Fall means chile ristras!

You see them all over our area in the fall ... but there is nothing like having one hanging on your portal and getting to see it every morning when you look out the window! I guess everything seems more exciting the first year you do it.




(Bonus points for anyone who sees my dog Sugar in the picture...)

It's fall in the Land of Enchantment!

Our days are getting shorter. Our summer flowers have faded. The grass has gotten brown. There is a chill in the morning and night air. It really has begun to look and feel like fall here.

I love New Mexico in the fall, in fact it is my favorite season here. The chamisa are in bloom … seems like EVERYWHERE. The aspens up in the mountains are a blaze of color. New Mexico chiles and apples and piñon nuts are in season -- strings of chile ristras for sale on street corners make the city so colorful. Down in Albuquerque they are having the spectacular annual Balloon Fiesta. Tumbleweeds are maturing all over and will soon break free and be blowing around everywhere.

We bought our red chile ristra at Tin-Nee-Ann Trading Post in Santa Fe last week and it is hanging on our front portal. We can see it from our bedroom and dining room windows.

And … any day now we can expect to see some snow up on the mountain top. It’s fireplace weather!

In years past, we came to New Mexico in October but only were here for a few days of enjoyment of the autumn weather. This year we get to be here for the entire season! Life is good! Time to make some green chile stew!


These colorful fall flowers were blooming in Chimayó when we were there a few weeks ago. (We need to get more pictures of the wonderful fall color out here so stay tuned.....)