Welcome to The Innkeeper's Corner. We'll use this page to keep you up to date on the news from and about the inn and the innkeepers as well as happenings and events in the area. Updates will be posted at least weekly - more often if we have something pressing or something we think is just darned interesting to share with you.
I thought we were supposed to be done with the high winds by now. To my dismay I just learned that May is our windiest month. Enough already! The dust devils are whipping down the street. Maybe we do live in Kansas; good thing I don't own a dog named Toto! I have just come in from working in the yard. The recent high winds have blown alot of old pine needles out of the trees. They will make good compost once they go through the shredder.
Goerge and made it to an Isotope game earlier this week. We haven't been to a game in a few years and I had forgotten how much I like baseball. My scoring is getting pretty good - I even understand the infield fly rule - but I still have trouble keeping a pitch count while doing the regular scoring. I have to admit nothing beats a hotdog at the ball park. Isotopes Park serves Hebrew National hotdogs - almost as good as the Vienna Beef dogs we used to get at Wrigely Field. The Isotopes - or 'Topes as they are affectionaly called - are the Triple A team for the Florida Marlins. This week we saw them defeat the Tucson Sidewinders. We are planning on going again when the Iowa Cubs come to town. Based on the current Iowa Cubs standings I expect another Isotope win. I would strongly recommend a trip to the old ballpark for any of our potential guests who are fans of the sport.
This weekend I will finally be able to plant. I have been preparing the garden beds for my vegetables. I currently have red leaf lettuce and rhubarb in the garden as well as my "getting bigger every day" artichoke. As Sunday is Mother's Day I will be planting my potatoes, tomatoes and a few other vegetables. My geraniums and the herbs planted in pots on the portal are doing quite well. They are somewhat protected from the winds and the frost.
Speaking of Mother's Day - Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Lorraine Carnehl, and george's Mom, Joan Newby. Where would we be without you! Love to you both.
That's it for today. I am working with one of the local farmers on a new package that combines organic farming and cooking. Don't worry I'm not planning on having guests work the fields, though Richard - our farmer friend might! Stayed tune for more news on that package.
Our summer is beginning to book up. Give us a call soon!
Here is is the first of May. I don't know where the time goes anymore. For the last several days we have been experiencing the infamous spring winds of New Mexico. Sustained winds are between 29 - 35 miles per hour with gusts at 60 miles per hour or higher. Dust is blowing around like crazy. There is absolutely no point washing the car when the winds are blowing like this. We keep the windows closed as tightly as possible but I still seem to be dusting every day. I would love to get out and do some work outside. There is some trim that needs to be painted and the windows need to be washed. But this wind puts all of that on hold for awhile. The weatherman tells us this wind should die down next week. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
Today is our son Sean's birthday. I remember as if it were yesterday the day he was born. It was a beautiful spring day in Chicago. Mild temperatures and bright sunshine lasted most of the day. By the time we left for the hospital it was beginning to storm. I distinctly remember sitting on the suitcase listening to the thunder as George locked up the car. Sean is our firstborn and we were really looking forward to meeting our son or daughter - this was before sonograms so we didn't know what was in there! I will never forget the awe I felt as he was born and I held him for the first time. Sean is a fantastic young man now. I am afraid that at 6' he is a little to tall for me to cradle in my arms. But he will alwys be my little boy. Happy Birthday Sean. Throughout the years you have been a joy, and sometimes a trial, but we can't imagine life without you!
This past week was also my parents 59th wedding anniversay. They are a shining example of married life. All you have to do is see my parents together to know that the love they feel for each other is very deep and binding. Congratulations Mom and Dad!
The weather last weekend was so beautiful I got busy in the garden preparing the beds for the upcoming planting season. I was so tempted to go to the plant store and get an early start on my vegetable garden. Fortunately I resisted the urge and my good judgement was rewarded when the temperature fell into the upper twenties. We even saw snow on the mountians late this week! Our guests were hoping for warmer weather but at least we aren't getting alot of snow. They are happy to see the lilacs in the yard beginning to bud out and the irises and daffodils in bloom. It is nice to see a little color after the cold winter.
I unearthed my worm composting buckets last week and was pleasantly surprised to see alot of my red wigglers still in residence. I will be emptying the compost bins in the next few weeks and all of their hard work will be turned into my garden. Then it is back to work for the worms! I am considering putting together a package on featuring worm composting. Email me at innkeeper@sandhillcranebandb.com if you are interested or have any suggestions on topics to be covered.
As with so many other places around the country, New Mexico has all manner of "Green" initiatives. Some of them are a little hard to accomplish - Mayor Marty Chavez (Albuquerque) though it might be nice if all Albuquerqueans with flat roofs planted gardens on their roofs. Others are alot more practical. We thought our guests would like to know what we are doing to "green up " the inn. I have added a new web page - Greening the Crane - to our web site. The page includes information on what we are doing to help conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
My apology to all of you who have been looking for recent posts. Now the story can be told! The week before Christmas George and I decided to take a ride to the Tseuque Pueblo Flea Market. It had snowed that week so the parking lot was snowpacked. I made it into the flea market as far as the first booth when my foot found a small mound of snow and ice. I went down like the Titanic and managed to break my ankle in two places in the process. A trip to the emergency room left me in a metal cast and on crutches with strict orders to stay completely off the foot for 6 to 8 weeks.
George and I planned to be in Chicago for Christmas. We hadn't seen some of our family for over 2 years and this wasn't going to stop us from making the trip. It was, however, an adventure and one I don't want to repeat any time soon. I have never used crutches before and going up and down stairs is not easy. Gus - our grandog - was not a big fan of the crutches though, as you can see by the picture to the right, he did come around!
Gus and I spend some quality time. Notice the crutches in the background.
I was in the metal boot until February, then they put me in an air cast and allowed me to walk without crutches. At last I was able to return to my role as chef at the B&B. George had to take over cooking duties while I was on crutches including guest breakfasts. Fortunately he makes a mean omelette and no one left hungry. I'm back to normal and only have a slight limp when I get tired.
Spring has sprung here in New Mexico and our yard is beginning to awaken from its winter nap. The lilacs are beginning to bud and the Forsythia is blooming. The apricot tree had alot of flowers so we are hoping for a bumper crop this year. Guests are already enjoying the first of the herbs to come up in the garden.
Our kids in Chicago have not had it as good. Winter seems to be hanging on; it snowed Easter weekend. That didn't stop Gus from participating in the local Doggy Easter Egg hunt. It also gave him an opportunity to practice his snow ball midair retrieval skills as shown in the pictures below.
Be sure to check out our new Anniversary specials. The latest specials run from April 1, 2008 to June 30, 2008. Come see us soon!
Gus protects his Easter Egg from a four legged friend.
Happy New Years to you all. This will be a big year for us as 2008 marks our fith anniversary as innkeepers! It seems hard to believe it was five years ago that we made the move from Chicago to New Mexico. You know what they say - Time flies when you're having fun.
Looking back over the past five years I am amazed at what we have accomplished. Moving to New Mexico was a massive change for George and I but, five years later, I can say we feel right at home here. I think I will always be a midwestern girl at heart but I have to admit I miss the mountains when I not away from home.
We went back to Chicago for Christmas and got to spend time with family and friends. We didn't spend much time in downtown Chicago - more about that in later posts - but it was really great to see our son Sean, daughter Samantha and son-in law Jaime. And, we got to meet our grand dog, Gus, for the first time. Meeting Gus was an experience. He has many characteristics of the breed (he's a Weimaraner) including the protectiveness toward his owners (specifically Samantha). He was not sure he wanted to let us in the house at first. By the second day he accepted us but still didn't like it if we kissed or hugged Sam. Eventually we won him over and by the time we left he was sitting on our laps and letting us hug our daughter and son. He's a great dog and Santa brought him lots of presents! Unfortunately he is, as they call it, an agressive chewer. If I remember correctly the longest lasting toy managed to stay in one piece for exactly 39.5 minutes.
We also got a chance to see some of our friends from one of my previous companies and from the old neighborhood. It was a relaxing visit that went by much to quickly.
We are celebrating our fifth anniversay as innkeepers this year. We will be offering specials and events throughout the year to celebrate. I have posted the first of the specials on the Celebrate Our Anniversay page on the site.
The holidays are almost here and preparations are in full swing. All of our family is scattered across the country so gifts must be purchased, wrapped and shipped well in advance to ensure delivery by Christmas. Last week I began my cookie baking marathon. Everyone in the family has their favorite cookie and puts in their order! Anise cookies, Almond flavor cookies and Gingerbread men (and women) are the usual fare. I started baking as a young girl. I used to visit my grandmother and watched as she made the Anise cookies. After she passed away I became the keeper of the recipe and the family baker of decorated anise cookies. In 1980 I found an almond paste based recipe that starts as a basic recipe and, by adding various ingredients, allows you to make many different types of cookies. They quickly became one of George's favorites and I have been making them ever since. He is especially fond of the cookie with the dark chocolate Hershey Kiss in the center!
We have the tree up and decorated with all of our ornamants. Every year as we set up the tree George and I recall our first Christmas together. George was in the military and we didn't have alot of money. We were really looking forward to our first Christmas together and bought the largest tree we could find. We bought a couple of strings of lights and a couple of boxes of ornaments and figured we were good to go. Unfortuantely, the tree was much larger than the number of ornaments we had so the poor thing was rather barren. That year our family gave us ornamants for our tree and it has become a tradition that continues to this day. Today, those first two boxes of ornaments are the only boxed you will find on our trees. When our children were born we gave each of them an ornament at every Christmas. As a result their first Christmas trees in their own homes were filled with the unique ornaments they received over the years.
This will be my last post for 2007. We wish you all happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year. We will be celebrating our 5th anniversary as innkeepers next year. As a result we will be running a nuumber of specials for new and returning guests. Check our web site often or call to get the details about our latest special. See you in 2008!
Well another Thanksgiving is behind us. We hope all of you had a great time with family or friends. George and I celebrated Thanksgiving on our own - if you don't count the turkey. Our son Sean, daughter Sam, and son-in-law Jaime celebreated at Jaime's parents' home in Illinois. We continued our Thanksgiving holiday tradition by ending the day watching A Christmas Story. It's the movie we based our Red Ryder (Mesa) room on here at the inn.
It snowed here the day after Thanksgiving. I think all of the retailers were happy because it put everyone into a holiday mood. I ventured into the mall for a brief hour and left a battered women. I'll do the rest of my shopping in the middle of the week!
Last weekend we had some pretty exciting weather for New Mexico. It appears that we may have had a tornado here in Corrales early Saturday morning. We woke up about 4 in the morning with the wind really howling. It got louder and louder and for a few brief moments I thought we would lose our roof. We had already put our luminarias up on the roof and we secure them with bricks on either side of the light. The wind blew so hard it blew the bricks off of the wall and sent them flying across the yard and portal. A couple of blooks away an adobe home had 2x4's imbedded into the side of the house. It takes a pretty strong wind to push a 2x4 through brick! Who said we don't get strange weather in New Mexico.
This week the inn will begin to smell like Christmas as I start my marathon of holiday baking. Last year I made about 120 dozen cookies. The guests love this time of year!
Check out our new cooking classes that can be added to any multi night stay. They have been a big hit with people who have taken them. I will be adding additional classes after the first of the year.
Till next week stay warm and think festive thoughts!
If you didn't make our holiday open house yesterday, November 18th, you missed a great time. Our visitors were able to tour the B&B, enjoy mulled cider and home baked Christmas cookies and take home a small holiday gift from the Sandhill Crane. It has been in the 70's for the last week which made it very difficult to get in the Christmas spirit. But with the Holiday Open House in the offing I had no choice. So on went the Christmas music, out came the decorations and away I went. On the up side, we did get all of the farolitas up on the roof in balmy weather. When we lived in Chicago we considered ourselves blessed if we got to do the outdoor decorating in light jackets!
Dining room table in festive dress
We were fortunate to have two of our local artists, Pat who does water colors and Rick who does pottery, displaying their pieces at the open house. Several guests took art home. You can see some of their work at the Corrales Society of Artists web page. Speaking of art work, we acquired a new piece of sculpture for the Mesa Room at a recent estate sale. The cowboy sculpture is by Billy Burns, know for his western themes. Try as I might I can't get a picture that does the sculpture justice so you will have to pay us a visit to see our newest cowboy.
That's it for this week. Next week I will be talking about some of our new specials that will be available after the first of the year. Have a great Thanksgiving!
We are busy preparing for the holiday season. Decorations will be up by the end of this week in anticipation of our Holiday Open House on November 18th. Any of you who live in the area should stop by. We'll be serving refreshments, will have local artists displaying and selling their work and are going to be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program. We'll also have special treats to take home. We will be open from 12:00 noon until 4:00pm. We'd love to have you stop by!
Yesterday we put up most of the Farolitas (North of Albuquerque they are called Farolitas, South of Albuquerque they are Luminarias) on the roof. Who would have thought we would be doing it in our shirtsleeves. We have had an abnormally warm fall and yesterday was no exception. It was in the low 70's with a slight breeze. Being a winter girl I am ready for some colder weather but I can't complain too loudly, no cold means no furnace and who doesn't love avoiding sky high gas bills!
Next week, in addition to pictures of the inn decorated for the holidays, I will have a picture of our lastest estate sale find. It is a great cowboy sculpture by Billy Burns. I am going to try to get to another sale here in Corrales this week so I may have even more treasures to share!
Next year we will celebrate our 5th anniversary as innkeepers/owners of the Sandhill Crane Bed and Breakfast. We are planning alot of specials and events. I will keep you posted through this column.
We still have two rooms available over Thanksgiving. If you live in the area and need a place to put up guests or if you would like to spend Thanksgiving in New Mexico it is not to late to give us a call. We can be reached at 800.375.2445.
Another balloon fiesta is over and I can honestly say it was the best one we have ever experienced. Most mornings we had clear skies and perfect wind conditions. Two evening Glowdeos were cancelled due to wind speed but everything else went off as planned. We saw some new balloons this year; Darth Vadar, and the balloon to the left. My Mom's name is Lorraine and I think she's been holding out on me! I didn't know you gave up boating for ballooning Mom!
The Dreamland Cow is a favorite at the event. As you can see in the picture to the right he leads the way to Balloon Fiesta!
The Creamland Cow Leads the Way!
The Mass Ascensions are always fun, spectacular events. With so much to see it is hard to know where to look first. We have captured some of our favorite images of the Mass Acensions and loaded them on the 2007 Balloon Fiesta page.
We were fortunate to have two balloons land in our yard on the morning of Wednesday, October 10, 2007. Pictures of the event are on the Balloons at Sandhill B&B page.
Crewing a balloon is one way to really get a feel for the event. With 700 balloons participating in the Fiesta volunteer crew members are always in demand. George and I got a chance to crew this year. We helped to inflate the balloon, chased it around Corrales, and help deflate and pack the balloon once it landed. Pictures of our crewing adventure can be found on the Crewing Balloons page.
I apologize for the lack of updates to this page. September has been a very busy month for us and I have had little time to update the site. Early in the month our daughter Samantha (aka Sam) came from Chicago to visit us. Between her job and settling into life as a newlywed we hadn't seen her for two years. Her husband Jaime graciously let her come and stay with us for a few days while he "batched it" with their dog Gus. Sam was here during the new Mexico State Fair and we spent one day wandering around the different buildings and exhibits. Sam really wanted to see the duck races - a new event at the fair. Turns out thay actually pick audience members to launch the ducks and Sam was one of the lucky people selected to handle one of the ducks in the first round. She won her heat and went on to win the final round! Her prize? A great duck visor! As you can see from the picture on the right, Sam is more than willing to show off her prize. Those of you who come to visit can see this amazing Duck Visor in person as Sam graciously left it here for all to admire!
My next post will be from Balloon Fiesta. Watch for the pictures. I am hoping to get a shot of Darth Vadar as he flies in the sky above Albuquerque.
Sam models her beautiful Duck Visor (worn on top of her hat)
An increase in guests and a visit from friends who live in the Midwest has kept us pretty busy at the inn.Our good friends Scott and Lisa along with their kids Lauren and Michael spent a few days with us at the end of July.It was great seeing old friends and catching up.One of the best parts of entertaining family and friends is the ability to play tourist.It seems like you quickly take for granted all of the wonderful things to see and do when you live in an area.Taking around friends and family helps you remember why you fell in love with the area in the first place.I recommend everyone take a day or two and play tourist in your own area.You might be surprised at what you discover!
The farmers market - officially called the Growers Market here in Corrales – is really blossoming.As the growing season progresses more and more vendors are showing up with fabulous produce, plants, and other home grown/made goods.As in any market people have their favorite growers and we are no different.Van Riper Farms, owned by Martha and Richard Van Riper (that’s them in their version of the American Gothic pose to the right) is our favorite.And, judging by the line at their booth every Sunday morning, they are everyone else’s as well!You only need to sample their produce once to know you have hit the jackpot.They have the longest line at the market and sell out of some things very quickly.You need to get there early if you don’t want to be disappointed.You can see for yourself all of the wonderful things they bring to market by visiting their website at www.nmfarmer.com, or better yet, come and visit us. You'll get a chance to sample their produce at breakfast and, if you're here on a Sunday, check out their booth for yourself!
My garden is doing a bit better now that the weather has cooled a bit.My tomato plants are just beginning to produce and I have a whole new crop of eggplants.I am really looking forward to harvesting some of my Japanese eggplants.I have discovered a fabulous recipe in a Paul Prudhomme cookbook that features hollowed out eggplants stuffed with crab and shrimp. What’s not to love!
Richard and Martha Van Riper of Van Riper Farms in Corrales, NM
Upcoming Events
The Indian Market which takes place in Santa Fe, is being held August 18th and 19th this year. The market is held on streets surrounding the plaza.The market provides a great opportunity to view the work and meet some famous artists or to discover a new talent.We are about 40 minutes from Santa Fe- close enough to get there in a reasonable period of time yet far enough away that you won’t experience the large crowds once you leave the market.We have one room left on Indian Market weekend.Give us a call at 800.375.2445 if you want to participate in either of this fabulous market.
July 16, 2007 I was able to get to an estate sale this week and brought home this treasure.I had never seen a wagon like this until we moved to New Mexico.I have seen them a number of times at estate sales but none where as good as this one.The wagon has wooden wheels with rubber trim and, as you can see, were once painted red.No decision has been made as to the resting place of the wagon.We are considering filling it with potted plants and leaving it on the portal.I would love to put it outside the parking area but I am afraid the weather would take its toll.The sun can be brutal on unprotected wood and I don’t want to add any finish to an antique.
My Antique Little Red Wheeled Wagon
George is busy building some new bookshelves for me.I am afraid my cook book collection has outgrown by existing storage.I recently picked up two new books on Tapas and Paella while visiting The Spanish Table in Santa Fe.The Spanish Table is a great store for Mediterranean foodstuffs, utensils and dinnerware.They have a huge selection of Paella pans and is the only place I have found with authentic paella rice.It is a “must visit” spot if you like tapas and paella. My worm composting is going better than expected.We are adding another bin and will “harvest” our first compost in about a week.I am amazed at how quickly the worms turn the kitchen scraps into compost.I know my vegetable garden will be thankful in the spring.Speaking of vegetable garden, I will be picking the first tomatoes of the season in the next few days.My pear tomatoes are almost ripe and ready for picking.
Still working on my new specials.I hope to have them in my next post -sometime late next week.
Adios
Upcoming Events
The Spanish Market takes place in Santa Fe July 28th and 29th The Indian Market takes place in Santa Fe August 18th and 19th We have one room left on the weekend of Spanish Market and are currently wide open for Indian Market.Give us a call at 800.375.2445 if you want to visit either of these fabulous markets.
July 11, 2007 As I mentioned in my last post, we were planning on participating in the 4th of July parade.Corrales is a pretty small town but the parade draws a lot of participants.People bring their horses, dogs and goats, the local organizations decorate cars and tractors and come out in full force and of course there are the politicians.I understand the Mayor of Albuquerque even marched in the parade, if you can call riding a Segway marching!
We were pretty excited about the event.As you can see by the pictures, we decorated the truck with our banners, magnetic signs and American flags. Our wooden crane was strapped to a table on the bed of the truck, elevating it over the side panels so it could be seen.We even had a boom box on the truck bed playing patriotic marching music.Being neophytes at this parade thing we followed the instructions to the letter.We got to our staging area at 9:00 in the morning.The parade, because of the diverse participation, is staged at various areas; animals, cars, walkers, and floats are all staged in separate areas.Then, as the parade starts the parade marshals are supposed to intersperse groups from the different areas.Floats (that’s what we were considered) are staged the furthest from the starting point of the parade.So we waited and waited and waited.We were beginning to despair of ever actually being in the parade.Finally they moved our group (the last 4) out onto the street!We were going!But wait - here come some decorated old cars that had participated in the Rio Rancho parade and decided to join the Corrales parade – we’re on hold again. The kids on the Corrales Swim team float, which was directly in front of us, got so desperate they began chanting “We want to be in the parade!”At about 11:00 we actually began to move down the road.We finished up around 11:30 after I handed out about 1000 foam animal stickers and who knows how much candy.It is a good thing to because by then the temperature was about 98°!I think I drank a gallon of water when we got home.Next year I ride in the back, do the Queen wave, and throw the candy giveaways like everyone else!
Till next week……..
Upcoming Events
The Spanish Market takes place in Santa Fe July 28th and 29th The Indian Market takes place in Santa Fe August 18th and 19th We have one room left on the weekend of Spanish Market and are currently wide open for Indian Market.Give us a call at 800.375.2445 if you want to visit either of these fabulous markets.
July 1, 2007 Hard to believe that half the year has flown by.The flower garden is in bloom and the vegetable garden is coming along, though not as quickly as I would like.It has been really hot here – almost too hot for the plants.I was surprised to learn that this is the hottest time of the year.It makes sense as the monsoon season starts by mid-July and that keeps the temperatures down.Next year we will cover the vegetable garden with a lattice cover to provide dappled sunlight and reduce the stress on the plants.
Soil conditions remain an issue for the garden.Recently I have been reading about worm composting and decided to give it a whirl.Here’s the short course.First you get a big plastic container – like a storage bin – and drill holes in the sides and bottom.I buried our container in the ground to insure it stayed cool during the summer.Next, fill the container with bedding – shredded paper or leaves.Add your worms.These are not your garden variety earthworms. These worms are called “Red Wigglers” and can be purchased from garden supply companies or nurseries.As you can imagine we generate a lot of kitchen waste and this the perfect way to get rid of some of it.Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags, vegetable scraps all go into the bin.I add a couple of scoops of sand each time I add the kitchen scraps to aid the worms in digesting the scraps.I was amazed to see them completing demolish one bag of scraps in about three days.Within the next week I will start a new bin and empty the old filled with great compost into my garden.George was skeptical about this adventure but has to admit it seems to be working.
Happy 4th of July to you all.We are participating in the 4th of July parade here in Corrales.I’ll be sharing pictures of the event in my next post.
Upcoming Events Those of you who collect Spanish or Indian art you’ll want to make note of these dates.The Spanish Market takes place in Santa Fe July 28th and 29th and the Indian Market, which also takes place in Santa Fe is being held August 18th and 19th this year. Both of the markets are held on streets surrounding the plaza.The markets provide a great opportunity to view the work and meet some famous artists or to discover a new talent.We are about 40 minutes from Santa Fe- close enough to get there in a reasonable period of time yet far enough away that you won’t experience the large crowds once you leave the market.We have one room left on the weekend of Spanish Market and are currently wide open for Indian Market.Give us a call at 800.375.2445 if you want to participate in either of these fabulous markets.
June 18, 2007 It’s 9:27 am and already 77º here in Corrales.Perfect weather for indoor activities like working on this article! Happy Birthday to my Dad, Harvey.He was born on June 15thso he celebrates his birthday and Fathers Day back to back. The recent bout of good weather has given us the opportunity to get some exterior work done.Our biggest project has been replacing the outdoor light fixtures at the front door and on the portal.Those of you who have visited us may remember that we had the very southwestern looking ceramic light fixtures.They were very traditional but, because of their style, really didn’t shed a lot of light on the doors.Our new lamps are antique bronze with a lot of clear glass panes.It really helps to brighten up the entrance and shed attractive light on the portal.We are also in the process of replacing all of the flood lights on the portal walls with something that generates a softer light. The garden loves the warmer weather.We harvested our first artichoke yesterday.As you can see by the picture I have a few more artichokes that will be ready to pick in the next week.I got a nice surprise recently when a guest told me that my single plant can be divided in the fall! I’ve started looking for recipes that will allow me to share the bounty.My Japanese eggplants and my pear shaped tomato variety plants have begun to flower and set fruit and my onions will be ready to pick in another week.The herbs are going crazy and are often featured in my breakfasts. Our daughter, Samantha, will be participating in her first triathlon this coming weekend.Samantha competed in cross country and track in high school and college and loves long distance runs.She is a marathoner and has run the Chicago and Boston marathon numerous times but has never attempted a triathlon.George and I were Sam’s support team from the time she first started running.We will miss seeing her take on this challenge but leave her in Jaime’s capable hands.Unfortunately, they won’t be able to take their “baby”, Gus, with them. Gus is a really adorable Weimaraner that they got as a puppy.Yesterday he went for his first “swim” with Sam.She is looking forward to the time when he can start running with her. I will be working on some new specials this week and announcing them in this column very soon.Our Balloon Fiesta dates are going fast so call soon if you want to make a reservation.
Summer appears to be knocking on our door.Temperatures may hit 90 for the first time this year.We have had a lot of rain in the last few weeks prompting people to wonder if our monsoon season has started more than a month early.But our weather men are insisting this is just a wet stretch and the monsoon season is out there waiting for July.
Last week was a busy one around the inn.A lot more planting got done – mostly flowers and a couple of herb plants.I did have time on Saturday to make it to another estate sale.No treasures this time but I did find a container of bungee cords for George.For some reason we seem to go through bungee cords like they are water.We always had some in our cars when we lived in the midwest but it seems like when you own a truck you need a lot more bungee cords.They are indispensable when hauling yard waste to the dump (where it gets composted for future use in our gardens.) Friday was Swamp Cooler day at the inn. Those of you who live in the East, Midwest or South probably have no idea about swamp coolers. Swamp Coolers are an alternative to refrigerated air air conditioners. They usually live on roofs - flat roofs are best - and are the size of a standard air conditioner. Technically they are called Evaporative Coolers because they cool the air by evaporating water. Here's my understanding of how they work. Water is run over these big pads in the cooler. A fan blows air over the wet pads evaporating the water and cooling the air. The cool air is circulated through the ducts in the house, just like standard air conditioning. Evaporative coolers do have the added benefit of putting moisture into our very dry air. All our wood furniture pieces(and my skin) breath a sigh of relief. Swamp coolers work great until the monsoon season gets started. With the increased humidity the coolers don't work as well. Fortunately the adobe walls here at the inn keep the house cool during the day and our coolers usually don't come on until late afternoon for a few hours until the sun sets. With our cool evenings we usually end up sleeping with a light blanket. Unlike refrigerated air, swamp coolers need to be serviced twice a year – when they are turned on in the spring and shut down in the fall.Friday, our heating and air conditioning guy came out and shut off the two furnaces and turned on the three coolers – hey this is a big house and we do zone heating and cooling.We have been told that true New Mexicans don’t turn their coolers on until the 4th of July, not because they can stand the heat any better, they just like to procrastinate!We, on the other hand, prefer our guests be comfortable!
That’s it for this week.For those of you thinking about balloon fiesta, call soon.We are beginning to book up!
It’s been a busy week at the inn.The high school graduation season has started in earnest and guests are arriving from all over the country to celebrate with their young relatives.Mother’s Day was pretty busy here and I was fortunate to be able to spend some time talking to my mom, mother-in-law, and my own kids, Sean and Samantha.Sean and “Sam” live in Chicago and we don’t get to see them very often.But we do talk on the phone with some regularity so we keep up with what is going on in their lives.
If you have been following this column you know that I have waited, rather impatiently, for Mother’s Day to arrive so I could plant my garden.While I didn’t get it in on Mother’s Day I did manage to finish it up yesterday.The garden has the usual assortment of vegetables; several tomato plants including an heirloom variety called Black Krim (the Black Krim tomato is not round and is dark purple, almost black, on the inside,) a tomatillo plant, a cucumber plant and two varieties of eggplant (standard and the smaller Japanese eggplant). George and I love eggplant but my dad, Harvey, hates it.It is a standing joke in our family that I grow the eggplant just for him!I also planted rhubarb, which my Dad does like.Rhubarb is a perennial and I do not expect to harvest any this year but look forward to rhubarb sauce next year.My big experiment is potatoes.I cut up a potato with a lot of eyes and planted it in the garden.We’ll see how it turns out.
The big news on the nature front is the discovery of a hummingbird nest in Frankentree!I was working in the yard on Saturday and noticed the hummingbird land on a branch just above me.On closer inspection I discovered that the bird had landed on a nest.I tried to take a picture for this page but the zoom lens on our digital is not strong enough.We hope the fact that birds are nesting in the tree is a good omen for the tree. We just put up new hummingbird feeders and they seem to be attracting a lot of the little creatures.They stay around this area all summer so if you’re a big hummingbird fan call us for a reservation!
Mother's Day is alomost here and with it my annual planting extravaganza! I have been resisting the urge to buy up plants and begin the garden in earnest. I have managed to plant some cold tolerant flowers in the pots on the portal as well as a couple of mint plants that I like to use as garnish, and a new variety of parsley that actually tastes like celery! Hopefully I will be able to get my garden going this weekend. The weather man is calling for high temperatures in the 80's so I think the perfect time is upon us.
George and I visited a few of the artists showcasing their work during the Corrales Artists Studio Tour on Sunday. We were surprised at the variety of the art available. The artists we spoke to were happy with the turn out for the event. Next year the tour will celebrate its 10th anniversary and it promises to be bigger than ever and full of surprises. Spending a weekend with us touring Corrales to meet artists and see their work is a great way to kick off the spring season. Make a note to join us next year.
Those of you who have visited our Bed and Breakfast know that our families are spread out all over the place. Our children live in Chicago as does George's Mom. My parents live in Surprise, Arizona. Between the B&B and George's business we don't get to see them as often as we would like. This is especially true on birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and, of course, Mother's and Father's Day. So I'll take this opportunity to wish my Mom, Lorraine and my Mother-in-law, Joan, a very Happy Mother's Day. Wish we could be with you to celebrate in person!
Here it is the first of May and it seems like spring has finally sprung in full force. The daily temperatures are between the low to mid 70's and the winds are beginning to die down. Two more months before monsoon season starts in earnest! As you can see by the pictures to the left of this column, our garden plants and native vegetation have begun to bloom. I am itching to get planting but have to control myself. It is not unusual for this part of New Mexico to have a hard freeze up to mid-May so transplanting tender tomatoes, peppers or chiles will have to wait until Mother's Day weekend.
The winter precipitation has done wonders for the native vegetation. The top picture on the left shows one of our yuccas outside our adobe garden wall with a flower stalk full of buds. The stalk will be covered with white flowers when the buds open. If you look closely at the picture wou will see what looks like a hole in the vegetation. In the past this hole has served as a nesting spot for a family of quail. We don't want to disturb Mom and Dad if there is a nest inside this year so we haven't ventured to close.
The existing plants in my herb and vegetable garden have come back strong. Check out the middle image and you can see the onions I planted last fall are about 12" tall. The sage, oregano and thyme are thriving and have already been used in sauces and breakfast dishes. Not pictured is my artichoke plant. I planted it last year but got no fruit. I hope this year to harvest my first artichoke.
The bottom image is a picture of the apple tree we planted in the back garden area. We are neophytes when it comes to growing fruit trees, though we contribute to keeping the neighbor's apricot tree growing over our yard alive. We thought we would give an apple tree a shot since they seem to do well in this part of New Mexico. We don't expect any fruit this year but hope to make a pie or two from our harvest next fall!
Speaking of fall, we are beginning to fill up for this years' Balloon Fiesta. The last weekend of the festival - October 11th through the 15th is completely booked. Currently we have the following rooms and dates available - The Mesa room from October 4th through the 10th and the Bosque Suite from Ocotber 4th through the 10th. The Meadow room is already booked for the entire event. Call us soon if you want to be part of this spectacular event!
Upcoming Events in Corrales
The Corrales Art Studio Tour takes place May 5 - May 6, 2007 here in Corrales. Sixty local artists will open their studios to art lovers and collectors. Sculpture, photography, oils, beadwork, bronze and kilnwork glass are just some of the different medias represented.There are too many artists to catch in one day so it makes sense to plan on staying with us for a night. Our Mesa room and Bosque Suite are still available so give us a call.
Onions, sage, oregano and thyme in the garden
Our new apple tree in the back garden
April 9, 2007
Well here it is the day after Easter and the plants are beginning to show their spring colors. As you can see the wisteria that frames our entrance courtyard has begun to bloom. The heavenly smell greets our visitors as they approach the front door. The weather forecast calls for rain off and on today but nobody said anything about snow. We sat outside on our portal yesterday afternoon awaiting the arrival of our guests. It was in the mid-seventies with beautiful blue skies. What a difference a day makes! The picture to the right of this text shows the Sandia mountains as viewed from our driveway. It was taken at 1:30 today. What fell as rain at the inn fell as snow in the mountains. Hey, this is the high desert. We'll take whatever precipitation we can get. Right now the skies have cleared and the sun is streaming through the windows.
Being from Chicago snow in April doesn't surprise us. Today is the home opener for our Cubbies at Wrigley Field. And opening day, as every true Cubs fan knows, is all about winter attire. It's the one game of the year when coffee and hot chocolate vendors do as good a business as the beer vendors! Scoring update - the Cubs lost. But not to worry. This is our year!
Wisteria blooming at our gate
Newly fallen snow covers the mountains.
March 12, 2007
As of today, all innkeeper news will be posted on our new blog!. We're really excited about this opportunity to talk to all of you via our blog. This is a moderated blog so your posting will not appear the minute it is submitted. We want to maintain the family friendly nature of our site so all comments will be reviewed for appropriate language and content. Comments will be posted within 24 hours of submission unless we have had some major disaster or interruption to our internet service. Click on this link Innkeeper's Blog to learn about the topic we promised - Fugitive Dust!
March 5, 2007
Another beautiful day here in New Mexico. The weatherman is saying we may hit 70 by the end of the week. Of course we are all waiting for the other shoe to drop. Everyone is wondering when our traditional March snowstorm will occur! Personally I hope it happens soon as the buds on the lilac bushes and the apricot tree are beginning to swell. A few days of warm weather and they will begin to open. Any hard freeze or ice storm that occurs after that happens will ruin our apricot crop for the season.
Our hardy herbs have begun to come up and today's guests were treated to herbed eggs made with the first herb harvest of the season. The chives are up and can be cut. The Italian and regular parsley are coming along nicely. Even the onions I planted last fall are popping up out of the ground. For those of you not familiar with our climate, we are susceptible to frost until mid-May so I save all of my real planting work for Mother's day weekend. With these warm days it is hard not to get the itch to begin planting too soon. I will have to content myself with hardy pansies in the pots on the portal. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (known to the locals as MRGCD, they control the water used by farmers to irrigate the fields) however, is ready for the growning season. Today they opened the gates to allow water into the acequias so our acequia is running again. The ducks will be taking up residence in the near future and we'll be watching the antics of the babies before you know it!
We went to the grand opening of the Corrales Bistro Brewery last Tuesday. It was a big event for Corrales - a ribbon cutting presided over by our Mayor, coverage of the event in the Albuquerque Journal, and a good turn out of local folks. It is a great addition to casual dining in the area. Fritz, the owner plans on covering the patio so it can be used during the summer. It will be a great spot to enjoy a glass of beer or wine and a light meal. Best of all, you can walk there from our inn! It is a short trip down Tenorio and then across the Corrales main channel (acequia).
That's all for this week. Next week I'm going to tell you all about Fugitive Dust! Just a reminder, ski season ends in the next 3 - 5 weeks, depending on the location of the ski area, so all of you ski bunnies still have time for one more run! Call us to make your reservation!
Kitchen Pantry before refinishing
February 26, 2007
At Last! The first pictures of the refinished cabinets are available! One wall of cabinets is completed with two to go. I have to admit that at times this seems to be a daunting task. But, after seeing the difference the new color and hardware makes in the room I can't wait to get the entire kitchen done. Unfortunately work will be on hold for ten days as we have guests in residence.
The icy grip of old man winter seems to be loosening up here in Corrales. Our temperatures have stayed in the 50's and 60's though today it is cold and blustery. Of course when winter is over the spring winds are not far behind. We have had four consecutive days of high winds, avg speed 25 - 35 miles per hour with gusts over 50 miles per hour. It makes for exciting driving - tumbleweed dodgeball is a favorite of mine - and it is impossible to keep the car clean. But, this should be over in a couple of weeks and then we will be favored with the great weather New Mexico is know for.
We are starting to get reservations for the 2007 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. We encourage everyone to make your reservations early! I know the kitchen will be done by then!
Newly Refinished Kitchen Pantry Cabinets
February 19, 2007
Winter continues it's snowy grip on New Mexico. On the evening of February 14th another snow storm arrived. On the morning of the 15th we were brushing 7 inches of snow off the cars of our guests! Even I, the Snow Bunny, was beginning to dread the forecast of winter percipitation. But that morning we had a guest staying with us from an area where snow is rarely seen. The excitement on the face of our guest renewed my ability to see the beauty of the snow instead of the work it caused. That said I'm still not excited about any more big storms this season! Thankfully, spring must be on the way because we are hearing and seeing alot more Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. They are starting to head back north. We have a group that spends the winter foraging in Corrales but as spring approaches we see and hear more of them as they make their way to their summer home.
Work progresses on the kitchen cabinets. As mentioned in previous posts, I can only work on the cabinets when we have no guests in residence. So, it is a project that stops and starts with some regularity. However, I think I will have one wall finished by next Monday so you can expect to see the first pictures at that time.
We missed all of you on Valentine's Day. I am a big believer in holiday celebrations and like to share the day with guests. Each of our guests arrived at breakfast to find a heart shaped box on their plate filled with Valentine goodies. You never know what will happen at the Sandhill Crane. Time to start planning for St. Patrick's Day!
George and I had a chance to get out for dinner on Sunday night and went to a Mykonos, a Greek restaurant we have been anxious to try. We have been looking for a place that rivals the Greek Islands, our favorite Greek restaurant in Chicago, and this is the closest thing we have found in New Mexico. The menu appears to have more traditional items than some of the other Greek restaurants in town. I am still looking for a place that can make the Lamb and Artichoke in egg lemon sauce that was one of the highlights of any visit to the Greek Islands in Chicago. No luck yet here in Albuquerque. However, we liked the restaurant well enough to add their menu to our book. Come visit us and you can judge for yourself!
That's all for this week. Check back next week for the first set of cabinet pictures (don't worry, this won't be like vacation pictures - alot and boring!) Til then have a great week and come see us soon!
Valetine's Day at the Sandhill Crane Bed and Breakfast
February 12, 2007
The Sandhill Crane Bed and Breakfast is ready for Valentine's Day as you can see by the pictures on the left. The heart decorations are on the gates and our address Crane sports a heart collar. The farolitas (Luminaria) on the roof been covered in red sleeves in honor of the holiday. They will be coming down next week. I will miss their welcoming illumination when this holiday is over!
The work on the cabinets in the kitchen progresses. Work has been suspended this week as guests are in residence but progress is being made. Those who have seen the work in process are impressed with the change it makes in the room. I hope to have one bank of cabinets completed next week so I can share the change with you.
Big news for those of you who are fans of brewpubs. The long awaited Corrales Bristro Brewery has opened! Located in the space formerly occupied by the Essancia restaurant, the Corrales Bistro Brewery menu features appetizers, salads, soups and sandwiches. There's even a Russian Beef Stew with Beer! It goes without saying that there is a great selection of beer (wine too). George and I have been there and highly recommend the Corrales Bistro Brewery for a casual dinner with great beer. Best of all it is within walking distance of the Sandhill Crane! Another reason to come visit us.
The cooking class specials are still under development. I hope to have them finished by next week. The
