar?  Fortunately, because I live on the Texas-Mexico border in El Paso, I have an opportunity to extend the holiday season until after January 6th by celebrating Día de los Reyes Magos,Three Kings Day.  This year my husband, Wayne, and I splurged on a large rosca de reyes, a special cake offered by local bakeries for this occasion. Our cake was especially delicious because it was filled with cajeta, a thick caramel syrup.  We took half of the cake to a friend's house and devoured the rest over several days.

Rosca de Reyes

Bakers hide a small plastic Baby Jesus (or sometimes more than one) in the cake.  Whoever finds the figure is supposed to host a tamale party on February 2, Candlemas Day. I wish someone would host a Candelmas party and invite me, because by February I will probably to be desperate for entertainment.

Three and a half long weeks in January loom ahead.  Here are some things I may do to keep up my spirits:

*collaborate with Wayne to finish a mystery book we are writing - Forts, Farbs, and Phantoms;
*publish Seasons and Seasonings of the Southwest on Kindle;
*pay special attention to my 73 houseplants;
*catch up on language study on Duolingo;
*plan a May trip to Ireland to participate in a steam train tour;
*take classes at the local Osher Lifelong Learning Center;
*lose a few pounds added during the holidays and train vacation to Canada.

OR... I could curl up in front of the fireplace with a thick book and occasionally gaze out the window at the bare landscape.  My 2017 calendar is as bare as that landscape, ready for whatever the future may bring.

     

Three Southwestern Holiday Dishes

Try as I may, I cannot make it through the end of the year holidays without indulging in some special foods.  And living in the Desert Southwest, these foods usually have a special southwestern flair. Here are three dishes that my family enjoyed recently.

Tamales and winter holidays are made for each other. Tamale shops around El Paso, my home town, gear up in December for requests for large orders of tamales. Other more traditional families host tamaladas (tamale making parties) with family and friends forming a line to assembly the tamales before placing them in a large pot to steam.  (As an ex-Spanish teacher, I am a bit bothered by not using the more correct Spanish version, tamal in the singular form, tamales for plural, but I am guessing most readers will recognize "tamale" over tamal.)

This year my husband, Wayne, and I opted for the easier route and stopped by a nearby Pepe's Tamales shop to buy a few tamales for New Year's Eve.  Still, decisions had to be made.  A half-dozen or a dozen?  Red chile with pork, green chile with chicken, or green chile with cheese? We walked out of the shop with my favorite, six green chile with cheese tamales.  

We heated the tamales in a steamer on the stove and served them with pinto beans, Spanish rice, a dab of guacamole, and mango salsa.  The new plates that were a Christmas present were a perfect backdrop for a delicious meal.  

  

Another special dish we prepared this holiday season was Eggs Benedict.  Wayne is addicted to Eggs Benedict ever since he had a wonderful version of this dish in Dublin, Ireland.  I bought him an egg poacher for Christmas so that the eggs would be a snap to prepare, and we could concentrate on making a tasty sauce.  The egg poacher came with a sauce recipe. It was acceptable, but not as delicious as Wayne remembered. (Isn't that often the case with food memories?) Eggs Benedict can be transformed into a southwestern dish by putting any number of sauces made with chile on them. The eggs were served on our old Mexican dishes, which were soon to be put away to make room for the new ones.

 

Red enchiladas were also on the menu at our house this holiday season.  Of course, one can eat red enchiladas any time of the year, but somehow the rich red color of the sauce makes this dish especially appropriate around Christmas time.  The quality of the red sauce is key.  I sometimes spend an afternoon in the kitchen and make red sauce from scratch, that is, starting with the dried chile pods.  This time, however, Wayne whipped up a sauce using red chile powder.  He served the enchiladas with a side order of refried beans and a few leftover little sausages on some metal plates with wooden bases that we found at an antique shop many years ago.  

All this talk of food is making me crave something spicy, but unfortunately the holidays have just ended, and the pantry is bare except for a large jar of peanut butter.  I'll have to have a slathering of it on an apple slice and dream about a great dish to celebrate Valentine's Day, which seems very far away.

A Southwest Christmas is almost here

Some Decembers my husband, Wayne, and I go out of town for the holidays, searching for the elusive perfect setting to enjoy Christmas.  We have traveled to several cities in Texas; Auckland, New Zealand; Melbourne, Australia; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.  This year, however, we decided to again explore holiday activities in our home town of El Paso, Texas. Christmas in the Southwest has a special flavor because we live on the US-Mexico border, where languages and cultures swirl together to create a memorable experience.

Our first stop was the newly renovated San Jacinto Plaza, located in the heart of downtown El Paso.  It was a chilly Saturday evening (well, at least 50 degrees F!)  when we joined the crowds to ooh and ahh over the holiday park decorations

and, of course, the giant Christmas tree.

And no El Paso celebration would be complete without mariachi music and traditional Mexican dances.

The visit to San Jacinto Plaza was a great excuse to break a diet regime and line up at the food truck selling churros, served warm and covered with sugar, with a delicious caramel filling. Every bite of churro was worth the extra calories.

Our next hometown holiday experience came on a tour of El Paso's Lower Valley.  We spent a few quiet moments in the Socorro Mission, a beautiful, welcoming church located on what is known as the Mission Trail. The simple exterior of the church contrasts with the ornate interior.

A few miles drive to the south took us to the historic town of San Elizario, where a traditional community celebration was in progress in the plaza.

Upon arrival, we headed straight for the booth selling homemade tamales and champurrado, a special warm drink made with cornmeal, cinnamon and brown sugar. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived to greet the Amigo Man, an El Paso mascot.

I was especially impressed with the live animals that were waiting to take part in a posada, a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter on a long ago night. The young goats gamboled as their mother watched placidly.

The San Elizario Chapel overlooking the plaza provided just the right tone for the religious celebration.

Last night, we stopped in the L&J cafe, an iconic El Paso Mexican restaurant, for dinner.  The atmosphere was lively, with a bar filled with holiday merrymakers and tables occupied with couples and families.  Waiters and waitresses rushed around, making a valiant effort to make everyone happy.

Wayne looked out at the scene contentedly and said, "I love El Paso."  Yes, I do too.  It's a great place to spend the Christmas holiday season.