Pictured above: River of Lights through December 30th (6:00-9:30) WEBSITE
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ABQ Weather or Not
drip drip drip... Don't forget those faucets!
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Advance Warning
- This Saturday, December 14th: Light Among the Ruins - Saturday 5:00pm - 9:00pm At Jemez Historic Site
- WEBSITE
The ruins of Giusewa Pueblo and San José de los Jemez Mission will be decorated with hundreds of farolitos. Each evening’s program will include traditional Native American flute music and Jemez Pueblo dancers’ performing between two illuminating bon-fires. The Historic Site will also host an arts and crafts fair and have food available for purchase. Flash photography, drones, and alcohol are prohibited. Those planning on walking to and from the event are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear reflective clothing. Tickets on sale now. https://www.ampconcerts.org/event/351599/light-among-the-ruins
- Hanukkah 2019 will begin in the evening of Sunday December 22nd and Ends in the evening of Monday, December 30th. This 8-day celebration commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend, Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Chag Sameach!
- December 24th -55th Annual Luminaria Tour
- Twelfth Night is celebrated annually on January 5. It is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas and is the traditional end of the Christmas season.
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iSHOP
- For the Cook in your life: IRONWOOD CHOPPING BLOCK CLICK HERE - If you can adjust to a round chopping block, these are the best I've found. Minimal maintenance and a must have. Heavy and can be hung, to save space.
- FABULOUS SHAWLS for a great cause - To learn about "trunk sales" during the holiday season, Visit Website and complete "CONTACT US."
- DON'T BE A SLOUCH! - Don't let what's happening in the world pay its price on your posture. Heads up! I've been testing this for 2 weeks and can honestly say it works!
The UprightGo Posture Trainer - Review and Purchase Info
- THE FATHER CHRISTMAS LETTERS - If you're unfamiliar with these and/or are a Tolkien fan, why not read up a bit: WIKIPEDIA
There are various formats and you'll have some catching up to do, but google should yield lots of options.
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iWATCH
Worth every one of them!! I just finished this yesterday. Half way in (there are 10 episodes), I started miserly doling out one at a time...did not want this to end! And that's saying A LOT, because Season 3 EP 1 didn't exactly blow my skirt up. If you haven't caught the previous two seasons on NETFLIX, please begin at the beginning - you'll thank me.
Read the fine print...
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iREAD
Can you resist a title like that? Read the review:
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HANNUKAH / CHRISTMAS PRESENT Suggestion:
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iCOOK
OYSTER STEW - an East Coast and family tradition for Christmas Eve. Simple, and a proven hit (for those who like oysters).
15 min prep, 15 minutes cook - what could be easier?
- 2 pints shucked oysters in their liquid (Fresh or pre-shucked jar in the seafood section of Whole Foods)
- 4 tablespoonsbutter
- 2 medium shallots, minced
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cupsmilk
- 2 cupsheavy cream
- 2 to 3 dropsTabasco sauce, or to taste
- Extra butter (optional)
Garnish - see below
Instructions
1. Lift the oysters out of their liquid, checking for bits of shell and sand. Pass the liquid through a fine strainer to remove any sand. Chill the oysters and liquid separately.Or skip this entirely, if you purchase a few pints of the pre-shucked
2. In a 3 to 4-quart saucepan melt the butter over medium heat, stir in the shallots and saute until shallots are softened and clear. Blend in garlic, a few pinches of salt and pepper. Cook 30 seconds. Stir in the milk, cream, oyster liquid and Tabasco or a pinch of cayenne. Bring them to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes at a gentle bubble, take care that they don’t boil over, keep them at a simmer.
3. Turn the heat down so the liquid barely bubbles, blend in the oysters and cook them for just a minute or until their edges begin to curl, you want them very tender.
Serve the stew right away with hard rolls and a simple fresh greens salad.
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(Some people like to swirl extra slivers of butter into each serving. I sprinkle paprika on the rim of a shallow cream soup bowl and garnish with a small amount of chopped parsley.)
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This Holiday Season
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Please remember We Are All in this Together
From a 12/5/19 Opinion piece in the Washington Post:
Here’s the good news: Unity exists, even in the United States of 2019. “We see widespread support on reducing college costs, taxing the wealthy, checking corporate power and ensuring people have access to the basics,” John Halpin, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and one of the report’s co-authors, told me.
While the president remains divisive, the report finds majorities of Democrats, independents and Republicans agree on many things. Seventy percent or more of those surveyed, including majorities of Republicans, agreed with each of the following statements:
- College education is too expensive, and states should do more to “help people afford a college education without getting buried in debt.”
- “Rich families and corporations should pay a lot more in taxes than they do today, and middle-class families should pay less.”
- People who don’t receive health insurance from an employer should be allowed to buy into a public plan, and pharmaceutical companies should be “penalized” if drug prices increase faster than the rate of inflation.
- Increase “good jobs” with a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure, including both roads and “expanded production of green energy.”
- Reduce inequality with a 2 percent “wealth tax” on net worth in excess of $50 million.
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Last Words
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We can do this - if we focus on what unites - rather than divides - us.
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