Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

My husband and I took a 4 day trip to Santa Fe to celebrate our anniversary and his birthday.

What a wonderful place to be inspired by the art, architecture, history, and food!

This is a picture of me standing in front of the sculpture garden at the Wilford Gallery on Canyon Road.

One of the things I love about Santa Fe is that there is always a surprise around every nook and cranny.  There might be a beautiful, old, and rustic carved door or a quaint, inviting courtyard covered with vines and enclosed with a twig fence with graying bark.

I can’t believe I forgot to charge the battery on my small camera that I carry so I only got a few pictures.

We visited old cathedrals and churches, the Georgia O’Keefe museum, and enjoyed meals on shaded patios.

Santa Fe has a distinct style that gives you the feeling you have been transported to another time and place.

Our book group just finished reading a debut novel called The Ringer by Jenny Shank.

We found out about it because one of our book group members used to live next door to the author.

I’m so glad she did because this was a book worth reading!

The story is about how two families and their communities are affected by a tragedy that changes their lives forever.

Ed O’Fallon is a police officer who shoots Salvador Santillano, a Mexican immigrant, in a No Knock Raid for a drug warrant that was issued for the wrong address.

Shank skillfully writes with keen insight and compassion for all the characters involved as they try to uncover the truth of what happened.  The book alternates chapters written from the perspective of the police officer and Patricia, the wife of the man who was shot.

The premise was based on a true story that happened about 12 years ago combined with the author’s background of growing up in Denver with a brother playing in the upper leagues of baseball.

The story draws you in from the beginning and allows you to care about the characters as they are developed.  You see things through their eyes, realizing the truth has many variations.

I enjoyed the writing style and descriptions that helped me really visualize the story unfolding.  Along with the drama, there are also bits of humor that lighten the tension.

The fact the book took place in and around Denver was an added bonus.

It is a good selection for a book group because it promotes an interesting discussion but it is also a good read if you simply like a first-rate story!

We are nearing the end of summer but it’s not over yet!

Nothing says summer like watermelon.  But are you wondering what else you can do with that 30 pound watermelon in your refrigerator?

Here are 10 ways to enjoy this summer time favorite:

Watermelon ice cubes

Cut up chunks and freeze them.  Drop it into any drink for a refreshing change.

Watermelon in a salad.

It’s not just for fruit salads.  Put chunks of watermelon in savory salads for a sweet, juicy, and crunchy surprise.  Pair it with radishes, red onions, and crumbled feta or blue cheese.

Watermelon appetizer skewers

How about simple appetizers on a skewer alternating chunks of cheese and watermelon?

Watermelon Gazpacho

Puree watermelon, cucumbers, and yellow or red bell pepper.

Watermelon Cooler

Puree your watermelon (use seedless or remove the seeds first) and mix it with mineral water.  If it needs a little something more, add some lime juice and a little agave, honey, sugar, or stevia to sweeten it up.

You can also mix this with other flavors, like pureed raspberries or fresh mint.

Experiment!  Watermelon is a very subtle flavor so you may want to keep it to things that won’t overpower it.

Watermelon Cocktail

Just add a little vodka, rum, or white wine to the above cooler to turn it into a summer cocktail.

Carve a Watermelon

There is no reason you can’t get some practice before carving your Halloween pumpkin and carve the watermelon instead.

Watermelon Basket

I haven’t done this since the 70’s but its fun and easy to cut the watermelon with a handle like a basket (or even just as a bowl) and use it to hold a cool fruit salad.

Watermelon Salsa

I love making fruit salsas.  You can serve this with chips.  Or with quesadillas and make a light, delicious meal.

Chop red onion, red or yellow bell peppers, watermelon, and jalapeno to taste, a a little salt.

Watermelon Bowling

Ok, while you might ordinarily discourage throwing food, this is silly but fun.  Have an end of the season party and invite your friends or let the kids roll that watermelon on the lawn and knock down some water filled plastic bottles or other stand ins for bowling pins.

If you want to go a little crazy and celebrate the end of summer in style, you could have a party and use all of the ideas above!

And in case you missed it, here is the post on my Watermelon chandelier.