Snapshots New Mexico

Handmade Colorado

This year in New Mexico has been so spacious with expansive room for creativity to unfurl. Space-both physical and psychological. And I've been MAKING!

Painting by Carla Wojczuk, gifted to me for my 29th birthday.  Inspired by my intrigue with Katie Quinn Davies gorgeous photography.

 

...It started with weekly chicken soup. Having not lived through a true winter in seven years, I'm all about anything to stay warm. And the heap of wishbones on my kitchen window-sill number sixteen! I began dreaming of a house that is mostly kitchen, like the house I grew up in. The kitchen is where I've spent the bulk of my home-time this winter...

Chicken stock: rotisserie chicken carcass, star anise, bay leaves, onion, red chile, garlic, onion, ginger, and carrots simmering...

In November, Troy and I launched an impromptu transformation of his garage into a woodshop spurred by a desire to refinish this beautiful mid-century wood desk that Emily had gifted me years ago. 




Regular use and a couple of moves (plus my disregard for coasters!) had left it in quite a state...on the verge of following over. Positroy - always the optimist - declared: "I can fix that!". 





And the work began. He began plotting to transport his father's beloved wood working tools--which Troy inherited when his father passed fifteen years ago--from the family home in Mass to our New Mexico atelie to make the magic happen.

In early December, Sunday Dinners morphed into days of Crafting, Canning and Carpentry. In the lead up to the holiday, we went crazy making.

I'd procured the fruit from a colleague's high-school aged son who is fundraising for a service-learning trip to Central America - and what does one lady to with 60 grapefruit? 

When the world gives you grapefruit, make marmalade!

Sixty plus jars! It was ridiculous! And delicious! Marmalade on English Muffins. Marmalade on pork. And marmalade on chocolate stout cake for birthday celebrations...I'm taking suggestions.

I was on call to catch  Xmas Babies...Like this one! How fun! Happy Birthday little one! My first Xmas baby came 3 years ago in a friends apartment in San Francisco - Poppy Noel! She started a tradition. I love to work Xmas Eve  and catch Xmas Morning Babies. Chinese food and movies are fun, too!

With friends away, home with families, I enjoyed time to myself crafting and cooking and decorating my tree.

    
Buttons, aluminium foil, cardboard and this and that from my bowerbird collection...and voila! Christmas Pineapple!

And there was Xmas Cake...

But the holidays aren't holidays without time with loved ones... Oh how I miss these guys! So I hopped on a plane and flew to Denver for the New Year. 

To be continued...