Fall Traditions of New Mexico

Saturday I made a special trip to start my yearly stocking up on green chile from Hatch, NM. I buy it already roasted and then bag and freeze it. I like to buy from several different places because each batch is normally slightly different. I try to buy enough to last the entire year because after harvest time it is hard to find. So that was the first of many stocking up trips to come. Also stocked up on Hatch red chile powder, though I prefer green chile there are many things that only red will do for. Most New Mexicans, myself included, are chile snobs. We know that we have the best chile in the world and nothing else will do. We also eat a lot of chile, we eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- snacks too. The farmer's market I went to was packed with other people stocking up on chile. BTW, you do not want to peel or touch NM chiles without gloves -- if you make that mistake you will pay for many days.



It is also Santa Fe Fiesta time. Frankly, I don't attend the fiesta normally, but it is very popular and people come from all over the world. This year is the 400th anniversary of Santa Fe, so I would hope that the fiesta is even better than normal. My favorite thing and probably the most popular part is the burning of Zozobra (or old man gloom). It isn't exactly Burning Man, but it is a 50 foot man and best of all -- he screams, moans and his arms flap about while he is burning.



Here in Albuquerque, we have the State Fair starting this weekend. It used to be the 2nd largest in the US, but I am not sure if that is still true. As you can see, it has a large midway. Aside from that, there are lots of cultural events going on in the Indian and Hispanic Villages. Tons of great food (my favorite part), lots of animals, horse shows, concerts, several art galleries and much more.



Next month, on Oct 3rd, starts the event that Albuquerque is probably most famous for - the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Once again, something that people from around the world come to see and I never go to. I never got because 1) you have to get there at the crack of dawn 2) it is cold out in Oct at the crack of dawn. However, we do often go up to Sandiago's at the tram and watch the balloon glow at night. I like that because we avoid most of the balloon glow traffic and can sit inside where it is warm sipping margaritas while we watch the glow below. We also often do that on 4th of July. Not as spectacular as being there in person, but good enough for me since I don't care much for crowds.

Richardson proclaims NM Native Chile

I hope to make it to the farmer's market tomorrow.
www.KOB.com - Richardson proclaims NM Native Chile

Important news: Green chile harvest expected to be strong

Is there anything of greater importance in New Mexico? Of course not.
www.KOB.com - Green chile harvest expected to be strong

The Daily Enchantment

OK, it isn't that enchanting, but...

I forgot to give heads up on the Roswell episode of UFO Hunters a couple weeks ago -- so I don't want to forget that there is another NM case this week. Part of the episode on Wednesday will deal with the Lonnie Zamora sighting near Socorro. I am thinking that happened in 1967, but I may be wrong about that. You can read more about the episode at UFO Magazine Blog.

I see that over at Princess Sparkle Pony, Bill Richardson's facial hair alert has been raised to the level of guarded. I haven't caught Bill on TV in a few days, hopefully he is regrowing his beard.

Here in Albuquerque the normal Christmas stuff is going on. Lots of people out shopping and that type of thing. Strangely I can't seem to find one of those red chili wreaths this year. I see them every year and for some reason I decided that I wanted one of those this year and I haven't seen any. Figures!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Look what I found at Wild Oats (or whole foods, whatever it is now)! I keep missing the chili roasters at the grocery so I did some stocking up.

Cal and Chili

Yep, I am home from the Cal central coast area.

I really liked it there!

I have never liked LA and southern cal very much. It always seems like a much larger version of Albuquerque -- like Albuquerque with added stress, crowds and even worse traffic. Not that there is anything wrong with Alb, but when I leave I like to visit somewhere that is more different.

Ventura and that area was very laid back. The traffic wasn't at all bad and the people were super nice. The mountains and beaches were also beautiful and uncrowded. I liked it so much that I am hoping to make it back to the Santa Barbara area sometime during the winter. Not to worry about me moving -- I'm pretty sure that I couldn't afford land and a house near Santa Barbara and I am too spoiled to live in a crowded neighborhood.

One thing I don't get about Cal -- why does their Mexican food suck? They have lots of Mexicans there, but the Mexican food is horrible. The stuff they say is chili doesn't even have as much flavor as a bell pepper. If I ever lived there I would have to have tons of NM chili shipped in.