The bustling train station at Lamy…
Hey, everyone! I really enjoyed all your comments on my last post; I read them all while on the train but didn’t respond because I didn’t have my laptop, and lengthy typing on my phone is a laborious nightmare for me. Camp Patty was a blast – we swam, we laughed, we ate delicious “brown bread” ice cream (secret ingredient: Grape-Nuts) from a local shop, and all was well. The biggest surprise of the trip for me was how much I loved the train! Yeah, Amtrak’s late for everything (90 minutes late departing, three hours late to my destination). BUT. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. The train itself wasn’t crowded at all; it was quiet, and I had plenty of room to sleep. It was also a fraction of the cost of flying. And it was so, so easy – a short walk to/from the car on either end and that’s it, no airport / TSA drama. I’d do another train trip in a heartbeat.
There’s something about hanging out with girlfriends; I came home relaxed and also with a renewed sense of purpose. Sometimes it’s good to step back from your life for a bit and think: what could be different? What could be better?
It’s fall cleaning time over here, although it’s not fall yet, just that hint in the air on some mornings. Musette and I have laughed about this – we’re way more into fall cleaning than spring cleaning, because hey, in the spring you’re getting ready to be outdoors! Autumn is when I want to get my house in order, you know? I moved some furniture around, made a donate pile (I’m constantly editing in my new smaller place), and am doing a deep clean. Winter Is Coming eventually, and when it does, I want my place to be clean, tidy and cozy.
New Mexico vista from the train.
I also got busy and found two different fitness studios within walking distance of my house. The pandemic is the longest I’ve ever gone without a regular exercise regimen as an adult, and it shows. I’m slender, but I’m not fit. All the studios (rightly) closed here early on in the pandemic, and some never reopened, but when I poked around there are still options. I tried out two different places (between them they offer barre, yoga, pilates, and targeted workouts) and had a blast; I was so sore, but in a good way! We have to find what works for us. I’m just not a home exerciser, no matter how great those online workouts are. I’m fundamentally lazy; I’d rather curl up in a chair and read. But I know that if I join a fitness center or buy a class series, I will absolutely go and Do The Thing, since I paid for it. Right now I’m mostly concentrating on not injuring myself so I can keep this going; I’m hoping to do two classes a week and work my way up to three.
This coming weekend is Fiestas, with various parades and the burning of Zozobra (aka Old Man Gloom) and I’ve always viewed it as the unofficial end of high season for tourists, although that feels less true now; September and October are actually gorgeous months here weather-wise, and the big hot-air balloon fiesta in Albuquerque draws a ton of visitors. I popped downtown briefly on Saturday and there are a lot of people here! I don’t mind at all, this place relies heavily on tourist cash and it’s fun to see everyone out and walking around.
Do you feel any pull of the change of the seasons where you are? Does it make you want to do any prep work? Any recent changes in your life or goals?
Heya March
Girls weekend sounds wonderful.
I’m dreaming about a lightweight spring clean this year but heavy emphasis on culling and sending to the charity store.
Currently about to head out from our Sokcho hotel, the Sunrise. We have had an excellent time discovering some of this seaside resorts food type entertainments. Pushed a few boundaries for me. Back to Seoul for a few family free recuperation days. It has been wonderful but brutal for Jin.
Hug
Portia xx
Oh lord- the thought of moving gives me the fantods. Honestly I think except for books, perfumes and a few knick-nacks I’d just want to toss a match and walk away. But that is frowned upon. Luckliy no moves in the near future (knock wood)
As far as cleaning I like doing the dishes and don’t mind mopping, etc, but dusting? HATE IT. And LA gets so freaking dusty. Must be that “built on a desert” thing.
So glad you got to spend time with Patty. Girlfriends really are the best- I’ve had some of the best times with mine. Especially for trips: I have a couple with whom I completely mesh. We can do the “companionable silence” thing for hours. Of course there is also the companionable chatting, drinking, and eating portion of the program..
I complain about the dust ALL THE TIME here — same thing. Windy and dusty desert, coming inside. I mind it a lot less since I got some swiffer dusting cloths and mop, there’s a lot of swiffering going on over here (saltillo tile floors.) I hope I get to stay here awhile; that’s the peril of renting, but we got to stay years in the last place, so fingers crossed.
Once the kids are back in school, even if it’s still sweltering hot, it feels like it’s time to get my life in order. I’m making doctors appointments, updating documents, cleaning and sorting thru some stuff. Doing yard work. Pre-hibernation mode I guess.
Kids back to school always signaled a transitional time for me — more time during the day, which winter clothes still fit, etc. Definitely yard work, time for a fall cleanup!
btw – I absolutely LOVE these little train stations – Lamy is fabulous (as is Galesburg & Topeka) – a hint of yesterday.
xoxoxo
That was one of my favorites as well — what I could glimpse out the window of the dinky little stations we stopped at. Still blows my mind how easy that all is — just drive up and get on!
spending time at Camp Patty reinforced my belief that GIRLFRIENDS ARE VITAL!!! to my ongoing rejuvenation.
xoxoxo
oh! and cleaning like a lima bean over here, too!
xoxoxo
Well of COURSE you are! I’m still dusting — doing a deep dust? Apparently it’s not gonna dust itself…
That was SO GREAT hanging out with you both! I came home full of plans and ideas, and feeling refreshed. <3
The pull of autumn with its mists & mellow fruitfulness. Picking the fruit, foraging, Christmas cake baking, jam making & putting up pickles & preserves. Those are some of my favourite pastimes in September.
The bonkers heatwaves & drought mean there are early gluts of apples & pears. These followed the glut of blackcurrants in the summer. The local brambles are covered in fruit but they’re a bit small & dry. There seem to be lots of wild sloes & damsons too, though I’m leaving them for others this year as I have kilos of jam already made & blackcurrant vodka liqueur ready to be drunk so sloe gin would be overkill.
I spent much of last week making apple pies & crumbles. I filled the freezer with cartons of unsweetened cooked apples too.
One small apple tree bless us with over 70kg of apples! Some went to the Community Fridge, some to friends & neighbours.
I’ve tipped off some friends where the wild apple, pear & plum trees are. It’s amazing what has come from people throwing fruit cores or stones into the bushes
I really enjoy these seasonal tasks & sharing the bounty. Not so much doing the cleaning though
I’ve got a peach tree that is ripening in stages – and omg! I thought the June Drop took care of the weight. I. Was. Wrong. After we harvest all the peaches I’mo have to get in there and limb it up!
I’m all about the cleaning right now – putting up preserves? Not so much.
xoxoxo
I had breakfast with a friend on Sunday and we picked peaches off her tree — they were absolutely delicious, made me think of you! Best peaches I’ve had in ages. I hope your peach tree hangs on.
We might be the perfect autumn pair! I’ll pick, forage & preserve, you can clean up after me!
Xxx
That is SO cool about all the wild fruits and foraging, I wish I lived in a place like that! There are a lot of apple and stone-fruit trees here, they’re popular and are in yards everywhere. So there’s an ongoing glut of apricots, peaches, apples… if I owned my home I’d figure out where to put some raspberry bushes even though I know they’re tough to confine.
We took the raspberry canes out when we enlarged the patio & terraced the sloping lawn into a smaller lawn & a fenced fruit & veg plot at the top of the slope. It’s south facing & against a 6ft wall with a 4ft fence above it, so warm & sheltered. 20+years of compost has broken the clay down nicely too.
The wild fruit are literally from people throwing fruit cores or stones away or dumping their rubbish. There’s a dam nearby that has wild raspberries & some wild interbred blackberry/raspberry hybrid. The birds are so chubby at this time of year!
The only thing I wouldn’t forage are fungi. Though I have bought from knowledgeable fungi foragers at the farmers market. Blue mushroom anyone? The were delicious but the colour was a bit off putting
I had no idea there was such a thing as a sloe! Learn something new every day, I guess.
Sloe gin fizzes were the bridge club’s drink of choice in my Mom’s day. Really nice on a hot day. that and Pimm’s. I haven’t imbibed in years now and don’t miss it, but the ritual is so nice. Cucumber water will suffice..
Teeny tiny plums with skins like rhino hides. Need to be kept in the boot of the car in a box or frozen to break them down a bit before adding the same weight if sugar & a bathing in gin in big Kilner jars. Give it a good shake every week. Strain out the fruit just before Xmas & bottle the liqueur. Delicious but very potent!
If you can find it add borage leaves & flowers to your cucumber water along with a few drops of non alcoholic bitters. Yum!
Girlfriend visits are the best. And train travel. But how could it be three hours late? Cows on the line? Glad you had a good time. I will continue to do my online yoga twice a week for however long she offers it that way. My teacher also has a by invitation pilates class which is studio only and I might give in and do that in a mask (I’ll be the only one). I still refuse to think about autumn. I am just not ready. I now want ice cream.
So, in this country, Amtrak owns the trains but not the tracks — they have to pull over to let freight trains (which have priority) by, and that’s a slow process, we end up waiting somewhere on a side track. There were also random go-slow signals I don’t know the basis for. As we discussed, passenger train travel is not a priority here!
Oh and about getting together with girlfriends – it opens up my perspective and helps me get out of my self-obsessed ruminating mind.
ME TOO, hon, me too. A lot less ruminating, and some perspective, when hanging out with girlfriends.
I just got through phase one of a cross-country move – packed and put stuff into storage. Phase two will happen in January when stuff is shipped and delivered to my new home. I am looking forward to sitting alone in my new apartment and unpacking my boxes with the fireplace going and watching the snow. Definitely agree with you on fall cleaning – didn’t we all discover during lockdown how much clutter we had? Spending more time indoors makes me want a clean cozy place too.
And I’m totally with you on train travel, so much more pleasant than the third circle of hell that air travel has become.
You know I was in the same boat — a huge downsize during the pandemic, which was tough after years in the same house. I hope your move goes well and you’re happy where you land! I just can’t face getting on a plane.