Farm and Table

A new favorite restaurant in Albuquerque.  Thank you United Way for having their big annual party there this past Tuesday.  The setting was lovely and the food- even better.  Everything tasted so fresh and healthy.  The salad was a mixture of veggies that you wouldn't expect and it tasted so good together.  The word is that this place has reservations on a weekend night booked out two months in advance and they don't take walk-in's when that happens.  They say Sunday noon and Thursday night is good time to try.   They are closed Monday and Tuesday. Only Brunch on Sat. and Sunday.  Dinner Wed - Sat open at 5PM.   It's between Alameda and Paseo on 4th. -8917 4th St. NW - 87114 

They also do a grocery box - that's what the one sign is about.  It's saying what is in the box this week.  We did this when we lived in Oregon - sometimes there was some pretty interesting such in our box from the farm in Oregon - like fava beans... and odd shaped squash. It was fun trying to figure out what to do with all of it.

The picture of the metal chairs is from the shop that is next door.  Very fun stuff inside.  Mirrors was my main interest... and this outdoor chair set, which I didn't ask the price.  The mirrors were about $100 and they were those fun silver- big frames that you see around here.  I was thinking entry way in new house.  The normal seating is either inside or on the patio, so we didn't see the restaurant with normal set up.  They had the patio completely empty for people have drinks and starters.  Everything was so good.  Can't wait to try it again with the menu.  Some friends told us that they think the menu is done by season, so changes as food becomes available fresh.  She didn't know if that was 1/4ly or monthly.  They had already been there twice.

Well - check it out for a special event in your life.  I'm sure it's expensive... but I didn't see a menu, just guessing.

Desert ZOO

So yesterday we got our foundation poured for the house we are building in Placitas.  We were at a meeting in Corrales in the evening and when we were leaving and saw that it looked like it was raining in Placitas we decided to head over and see the new cement floors and see what rain does to our property, as we've never seen it rain there.

The main house is poured, but the garage foundation was just dug and the guys had it ready for an inspections the next day.  Our builder showed up and said he would need to cancel the inpection due to the water.  We have a moat!!  I've always wanted a moat.  We also have a new pond in the arroyo - not sure if that's what the civil engineer had in mind.  I know she wanted to slow down the water, but seems like it's not draining right??   But maybe ducks will fly in and use our pond each rain.

retaining wall and foundation for garage

The neighbor came out and she gave us a tour of her home, which happens to have been built by our builder also.  It was very nice to see what a great job he did on her house. 

She describe all the animals that frequent her lot and it was sooo fun.  She has a couple cotton tail rabbit, one of which is huge that come and feed right out her window most days.  She's had a snake get into her house... okay this isn't that fun but kinda crazy.  She also accidentally killed a snake in her driveway when she ran over it.  Not on purpose.. although I probably would say that, but probably meant to kill it.  Snakes are not my favorite thing.  She feeds the birds so she gets a ton.  Humming birds, finches, cardinal and some she's not sure what they are.  Lizards are all over she says. AND she say two wild horses the other day - which is so fun.  I thought we would never see any of those right at the house, but she it was her first time.  She hears coyotes.  AND she has three cats that are super friendly, so I can go over to her house when I need a cat fix.

So excited to start living in Placitas.

Great July 4th tradition - Corrales Parade

Yesterday I did a bit of socializing.  First a church potluck breakfast with balloon toss and three-legged race.  The young looking hubby would not do any of the games, he is getting old despite the looks.  From there we went to the Parade and met up with some friends and crowded into a tiny little spot of shade, due to the fact that we didn't arrive earlier enough... obviously. 

The parade was much longer than I would have guessed for this small of a town.  It wasn't big floats, or high school bands - it was political candidates (probably heavy on that due to being an election year), horse groups, bikers as in Harleys, and the model T car group (which is huge). 

There was a bag pipe group and a band on a long float looking thing.  The the rest was a unique thing for us   - water gun groups in wagons, floats, all with the same mission... blasting the crowd with water.  It's very crazy and we were not prepared.  Would have worn different clothes and brought an umbrella.  I was saved by my big hat - but it was funny.  We laughed and laughed.

The horses were fun to see, a bunch of really tall ones.  They painted a bunch of them, not really fond of that.  They just looked messy.  One group sprinkled glitter on their tushes, that was nice, not too much, festive enough.  I prefer fancy braiding if they want to do something to them.  Didn't notice any of that.

The last group had a giant great dane dog with them, three horses and the dog.  He must be a very good dog to just have him roaming with him and not worry about him with all the small kids around.

Later we went to another potluck - dinner at a home who had horses.  We watched the Rio Rancho fireworks and the ones down by the baloon museum from the same ridge.  Crazy was the rain that decide to actually do something after months of drought right as the fireworks started.  Perfect timing Mother Nature.  Most the locals love rain.  I've put up with rain for the last 15 years, so for me, it's over rated and I don't really care for it.  I have to admit that I do like the puffy clouds we get here, which we just rarely had in the Pacific Northwest.  Clouds are socked in and overcast and gloomy most of the time there, it's not a storm blowing in and getting over with it like here.  It can be gloomy for weeks... months actually. 

Over all a nice 4th of July, but having it midweek and getting up the next day and going into work.  That was hard.  Not a fan of midweek holidays.