Finally took spouse on the Rogue Trail today. We were going to hike up Pajarito Canyon to see some aspen colors and then down the Nail Trail to close the loop but at the trailhead, it appeared that the state highway workers were getting ready to re=stripe the newly resurfaced NM501. We were afraid they'd overspray our car so we left to walk behind the Walkup Center swimming pool.
I told spouse that I thought the Rogue Trail, out and back from the Walkup Center, would only be 3 miles roundtrip. The idea of a shorter hike appealed to him. The Rogue Trail, built by a retired scientist, is an unsanctioned but well- built trail the width of a sidewalk that runs above the south side of Pueblo Canyon. In places, if you fell, you'd have a long slide down into the canyon. One hiker described it as vertigo-inducing.
Spouse doesn't like heights and, to boot, a thunderstorm was building and he doesn't like lightning so he was very game to go along with me. We turned around where the trail narrows to a single-track - that part scares even me! It was lightly raining by then and unclear how bad the storm would be.
It may have been almost 4 miles round-trip by going back to the Walkup Center but instead, because of the rain, we short-cutted the hike by going up the old, dirt road (from the site of the former Peggy Sue Bridge) to the Jewish Center and walked Canyon Road back to our car. I told spouse we would make that hike number one million in our rotation and thanked him for doing it with me. For a long time, I've wanted him to see it.
This morning, I made another How it all Vegan inspired recipe - rice pudding but I didn't use soy milk and in addition to the vanilla extract and cinnamon, added cardamom and nutmeg. The "milk" I used was the vanilla almond-date "milk" that I made yesterday.
The rice pudding is so delicious that I have to restrain myself from gobbling it all up! I'm amazed how sweet it tastes even though it's only sweetened with 4 medjool dates, the sweet spices and vanilla extract.
I let spouse taste the pudding but he said it was too chewy. He doesn't like brown rice but, really, it was the raisins that were chewy. They softened more as the pudding cooled. Brown rice is not as fibrous as he thinks it is!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Route Today and Rio en Medio Friday
Raining now with the gods bowling in the heavens (remember being told by your parents that God was bowling in heaven when it thundered?) If this so-called La Niña keeps up, I may have to build an ark! It's predicted to be cool and rainy the next few days.
Family went to Salman Ranch - bought back raspberries, raspberry jam and raspberry vinegar - yum!!
I walked on Route. Saw one aspen along the path that had turned golden. Others look in good condition but it's been so warm that they haven't turned yet. Felt so good to walk on the Route but I must admit that I was sluggish. Could never have done Aspen Vista Ridge Trail on Wednesday feeling like I did today. On the way down, heard paintballers shooting each other in the woods.
This morning made edamame hummous - 2 cups edamame, 4 T sesame paste (tahini), juice of two limes, 4 cloves garlic, dried parsley, cumin powder - whip it up in food processor. Such a lovely green color but I think chickpea hummous is better. If I made it again, I would halve the lime juice and garlic. I had half of the recipe this morning on jasmine brown rice.
Also made vanilla almond-date "milk" - 2 cups water, 1/2 cup whole, natural almonds, 4 pitted medjool dates, 1 t pure vanilla extract - grind almonds in blender, add rest of ingredients and whip it up - thick and luscious! I added an apple and frozen raspberries to a cup of the "milk" and it made the prettiest smoothie! This recipe was inspired by a recipe in the cookbook How it all Vegan except I used twice as much dates and added the vanilla extract.
WRSC hiking group walked part of Rio en Medio Trail yesterday, starting from En Medio village and going to the first waterfall for a little over 4 miles roundtrip and 700' elevation gain. Only 3 of us went to the waterfall - now I know who the tough ones are in the group! Many stream crossings but no one fell in - shucks!
Family went to Salman Ranch - bought back raspberries, raspberry jam and raspberry vinegar - yum!!
I walked on Route. Saw one aspen along the path that had turned golden. Others look in good condition but it's been so warm that they haven't turned yet. Felt so good to walk on the Route but I must admit that I was sluggish. Could never have done Aspen Vista Ridge Trail on Wednesday feeling like I did today. On the way down, heard paintballers shooting each other in the woods.
This morning made edamame hummous - 2 cups edamame, 4 T sesame paste (tahini), juice of two limes, 4 cloves garlic, dried parsley, cumin powder - whip it up in food processor. Such a lovely green color but I think chickpea hummous is better. If I made it again, I would halve the lime juice and garlic. I had half of the recipe this morning on jasmine brown rice.
Also made vanilla almond-date "milk" - 2 cups water, 1/2 cup whole, natural almonds, 4 pitted medjool dates, 1 t pure vanilla extract - grind almonds in blender, add rest of ingredients and whip it up - thick and luscious! I added an apple and frozen raspberries to a cup of the "milk" and it made the prettiest smoothie! This recipe was inspired by a recipe in the cookbook How it all Vegan except I used twice as much dates and added the vanilla extract.
WRSC hiking group walked part of Rio en Medio Trail yesterday, starting from En Medio village and going to the first waterfall for a little over 4 miles roundtrip and 700' elevation gain. Only 3 of us went to the waterfall - now I know who the tough ones are in the group! Many stream crossings but no one fell in - shucks!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Roof Reassurance
Spouse today called one of the premier contractors in town to ask questions about our roof worries. I'm writing this as a summary of the conversation so that if either of us ever worries about this issue again, we can look back at this post for reassurance!
Contractor said: It possible that the sheet of wood decking stopped short of the ridge and another piece was used up to the ridge, thus creating a seam. It's also possible the gap in the roof deck was there all along. It wouldn't be unusual for the roof decking on a half century old house to separate along the seams due to expansion and contraction. If we checked other old houses in the neighborhood, we may find similar situations. It's not necessary to caulk the gap. If it gets worse, he would nail a plank to the underside of the roof deck from inside the attic to cover it. The ridge vent shouldn't affect the structural integrity of the roof. The ridge vent won't make the house cooler but is only intended to prevent build up of moisture in the attic space.
The contractor once taught a building trades class in the local high school and our roofer was one of his students. Our roofer has done 3 roofs for houses the contractor has built.
Despite this recommendation, I have to say that our roofer doesn't have the best customer service interface. It wasn't necessary to say things to us like "the roofer destroyed our house", "blame it on the painter". It wasn't funny and put a pall on what was otherwise a considerate act, coming out to inspect the decking. To his credit, the head of his roofing crew has good customer service skills at least. I'd truly rather not ever again see the owner himself.
The roofer also told us at his recent visit that if the gap gets wider, we should call a contractor as it would not be his area of expertise. This is probably true but perhaps the roofer should have first ascertained, before he cut the ridge vent the full length of our roof, that the roof over the remodeled carport is probably not built to the same strength and specifications as that over the rest of the house. We didn't do the remodeling but I can see that the roof in the main part of the house has impressive cross supports but the peaked roof over the carport's original flat roof only has a center support.
In the meantime, I won't hold my breath waiting for the roof to fall!
Contractor said: It possible that the sheet of wood decking stopped short of the ridge and another piece was used up to the ridge, thus creating a seam. It's also possible the gap in the roof deck was there all along. It wouldn't be unusual for the roof decking on a half century old house to separate along the seams due to expansion and contraction. If we checked other old houses in the neighborhood, we may find similar situations. It's not necessary to caulk the gap. If it gets worse, he would nail a plank to the underside of the roof deck from inside the attic to cover it. The ridge vent shouldn't affect the structural integrity of the roof. The ridge vent won't make the house cooler but is only intended to prevent build up of moisture in the attic space.
The contractor once taught a building trades class in the local high school and our roofer was one of his students. Our roofer has done 3 roofs for houses the contractor has built.
Despite this recommendation, I have to say that our roofer doesn't have the best customer service interface. It wasn't necessary to say things to us like "the roofer destroyed our house", "blame it on the painter". It wasn't funny and put a pall on what was otherwise a considerate act, coming out to inspect the decking. To his credit, the head of his roofing crew has good customer service skills at least. I'd truly rather not ever again see the owner himself.
The roofer also told us at his recent visit that if the gap gets wider, we should call a contractor as it would not be his area of expertise. This is probably true but perhaps the roofer should have first ascertained, before he cut the ridge vent the full length of our roof, that the roof over the remodeled carport is probably not built to the same strength and specifications as that over the rest of the house. We didn't do the remodeling but I can see that the roof in the main part of the house has impressive cross supports but the peaked roof over the carport's original flat roof only has a center support.
In the meantime, I won't hold my breath waiting for the roof to fall!
Marvelous 84 Year Old
On yesterday's WI hike up the Aspen Vista Ridge Trail, I fell in beside the marvelously fit 84 year old hiker. She's the one who told me I wasn't at the top of Tesuque Peak.
On our steep slog up Tesuque Peak, she mentioned that she no longer drives due to macular degeneration. She was driven to the trailhead in her car by another hiker.
I told her about my 3 Santa Fe area winter hikes that I'd like to complete one day. They are winter hikes because they are mostly flat and shadeless - the Spur Trail from Santa Fe Community College to the Rail Trail, Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail from Yucca Street to the Rail Trail and the rest of the Rail Trail from El Dorado to Lamy. I asked if she wanted to do any of those hikes one day and then I could take her to Vitamin Cottage afterward to shop. She has her own philosophy of hiking, though, and kindly suggested that I find someone else for those flat hikes. She doesn't hike everyday but swims also. When she does hike, she wants it to count. I have my peculiarity of insisting on 4 miles a day. Hers is to do at least 1,200' elevation gain.
Eventually, I wanted to go up faster to get to the top and then back down to my waiting husband so I said goodbye and asked her in parting to let me know this winter when she again does the hike to the Rio Grande down the Falls Trail in Bandelier. This is the one where she saw the Rio Grande magically transformed by rafts of snow.
On our steep slog up Tesuque Peak, she mentioned that she no longer drives due to macular degeneration. She was driven to the trailhead in her car by another hiker.
I told her about my 3 Santa Fe area winter hikes that I'd like to complete one day. They are winter hikes because they are mostly flat and shadeless - the Spur Trail from Santa Fe Community College to the Rail Trail, Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail from Yucca Street to the Rail Trail and the rest of the Rail Trail from El Dorado to Lamy. I asked if she wanted to do any of those hikes one day and then I could take her to Vitamin Cottage afterward to shop. She has her own philosophy of hiking, though, and kindly suggested that I find someone else for those flat hikes. She doesn't hike everyday but swims also. When she does hike, she wants it to count. I have my peculiarity of insisting on 4 miles a day. Hers is to do at least 1,200' elevation gain.
Eventually, I wanted to go up faster to get to the top and then back down to my waiting husband so I said goodbye and asked her in parting to let me know this winter when she again does the hike to the Rio Grande down the Falls Trail in Bandelier. This is the one where she saw the Rio Grande magically transformed by rafts of snow.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Aspen Vista Ridge Trail
Wednesday Irregulars met at Aspen Vista parking lot on ski hill road in Santa Fe. Some walked up Aspen Vista Trail (aka Tesuque Peak Road), some took the lift up and some took a trail up that I've never taken before which I'll call Aspen Vista Ridge Trail.
Husband took off work today and he went up the ridge trail to the lift, took the lift down and then walked downhill to the car.
I was ahead of him. When I got to the lift, even though I've been up Tesuque Peak several times, I thought I was on top and was ready to go back down until another hiker explained to me that "on top" was way up there! So, I walked to the top from the lift. It was steep but not impossible. Had great views from the back of Tesuque Peak into the Santa Fe Lake basin and of Penitente and Deception Peaks and Santa Fe Baldy. Saw two grouse. Beautiful Fall colors. Great elevated heart rate!
A hiker who had been up Cerro Rubio recently told me that the aspens leaves are just turning brown. The Jemez Mountains may have a disappointing aspencade this season but in the Sangres, colors are busting out in Technicolor!
Husband took off work today and he went up the ridge trail to the lift, took the lift down and then walked downhill to the car.
I was ahead of him. When I got to the lift, even though I've been up Tesuque Peak several times, I thought I was on top and was ready to go back down until another hiker explained to me that "on top" was way up there! So, I walked to the top from the lift. It was steep but not impossible. Had great views from the back of Tesuque Peak into the Santa Fe Lake basin and of Penitente and Deception Peaks and Santa Fe Baldy. Saw two grouse. Beautiful Fall colors. Great elevated heart rate!
A hiker who had been up Cerro Rubio recently told me that the aspens leaves are just turning brown. The Jemez Mountains may have a disappointing aspencade this season but in the Sangres, colors are busting out in Technicolor!
Celery Chomping Mountain Lions
More thoughts on Ms SUV: Maybe her and I were separated at birth. At times on the recent hike I took with her, we seemed to get along like feuding sisters. I'd rather take my chances walking alone and getting eaten by celery chomping mountain lions than make Ms SUV my regular hiking partner. Too bad for me because she likes to explore and has lots of spunk!
I was inspired to coin the phrase "celery chomping mountain lions" after listening to an NPR segment on a book about how animal sounds are often faked in nature movies. To make the sound of a lion crunching down on its prey, for instance, the sound person breaks a stalk of celery
I was inspired to coin the phrase "celery chomping mountain lions" after listening to an NPR segment on a book about how animal sounds are often faked in nature movies. To make the sound of a lion crunching down on its prey, for instance, the sound person breaks a stalk of celery
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Way Too Tired
I woke up in the middle of the night last night, around 4 am, thinking of that stupid roof. Wish we had never had a ridge vent cut in it. The house is over 50 years old and we should have waited for the best old time roofer in town to put an old fashioned roof on it. Wish we owed a mortgage on it but we don't so we can't even walk away from it! Had to get up at 6:30 am so I'm very tired.
Beautiful gray cat came meowing to our back door this evening. No collar and hungry. Gave her some of spouse's freshly cooked chicken thighs. She inhaled them. Called Animal Control to pick her up, after first checking with some neighbors. Now, Kitty won't become coyote bait tonight. OK - I thought I had troubles! Poor kitty is homeless tonight!
Beautiful gray cat came meowing to our back door this evening. No collar and hungry. Gave her some of spouse's freshly cooked chicken thighs. She inhaled them. Called Animal Control to pick her up, after first checking with some neighbors. Now, Kitty won't become coyote bait tonight. OK - I thought I had troubles! Poor kitty is homeless tonight!
Peralta Road Cattle Guard to Paliza Pass
Went with Tuesday group renegades who didn't want to walk, shop and eat out in Santa Fe today so we decided to go to Paliza Pass.
The woman who said she would drive us in her big SUV came to the meeting place but said her husband hadn't left enough gas in the tank. I didn't even know she had that enormous vehicle since she never drives it to the group hikes! Instead, she talked the other hiker (only 3 of us) into driving her tiny passenger car on Peralta Road. I said I was a wuss but probably could have driven although not as skillfully and smoothly as the woman who graciously drove us up there.
We parked just below the locked gate and walked up to the rough, steep motor bike trail that goes down just past the cattle guard and grazing fence. Two rough paths come up and now I know that both go to the same place, the intersection of the Peralta-Paliza Trail that goes around the west side of Las Conchas Peak, the blue diamond cross country ski trail that comes up from NM4 and the logging road that goes downhill to NM4 from Paliza Canyon.
I enjoyed seeing Paliza Pass. The hiker who drove us to the start of the hike is laid back but Ms SUV can be aggressively bristly at times. Even so, I see lots to admire in her and I like her.
Husband called roofer who came out this afternoon. Roofer's telling us that the cracked decking near the ridge vent is the end seam of the wood panel used to sheathe the roof and not a crack at all but a separation along the seam. If true (I have my doubts) that means that whoever made the peaked roof over the flat carport roof used a piece of wood that stopped short 8-10 inches from the ridge and then used another strip of wood to finish the ridge which is ridiculous.
My theory is the ridge vent cut somehow caused the deck panel to crack but at this point, I really don't care. The house can fall down on top of our heads for all I care!
It's 82 degrees in the house and I'm uncomfortably hot.
The woman who said she would drive us in her big SUV came to the meeting place but said her husband hadn't left enough gas in the tank. I didn't even know she had that enormous vehicle since she never drives it to the group hikes! Instead, she talked the other hiker (only 3 of us) into driving her tiny passenger car on Peralta Road. I said I was a wuss but probably could have driven although not as skillfully and smoothly as the woman who graciously drove us up there.
We parked just below the locked gate and walked up to the rough, steep motor bike trail that goes down just past the cattle guard and grazing fence. Two rough paths come up and now I know that both go to the same place, the intersection of the Peralta-Paliza Trail that goes around the west side of Las Conchas Peak, the blue diamond cross country ski trail that comes up from NM4 and the logging road that goes downhill to NM4 from Paliza Canyon.
I enjoyed seeing Paliza Pass. The hiker who drove us to the start of the hike is laid back but Ms SUV can be aggressively bristly at times. Even so, I see lots to admire in her and I like her.
Husband called roofer who came out this afternoon. Roofer's telling us that the cracked decking near the ridge vent is the end seam of the wood panel used to sheathe the roof and not a crack at all but a separation along the seam. If true (I have my doubts) that means that whoever made the peaked roof over the flat carport roof used a piece of wood that stopped short 8-10 inches from the ridge and then used another strip of wood to finish the ridge which is ridiculous.
My theory is the ridge vent cut somehow caused the deck panel to crack but at this point, I really don't care. The house can fall down on top of our heads for all I care!
It's 82 degrees in the house and I'm uncomfortably hot.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Aster Mania Along Bypass
I didn't mention that along the West Road Bypass these past couple of weeks, the hillside was encrusted with yellow sunflowers (quite possibly there was more variety but I'll say "sunflowers" for simplicity's sake!) with a border of purple asters nearer the road edge (that too is simplified - DNA analysis reveals that our "asters" are not related to "true" European asters but who cares!) This weekend, I've noticed that the sunflowers are fading and dying back but the asters seem to have grown more profuse and the purple swath along the road is a delight!
Hiked Escobas Mesa to Witch's Broom tree with Monday hiking friend. Two people from Santa Fe were to have joined us on Burnt Mesa to go to the Indian plaza but they didn't coordinate their meeting times so that fizzled.
Attended sleep-inducing AARP Defensive Driving course with husband this afternoon - all this to save a few dollars off insurance. AARP need to make the course less a dreary reading of the manual. Don't suppose they can afford driving simulators to show us how truly terrible our driving skills are?
Husband is sure he saw a bug walk into the undereave crack above the attic. Next on my list is to caulk the crack and paint over it this weekend. Don't really want to do that but maybe he's right that I should.
Hiked Escobas Mesa to Witch's Broom tree with Monday hiking friend. Two people from Santa Fe were to have joined us on Burnt Mesa to go to the Indian plaza but they didn't coordinate their meeting times so that fizzled.
Attended sleep-inducing AARP Defensive Driving course with husband this afternoon - all this to save a few dollars off insurance. AARP need to make the course less a dreary reading of the manual. Don't suppose they can afford driving simulators to show us how truly terrible our driving skills are?
Husband is sure he saw a bug walk into the undereave crack above the attic. Next on my list is to caulk the crack and paint over it this weekend. Don't really want to do that but maybe he's right that I should.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Up on the Rooftop
OK - so I wasn't actually up on the rooftop - not my forté nowadays - but I did go up the extension ladder to take photos of the crack in the roof deck, both under the eave and inside the attic area above the remodeled carport. It doesn't look like the roof will collapse any time soon. I told husband he could keep an eye on it and tell me if the crack widens. It's not the roofer's fault that whoever put the peaked roof above the carport's flat roof to create attic storage space didn't use sturdy decking. For now, the slender crack is well-covered by the roof membrane and shingles.
Hiked Apache Springs Trail to overlook just above Apache Springs. Aspens are slowly changing. On the way back, we got more distance in by walking on old NM4 that goes out Apache Springs Mesa and then eventually dips down to new NM4. I'd love to show that area to the hiking groups.
Hiked Apache Springs Trail to overlook just above Apache Springs. Aspens are slowly changing. On the way back, we got more distance in by walking on old NM4 that goes out Apache Springs Mesa and then eventually dips down to new NM4. I'd love to show that area to the hiking groups.
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