Honoring my mother, Lorraine

My mom, Lorraine Rubie Mullen, left this world on the 29th of April.  This past Saturday I had an open house in honor of her and I invited those who had known her well over the last few years in Denver.

My mom loved peonies and she was crazy about the baskets in Mexico.  So I made an arrangement of over 50 peonies in a basket I had recently bought in Oaxaca.

I made over 30 tent cards with photos of her on each side and I wrote the date of the photo and where it had been taken under each photo.  Everyone loved them, especially my dad.  I made my spicy pecans, a Spanish Coco (a flat bread with caramelized onions, piquillo peppers and Manchego cheese) and a spinach and artichoke dip with seasoned pita chips.   My mom was always so proud of me, I could just hear her saying, "That Robin!".

The weather was really strange that day.  It started out cold and gloomy.  Then around 12:30, big snow flakes started to come down and then it turned into rain.  But at 1:15, the sun came out!  My mom wasn't going to have bad weather ruin her celebration.  I also hired a couple who I have used for large parties before to come in and bar tend and serve.  She would have loved that.

The dining table on the back patio with more flowers and photo tent cards.

The kitchen counter had a big arrangement of Sunflowers and Irises.  I bought that gorgeous copper pot on one our adventures together over in Santa Clara de Cobre in the state of Michoacan in Mexico.  She and my dad loved that area and searching out the different artisans in the mountain villages.   The three of us explored that area often, especially when I was on my buying trips for my import sales.

Here are just some of the photos I put on the tent cards.  This was taken in front of the San Francisco church in San Miguel de Allende, 2009.  This is when her cousin, Marje, and Marje's daughter, Jill, from Minneapolis came to visit us at our casa in San Miguel. 

At the Denver Botanic Gardens, touring the Chihuly exhibition, 2014.

An exceptional day north of Colima, Mexico at the Hacienda de San Antonio.  What an exquisite property.  2004.

 Having a picnic up at Barr Lake, just north-east of Denver.  Fall - 2016.

 One of my mom's favorite restaurants in Denver, The Capital Grill.  On their anniversary, June 19, 2013.   

Another anniversary dinner at The Capital Grill, 2015.  This coming June would have been their 71st anniversary!

A typical scene, my parents sitting in the jardin (main square) in front of the Parroquia (the parish church) in San Miguel de Allende.

 At Carter's 60th birthday party - Scottsdale - spring 2010.

Hamming it up.  A friend of mine gave her these "royal slippers" so I had her model them for me while reading Majesty magazine.  She just loved reading about the Royals.

When Carter and my dad would go on their annual Dove and Duck hunting trips down in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico, my mom would come up from Scottsdale for the week and we always had the best time.  One of the highlights was having crab legs (and a lot of butter) for dinner along with a bottle of Spanish Cava.

 We moved to Arizona in 1962 from Minnesota.  The Phoenix Airport back when...

 More Arizona.  I loved that sweater that my mom had on.

Up on a rooftop restaurant that overlooks the Parroquia in San Miguel de Allende - 2012.

My mom was always up for an adventure, upbeat,  always beautifully dressed,  just a real lady.   My parents traveled through out Europe, especially Ireland, and Mexico.  They had custom-built homes that my mom decorated beautifully.  She was so talented and really embraced life.  

She was the best mom, wife, mother-in-law and friend.  

She is sincerely missed. 

Love you Mom!! 

PS:  

A special thanks to those who contributed to making Saturday such a special day.  Patsy and Tom W., The Green Girls (Holly, Jill, Shelley and Leslie) and Debbi W.

Travels with Robin in 2020

Buenas tardes,

I just returned from leading a group to San Miguel de Allende where we celebrated Semana Santa (Holy Week) with the locals.  I had such a great group of people from Alexandria - Minnesota, Tucson - Arizona, Houston - Texas, Chicago - Illinois and of course Denver.  It was a wonderful ten days that I am sure everyone will treasure for quite a while.  I know I always do after one of my tours.

I have been asked by quite a few who have traveled with me on many, if not all of my trips, what I have in store for my "Travels With Robin" tours for 2020.  I have three exceptional trips planned!

First trip planned is The Magic of the Maya World, a nine day guided tour in the state of Chiapas: February 20 - 28.  It's an opportunity to visit a forgotten corner of the world few people will ever see.  Chiapas is best known for its colonial cities but above all for its Mesoamerica's most stunning Maya ruins such as Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan. 

I have visited these ruins many times and often there are little if not any tourists at all.   The area is also known for its diverse landscape from

the stunning Canyon de Sumidero (one morning we will enjoy the Canyon in our private boat up the Grijalva River),

to the mountains in the highlands where we will visit some of the villages known for their textiles to the dense tropical rain forest.  Chiapas is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet and it has one of the largest and most diverse indigenous populations in Mexico, with approximately 960,000 native language speakers over the age of five, which represents one quarter of the state’s population.

Next April, I am repeating that same trip I just lead for Semana Santa in San Miguel de Allende, seven days during Holy Week which is such a colorful time of year with the option to add four extra nights to the trip which everyone except one couple did this year. 

Full of pageantry, processions, decorated churches and homes, just a special time to be in this 475 year old colonial town to witness the spirit of the people as they partake in celebrating Semana Santa. 

April 3 - 9, 2020 with the option of signing on for an additional four nights, departing on the 13. 

Travel the ages... From the lavish culture of Mexico City, to the colonial town of Puebla to

ancient Oaxaca for El Dia del Muerto, The Day of the Dead

October 21 - November 3, 2020

Mexico City is cosmopolitan and cultured with world class museums where part of the city was built directly on top of the capital of the Aztec Empire.

It will be four days of exploring museums, visiting the homes of Luis Barragán, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, taking in all the sites around the main square (the zocalo), and experiencing some of the best cuisine Mexico City has to offer.

Off to Puebla for a few days, a colonial town with its Renaissance and Mexican Baroque architecture.  A city famous for mole poblano, chilis en nogada and Talavera pottery.  Staying right in the historic district close to the many magnificent churches.  We will visit the Museo Amparo with one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian and colonial art in the country and the Taller Uriarte where we will have a private tour of the Talavera pottery workshop.  A morning at the International Baroque Museum, not only is the collection phenomenal, the building itself is something to see.  And of course some exceptional dining.

Final stop, Oaxaca for five days over El Dia de Los Muertos!  An experience you will never forget.  We will be staying a block from the main square (the zocalo).  One day will be a side trip to Ocotlan de Morelos, famous for its Friday open air market, a visit to the ex-convent and Morales museum, lunch at a fabulous restaurant in the countryside and a few stops at some of the local artisans known for their ceramic figures, Alebrijes (hand carved and painted wood figures) and weavers using their back-strap looms.  The days spent in Oaxaca City, we will be right in the thick of the celebrations for El Dia de Los Muertos.  And of course, the cuisine in Oaxaca is some of the best in all of Mexico.   It is such a popular time to be in Oaxaca, that I have already reserved the hotel rooms.

Semana Santa and Dia de Los Muertos are such special times to be in Mexico.   Please let me know if one or all of these trips are of interest to you and I will add your names to the list.  I already have some folks ready to sign up.

Soon I will sending a detailed itinerary on The Magic of the Maya World.

Dates:  February 19 - 25, 2020.

Look for the Semana Santa in San Miguel de Allende email the end of May.

Dates:  April 3 - 9, 2020  (with the option of staying on until the 13th)

And look for the Travel the ages... From the lavish culture of Mexico City, to the colonial town of Puebla to ancient Oaxaca for El Dia del Muerto, The Day of the Dead email the end October, after I have returned from leading a tour to Mexico City and Oaxaca.

Dates:  October 21 - November 3, 2020

I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully traveling with you in 2020!

Robin

Robindsg@aol.com

Some amusing photos that I have shot over the years in San Miguel de Allende and a few other towns near by

Being April Fool's Day, I thought I would post some funny and amusing photos that I have shot over the years in San Miguel de Allende and a few other towns in Mexico.

In the main square, the jardin, this cute boy was having fun poising as one of the super heroes!

Sweet gal in a butcher shop in Santa Clara de Cobre in the state of Michocan.  How appropriate, I took this when the swine flu had just raised it ugly head.

I am fascinated by pig's heads when I see them in the market in Mexico and Spain.  Don't ask me why, I just am.

Great tile that I spotted on one of the streets warning you of the dog, Caution!!

Do you think the cat is waiting for lunch?

No translation needed.  Great graphic.

Patiently waiting to be let back in from an outing around town.

How more relaxed can one be!

A dogs day afternoon.

I have walked past this door jam so many times.  It cracks me up every time.

The cloud could not have been in a better place...

Up at the Tiangis, the Tuesday market.  Again, I am fascinated with the piles of chicken feet.

Great selection of bras in the market.

Mannequins laid to rest.

I admire those who can wear such high heals and still walk on all the cobblestone streets.  Pretty stylish.

I laughed when I saw this, my electrician would just die.

The phone lines in most of the historic center are under ground.  Apparently not in this neighborhood.

Sitting in the front table at La Petit Four having an espresso and one of their yummy pastries, the garbage truck goes by.  The question, did someone discard an old mattress or is this for when the garbage men get tired and need a rest...

Too bad there were no people in the SUV to complete the photo.

How fun to leave the church in a decorated VW Thing!

And talk about "pimp my ride".  A deer pelt on the one motor cycle's seat.  Only in Mexico.

There is always something around the next corner in San Miguel.  That is why I love to get out and just walk around town or sit in the jardin and watch the world go by.   Never a dull moment.

The Loza Verde, the Green Glazed Pottery of Oaxaca

The green pottery of Aztompa originated in the Oaxacan town of Santa Maria Aztompa and can be found in the markets around and in Oaxaca.  This particular photo, I took in one of my favorite markets, Friday morning in Ocotlan de Morelos.

The glazed pottery is usually designed with utilitarian purposes in mind such as cooking and serving and even to hold candle and flowers.

Santa Maria Atzompa has been making pottery since the 7th to 9th century when it acted as the satellite city to its larger neighbor, Monte Alban. 

It was after the Spanish conquest that the lead glazing techniques were introduced by cleric Alonso Figueroa and little has changed in the process today, green being the preferred color of choice.  About 90% of the people in Santa Maria Atzompa are dedicted to making this pottery, thus contributing to the town's basic economy.
The clay is mined 4 kilometers away in an area called San Lorenzo Cacautepec.  The clay is mixed with water to make it uniform.  The pieces are made on a foot operated potter's wheel, then set aside to air dry for 8 days before firing.  The pieces are fired twice, the glaze is applied just before the second firing.

Sunday morning over in the Abastos market in Oaxaca City.

A busy day on Wednesday at the market in Soledad Etla, you will find grandiose sized green glazed bowls filled with Atole.

Atole Dulce

and Atole Blanco. 

Atole is an acquired taste for us gringos from the states.  Its an ancient masa (corn) gruel made with water (sometimes milk), with or without sugar.   Corn gruel was the basis of the Mesoamerican diet before 500 B.C. and Atole is just thinned corn greul.
Atole is usually made with corn kernels, cooked long enough to grind on a metate.  Then more water is added and then cooked until it thickens. 
You will find a variety of Atoles often combined with other ingredient in Oaxaca.   Sugar is added to some.  Add chile and you get Chileatole, a well known cure for a hangover.  Atoles are also made with a variety of tropical fruits such as guava.  Other flavoring include chocolate, vanilla, juices, nuts, seeds, rice and fresh corn.

The glazed green bowl is a perfect vessel to display Los Gusanitos de Maguey, the Maguey worms.  They are dried, smoked larvae of the tiny insect that lives on the Maguey (agave) plants used to produce Mezcal.

When I am leading a tour to the Oaxacan valley, we start one day in Monte Alban followed by a stop to the Thursday market in Zaachila where we dine at La Capilla, an open-aired restaurant with long benches that serves the best Tlayuda,  a signature Oaxacan antojito (snacks made of corn dough).  Tlayuda (or clayuda) is a large well-cooked tortilla spread with a black bean paste,cheese, sliced avocados, shredded lettuce or cabbage, tomato and decorated with a beautiful slices of radishs and then toasted on a comal or grill.
Check out the gorgeous green glazed pitcher.

These green glazed pitchers are also perfect for making and serving hot chocolate, another favorite beverage of the area.

Comida (lunch) at one of my favorite restaurants in Oaxaca is Origen.  What a gorgeous entree served in this green glazed bowl.
I bet the next time you are in Oaxaca, you can not resist buying a pitcher or bowl or both.  

Last time I purchased two bowls with a pigs face with feet that I love to serve my Oaxacan peanuts or guacamole in. 

Cream of Roasted Asparagus and Garlic Soup

I have been making a lot of soups lately and one of my favorites is my Cream of Roasted Asparagus and Garlic Soup.  Roasting the asparagus with the garlic gives the soup an extra dimension and depth. 

Ingredients:
4 lbs. fresh asparagus, break woody ends off and discard
5 garlic cloves, minced
   olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups celery, sliced
1 leek, sliced
6 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy cream
salt to taste

Toss the asparagus and garlic in olive oil to coat.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast at 350 for about 15 minutes or until tender.
Melt butter and saute the celery, onion and leek until tender.
Once the asparagus has cooled, cut into 1" pieces.
Add to the vegetables.  
In batches, puree some of the vegetables along with some chicken stock in a blender.
Return to the pot and add the cream.  Salt to taste.

Makes around 14 cups and freezes well.
Bon Appetit!