A Winter Day In June



Nothing better than all the vegetables
you can find, always garlic and a chile,
to make a hot soup for a Winter day in June.




A nice wood fire makes the room cozy.
The sofa table base is a cactus root
from Guanajuato, Mexico






  

A batch of cornbread, Texas recipe

 


June 20th in the High Country

 


Knocking the snow off the aspen and Canadian Cherry tree,
They were bent to the ground with the weight of the wet snow.

 
   Today is June 20 and tomorrow is the official start of Summer, so, I thought today would be a good day to go to Cold Springs Nursery and buy plants for the various flower pots and planters around the decks.   The plan was to go this morning after tennis until we woke up to snow.  Easy for us to change plans, sit by the fireplace and read, watch a movie or cook.  I am thinking of those families camping out, they must be miserable.  We have many lodges and cabins but also camp grounds that families seem to like.Yesterday was somewhat dreary and I made one of my favorites, green chili.  It is not Mexican, not Texan but I learned to make it many years ago when I lived in New Mexico.  There is a truck stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico that is famous for green chili and it is the best!  I decided to use this cold, snowy day to advantage so, I cleaned all the vegetables out of the refrigerator as tomorrow is grocery day.  I made a big healthy vegetable soup.  We won't eat all of it, so will freeze it for the house guest we are expecting July 1.  I didn't plan another blog so soon but I am house bound again and I want everyone to see a Winter day in June (almost July) in the high country.




At noon it is barely above 40*, chilly!





What else can you do, enjoy the fire,
read a book and watch Wimbleton,
not too bad.



Green Chili with roasted chile  poblano strips,
New Mexico style


Many of the dishes I have made for years do not have recipes.  First, brown one pound of ground pork and drain it.  I saute three cloves of crushed garlic and one onion cut in half and sliced on the mandolin (leave in strips) until translucent.   Add 1 quart carton of organic chicken broth, 1- 28 oz. can of Hatch''s long green chilies-diced, browned ground pork and simmer on a low heat.  I like to throw in 1 whole Serrano chile with the end cut off to add some heat.  I put just a pinch of cumin in the broth.  Add a 14 oz can of organic Muir Glen fire roasted, crushed tomatoes.  Simmer until the flavors are blended.  Serve with thin strips of roasted poblano chile on the top. You can serve it on a cheeseburger, burrito or huevos rancheros,  I like it as seen above, a bowl of chili.

Father's Day Dinner At The Grand Lake Lodge



The inside of the main lodge has a circular
fireplace and rustic seating, including a swing



The lodge is mountain charm at it's best
and well preserved.



The view to Shadow Mountain Reservoir.  The
water from Granby reservoir, Lake Granby (on the other side of
Shadow Mountain) and Shadow Mountain Reservoir was built
to protect the water levels of Grand lake, the largest natural lake
in Colorado.

 


The view of Grand Lake  from the upper deck entering the main lodge.

 


 



Stairs leading down to Nuptial Knolls, site of many
 weddings through the years, including Scott and Jill Scheer.

 


What can be more perfect than Father's Day dinner at
Grand Lake Lodge with the spectacular view!
Scott Scheer and Phil on the left and Jill Pankey Scheer and \
Scott's Father, Gordon Scheer on the right.




A great view of Grand Lake village below,
surrounded by mountains.  Mt. Baldy still has a lot of snow on top.



The Grand lake Lodge located at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park offers great views of Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir   This impressive rustic structure of log and stone was completed in 1920 and is a National Register Historic District.  The lodge has been closed for three years and we are all very happy to see it open again.  It has a special meaning for Scott and Jill who had a beautiful wedding here almost 15 years ago.  Jill and Scott invited us with Gordon to celebrate Father's Day on Saturday since they go back to the city on Sunday for work on Monday.  It was a wonderful choice and we enjoyed the good food and ambiance.  Gordon told me that he came here at the age of ten with his family on vacation and knew then that he wanted to return to Colorado and someday live in Grand Lake.  The Scheers have a wonderful cottage on Grand Lake where we are fortunate to join them for boating and cookouts.  I am sure you will see more about that as the 4th of July is coming soon.  There is a great firework display on the 4th from a platform in the middle of Grand Lake.   It was good to see the lodge busy and lots of people having dinner.  What a wonderful place to bring a family on vacation or share a family dinner.

Making adjustments

There is always a period of adjustment when we return to the high country.  The altitude is 8,470 and it is  difficult to hike or play tennis in the beginning.  We change our way of grocery shopping as well as cooking from gas to electric stove.  The cooking time increases along with oxygen intake.  I buy less fish except the wonderful fresh trout from Mountain Market, a place that I want to show you sometime.  We eat more hamburgers, steak and lamb (from Costco).  There is big produce grower, Morales Farms, that has fresh out of the field, spinach, cilantro and other produce but more expensive.  We should go there one day as it is an interesting place along with the large Cold Springs Nursery where I will go next week, both located in Granby. 

Fresh Mexican market tomatoes, 2 kilos for 86 cents and the 
Italian broad leaf Oregano that I grow and dry.  Great, pungent flavor. 


 

From the tree outside the condo to kitchen,
This past season the price of limes was very
high because of an infestation of lime trees in
our area.  Did that lower the consumption of
margaritas?  No way Jose!

 



I buy eggs at the open market & La Vianda,
in Mexico and in Granby, the City Market, both fresh
and just about the same price.

  


I notice a price difference in some items but,

I use a lot of fresh cilantro.  Researchers
say they have identified a compound (dodecenal)
in cilantro that kills harmful Salmonella bacteria.

 especially produce.  Black beans and rice are just about double in price here.  We don't get the delicious sweet corn in Mexico and I enjoy serving this black bean, corn relish with a lot of cilantro.  It is zero fat and great taste on fish tacos or fish fillet. Everything in Mexico is no longer a bargain but I do know that our food cost is much higher in the U.S.  Our area of Mexico still offers bargains such as a good haircut for $4. and a pedicure for $9.  Nothing is what it used to be, such as a full time housekeeper for $35. per month in 1972.  We do have a very good situation with a wonderful housekeeper, Adela, three times a week for $250. per month.  Property tax is so much less in Mexico, especially for us in Grand County. So, we make some adjustments, no housekeeping help at $35. per hour and we do all the never ending grounds work in Grand Lake.  I use Hatch's canned green chilies and Muir Glen fire roasted tomatoes here because of the cost and they are a good quality.  We have to make an effort to socialize here in the mountains as in Mexico, everyone is out there on the beach, in the yard, at the pool, at your door,  sort of a village feeling.  In both places, we enjoy good friends and neighbors with fun tennis groups.  The tennis cost is less here in the mountains and we are fortunate to have Theresa Nuzum to organize us.  In Mexico we have the Oasis beach bar for happy hour two blocks away and in the mountains, a local redneck bar a mile away where over indulging is encouraged.  There is a level of noise living in the condos although we enjoy spacious grounds with lots of space between buildings. Living in the mountains with little traffic on our dirt road and neighbors spread out, it is almost total silence unless the wind is blowing, the sound of a chain saw or a wild animal kills another one in the dead of night.
Nothing stays the same and not everything is perfect but we get to enjoy the best of both worlds and I suppose it averages out.  I offer these comments because people often ask me about the differences in Mexico and living here in the mountains.  There is a big difference and some adjusting for sure.


I serve black beans whenever I can.
the trace mineral, molybdenum, in black beans
is important for the function and repair of
healthy cells, lowers cholesterol, good source
of fiber.

 

Produce from City Market in Granby, one tomato
$1.28, one bell pepper $1.00, and 10 very small
limes $1.00



In Mexico I enjoy the Saturday market,
with produce straight from the field, everything fresh. 



Herbes de Provence



Herbes de Provence
I like the idea of buying in the open market  by
the ounce or in a cloth bag, avoid the wasteful
packaging.

One 5.5 ounce bag fills several jars



Remember that plastic can take up to
1,000 years to decompose in the landfill

  The famous mixture of herbes de Provence is sold in bags or by the ounce in markets in France and considerably lower cost than here.  This herbes mixture was unknown to our Grandmothers who used individually and with discernment, thyme, rosemary, basil and sage gathered from the garden.  This mixture was formulated in the 1970's.  I remember making my own mixture of herbs to use with wild game before I heard of herbes de Provence.  I keep a pretty big collection of glass jars and don't leave anything in plastic.  I put flour, sugar, sea salt, and coffee in glass.  I rarely buy canned products and recycle any glass containers (olive, pickle, jelly jars etc.). I am dividing the 5.5 ounce bags to share with friends.  Herbs do not 'go bad', they lose potency.  My theory is not to store herbs and spices in plastic, aluminum or tin and to avoid moisture, heat and light. I ruined many dishes when I first used herbes de Provence and have learned by trial and error.  I am including a few hints but I will say the' number one thing' is not to add after cooking is complete.
Fish is a tender meat and can easily take on the taste of the spice applied.  I like the results better to mix the herbs with a good quality olive oil and rub on with a light touch.
I don't use it with beef because the fennel is a little overpowering and if the spices are not cooked, they will take over the flavor.
I like it in soup, but only if I mix it with the stock and not sprinkle it in.  The flavors of the spice will infuse with the stock and when the raw meat is put into the pot, the spices will saturate the grain of the meat.
For chicken, I like to make a mixture of butter, olive oil and herbs and rub into the skin a few minutes before cooking, baked or grilled.  It gives the chicken a strong flavor of thyme.
It is great as a rub on lamb - lightly, not to overpower the lamb.
You can do wonders with an omelet and even a salad dressing.

Herbes de Provence mixed with
Olive oil and butter for poultry

I use 'a touch' in a creamy white wine butter sauce (beurre blanc). I picked up a tip on the cruise with the French chef who recommended using sauvignon blanc as a substitute for Chablis, unless it is French Chablis because the American Chablis is on the sweet side.
You can actually mix your own herbes de Provence, with dried marjoram, thyme, savory, basil, rosemary, sage, fennel seeds, tarragon, chervil and mint.  Portions and herbs vary with different recipes.  The American version uses lavender
I found this great recipe in with the herbes de Provence package the last trip to France.  You can buy this already made in the open market. Wonderful for hors d' oeuvres, summer picnics, hostess gifts. It is so easy but requires some planning.  Find a pretty jar and make one week in advance.

12 oz.bocconcini (small mozzarella balls)  we can even find them in Mexico
1 tsp. herbes de Provence
4 bay leaves
12 black peppercorns, slightly crushed
1 to 1 1/2 cups of good quality olive oil
Place the four ingredients in a glass jar and cover with olive oil.  Close securely and place in the refrigerator for one week and up to one month.  Bring to room temperature before serving and drizzle with a bit of olive oil and serve with crusty bread.

It is all about flavor so experiment and have fun!!!

Inspired while dividing the bags of herbes de Provence from St. Tropez. 

Will This Blog Continue?



Beautiful mountain poppies
In front of the Peck House in Empire,
Some great history there. 

 


So many beautiful areas around the Lake
We get to enjoy the views from Jill's boat.

  I plan to leave the blog up for awhile.  There have not been that many people reading the blog but it seems the people that have, are enjoying it.  That was the purpose.  I can have this printed in booklet form for us to remember the trip.  It is so easy to take hundreds of photos and they are not looked at again.  I have spent hours on travel notebooks, only to throw them out a couple of years later.
 

A moose in the yard




Mexican comida, Colorado style in our yard

   Some of the people that recently know of the blog want to read it. I just received an e-mail from a tennis friend in Mexico who asked me, why don't I show some of Colorado and where we live on the blog?  A new acquaintance from UK would like to see Colorado. Also, we have been invited to Vancouver to visit and I think that I might want to continue the blog with that trip.  Well, I have to think about that!  We know who they are.  There will be one retirement party and a 40th wedding anniversary while we are there.  We have very good neighbors here in the mountains.  As I continue the blog, I hope you meet some of them.



Abe Lincoln doesn't live here but welcome!
I always want to tell everyone that "we" stained
every piece of wood you see and there is a lot
of wood inside and out.

  

The wildflowers in the yard look like a Monet painting




The view coming in to Mountain Shadows.
I have to tell you that Phil and buddies built the fence.



St. Petersburg

The boat tour made it possible to see
many magnificent landmarks



Our boat tour on the canals took us
along side The Hermitage

 


The small throne room, The Hermitage

 Like Venice and Amsterdam, St. Petersburg is a city on water, laced by rivers and canals, connected by hundreds of bridges.  St. Petersburg is patterned after Western capitals with a grand boulevard that evokes Paris.  It was once the capital of Imperial Russia and playground of Russia's elite.

Extravagant



We crossed the Neva River contained within granite banks

   St. Petersburg is so many things but I was most surprised with it's beauty in general.  We decided to spend the first day at the Hermitage which is breathtaking in it's splendor and the second day on a city tour that included a boat tour. St. Petersburg has only 40-50 days of sunshine each year and we were fortunate to be here on two of those.  People are enjoying the sun on every park bench and patch of grass.  It was a short drive from the pier to The Hermitage Museum.  There is not much traffic and people move briskly along without making eye contact.  Seabourn arranged a special early opening at the Hermitage for their guest.  Our guide through the Hermitage was pleasant and obviously proud of her country.  Her English was good but she added er to every word that ended in ed.  The museum is housed in an extravagant Baroque Palace designed for Empress Elizabeth in 1754.  Catherine the Great was the first monarch to live in the palace and over her 34 year reign she laid the foundation for the extensive collection of artwork.  In the Winter Palace section we toured room after room icluding the small throne hall, the armorial hall, memorial gallery, the grand throne hall.  The 3 million items in the Hermitage were acquired by 7 Tsars and confiscations of private collections after the revolution.  The Hermitage is too vast and requires more than one day, so on line before we left, I check the stars of the show, so to speak.  I made a point to see Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna Litta, so touchingly beautiful, Rembrandt's sensual Danae, Velasquez's the Drinkers, real people in real life, Cezanne's Woman in blue.  There is room after room of Gauguin, Matisse, Renior, Van Gogh, Picasso.  Our second day started with a coach tour stopping at points of interest and then we took the boat tour through the waterways, crossing the Neva River.  I will have to mention here that Phil's Mother's name was Neva. Our guide the second day looked like a Russian character out of James bond and acted like she was holding a kissing contest for lepers. The architecture is fascinating and there are canals like Venice.  Many buildings along the water way are condos and our guide said 80% of the Russian people own their own home.  Peter the Great ordered that palaces should have a landing on the river, and many of these elaborate structures are best seen from the water.  Crossing the Neva River, there is a view of the Spit of Vasilievsky Islanford with it's historic Rostral Columns and the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral.  We passed the Aurora, the battleship that signaled the start of the Revolution 1917.  I can't name it all and probably have already bored you to tears.  There were so many tours offered and an amazing number of people opted for private tours costing up to $1,800. per day.  I was surprised that many people arranged a private shopping tour (furs).  Many people took up to three tours a day (one of those at night).  We learned a lot and were exhausted by the end of the day with one tour each day.  The lectures held before arrival give you the information and insight you need.  It was a fascinating, wonderful experience.
 

Smolny Cathedral, exquisite symmetry, remains a glorious
example of onion dome architecture.  Phil was completely
enthralled and took dozens of photos.

 

This floor is an all wood design in The
Hermitage

 

The Grand Jordon Staircase in The Hermitage



Peter the Great seems to be the national hero.
He built this magnificent city from a marshy swamp.
Bronze Horseman also known as Peter the Great's
Monument.



Decembrists' Square
named in honour of the revolutionaries who were
gunned down here in December 1825.








Shopping was abundant but seemed expensive
Some passengers took actual shopping trips with
a guide

 







Exceptional, could be the Vatican.
The Hermitage



Spring gardens everywhere we go,
even the Hermitage

Helsinki



Helsinki is beautiful but didn't take many photos
as it rained during part of the tour

 

The impressive neoclassical Senate
Square dates from 1833

Another beautiful market, only this
market sells furs, interesting.

Helsinki,capital of Finland and "Daughter of the Baltic" was founded in 1550.  The city is beautifully set on a peninsula surrounded by islands.  It is a modern, lively city of approximately a half million inhabitants.
Most of the sights are concentrated within easy walking distance, in and around the compact center of Helsinki, with the charm of a small seaport.  Cruise ships and the big ferries from Stockholm, Rostock,and Tallin dock on either side of South harbor.  At the head of the harbour, a colorful open air market is held daily in the Summer.  Stalls are stocked with fruit, vegetables, flowers, souvenirs and clothing that include furs.  Evidence of Finnish creativity and design is all around you.  The harsh Winters with up to 18 hours of darkness daily may have encouraged these artistic talents.  The factor that most clearly sets them apart from their neighbors is their language, impenetrable to most outsiders.  Reindeer is served hot with cream sauce or cold, smoked and thinly sliced.  No thanks.  Coffee is so popular that it could claim to be the national drink. Fur coats and hats are regarded as a necessity, not a luxury.  A big name that everyone wanted to shop for included Marimekko.  The Finns love nature and boasts a remarkable lot of space and greenery with canoeing, sailing and nature trails cut through the city.  In the Winter, it is ice fishing, cross country skiers and ice skaters.  The biggest cause of auto accidents in Finland is moose. Like most of the Baltic countries, Helsinki's highlight of the year is the Midsummer Festival celebrating the Summer solstice on the weekend closest to June 24.  The Finns are very proud of Jean Sibelius, a Finnish composer of the Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of Finnish National Identity.  The Finn's legendary 'sisu', the courage and endurance which enabled them to survive the powerful neighbors that fought for their land. Sibelius mastery of the orchestra has been described as prodigious.  One of Sibelius best known compositions include 'Finlandia'. Sibelius's image was on the Finnish 100 mark bill until 2002 when they went to Euros.  The Sibelius monument was created and dedicated to the vision of Sibelius on the tenth anniversary of his death (1967).  He is so revered by the Finnish people and our tour guide 'made us' get out in the rain to see it.  I was lucky as one of the young women on the cruise insisted I take her umbrella.  The monument is suppose to represent nature, water and wood but is often a victim of ridicule.  With the photo, you have an idea of the scale.  I commented on the 'Little Mermaid' in Copenhagen and how shocking the small size.  A friend who has followed my blog was kind enough to comment that we are use to such large scale (Churchill across from Parliament in London - good example) and Hans Christian Andersen probably made it to scale of his character in the book.  I think the 'Sibelius Monument' is to Finland what the 'Little Mermaid' and Hans Christian Andersen is to Denmark.  I understood it better.  I was glad that we got out in the rain to see it. Our tour took us through the residental area and the famous Rock Church.  Two brothers started with a rocky outcrop 40 feet above the street level and created an ingenious modern version of the rotunda, with interior walls from bedrock and spanned by a hughe dome covered in copper wire.  The church is often used for concerts.  Unfortunately, we could not go in as it is in renovation but we did see the exterior.  Most impressive was Villa Hakasalmi, a mansion built in 1846 in Italian Renaissance style, now used as the Municipal Museum.  We were docked in a position that we could see the traffic and look down one of the principal streets.  I loved seeing the city, even with the rain.


The Sibelius Park is laid out on a hill overlooking the sea in
honour of the composer Jean Sibelius with rocky
outcrops and old birch trees.  To one side of the park stands a
massive steel sculpture resembling organ pipes, The Sibelius Monument.

1. 



Sculpture of the composer Jean Sibelius



Our very enthusiastic guide spoke very
good English. (In the colorful coat)