A Pioneer McIntosh soakin’ up the sun
Dear Diary, it’s been a while since I’ve written. So much to tell about Mitch and Leslie’s escapades over the summer of 2013: planting and nurturing native trees and shrubs (74 of them, just like the apple above); culinary school in NYC; hosting (and being hosted by) some of our best friends and family; and beginning Phase II of renovation to turn Rancho Gallina into a fantastic eco-retreat.
So rather than blather on about it all, here’s some of the visual highlights:
Native plant seedlings, courtesy of NM Dept of Wildlife
Hangin with the stars here in Tamale-wood (“you’re sending the Wolf?”)
Now we’re cookin’ with gas! (Thx to Chef Will & the great staff at the Int’l Culinary Center)
Avec Jaques Pepin!
Good friends, happy kids in NYC (Adeline, Katie and Gus)
Leslie loves holding a baby, esp. the lovely Lucy
Yet another gorgeous baby (Juliet , Bruce and Bonnie)
Meanwhile back at the ranch…Brian W. about to begin mulch-fest on a massive pile of debris…
…some of which ended up here. This was our road, washed out by the biggest flash flood in decades
And this was a wall…before it pissed me off. Phase II of ranch renovation begins
Leslie makes the grass grow…
…and I smoke it – I mean lay on it. Organic hemp hammock – thanks Pam and Ben!
we got to see the great race in Denver
…and do some riding ourselves (in 25mph winds!)
…which required hot tub therapy (Pico, Mitch, Naima, Nora, & Milo)
Ian, Imogene & Xochitl at the farmers market – among the many family, friends, guests & colleagues we’ve hosted
…like the Beeson/Kimzey tribe on their roots tour, discovering ancestors in neighboring Madrid!
Santa Fe’s even got our own burning man, 5 stories tall!
…who looks pretty freaky when he’s not on fire. (burning Zozobra has kicked off Fiestas de Santa Fe since the 1920’s)
Special thanks to the folks who made our summer possible: our generous NYC hosts Andy Stern, Matt Ryan and Blithe Riley, and our super ranch caretakers Brian Wainwright and Carmen Rhodes. We are excited to see our project grow and hope those who have visited come back and see the progress. And for those who haven’t, what are you waiting for? Fall in NM is stunning.