I arrived Thursday. danlo and Miss Elora (such a cutie-pie!) met me at the airport. LuciMay and Creator were already in town.
I remember having snacks on the flight out; I seriously don't remember eating anything once I got to danlo's Thursday. I am sure I'm mistaken, but it's a total blank...
Friday Lady Tam and I went grocery shopping, prepped, and then cooked the bar-be-cue for everyone who had arrived by Friday evening. Lady Tam started us off with chips and two kinds of dips: french onion dip and a tomatilla and jalapeno dip. Everyone loved them, including JoJo, their dog.
I helped Lady Tam make a wonderful cold green bean salad, and Lady Tam also made her own recipe for potato salad and baked beans.
For entrees, Lady Tam made burger patties and marinated chicken breasts. I made portabello mushroom caps marinated in vidalia onion salad dressing and Johnsonville bratwurst simmered in beer and butter once grilled.
danlo and Lady Tam provide a wide selection of beer and wine. Some of the other Watchers brought additional selections. I am in New Mexico, so I had to have a margarita. Uhm...make that two. Then say "night-night" to Menolly...
The kitchen at danlo's is awesome, especially compared to the one in my rental duplex. It is still undergoing renovations, so I had to use the neighbor's oven to bake the key lime pies. I made five of them, and apparently they went over pretty well with those at 'fest.
Saturday morning I skipped going to breakfast with everyone to attend services instead. There's a picture of Luci with her plate of french toast at the restaurant in the album. It looks awesome.
Saturday night was dinner at The Cooperage with SRD. We all ordered our own meals. I had a NY Strip cooked Pittsburgh style. It was supposed to be extra rare, but came out about medium rare. I think that was pretty common for those who got steak, I overheard several say their steaks were slightly overcooked. But, the flavor was awesome.
The Cooperage had a nice, fresh salad bar which included a sort of chicken soup. Forgetting I was in New Mexico, it looked like cream of chicken to me. Good thing I like spicy food, as it was green chili chicken soup. It wasn't overpowering on the heat, just had an unexpected back of the throat burn. It was really good!
Sunday morning I was doing laundry when danlo went to breakfast. I had on my bathing soup and wrap, as all my clothes were being washed, and we were planning on going to Jemez Falls later on (which was a blast, although I won't do it again unless I have a walking staff with me
). So, I had to miss out again. That was OK, as I helped Lady Tam with high tea instead.
We had three different types of tea: raspberry, cinnamon, and green tea. Along with that we had cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, avocado and bacon sandwiches, dried apricot (I think?) and cream cheese sandwiches on cranberry bread, strawberries stuffed with mascarpone, scones with mock devonshire cream and jam, more key lime pie, and a wonderful pistachio trifle. mmm-MMM!!!
For dinner, Waddley, Believer, Damelon, danlo, and I were on our way back from Jemez Falls. We stopped at a place in Jemez Springs called Los Ojos. Their specialty is a burger patty covered with green chili sauce. danlo, Damelon, and Believer all got that. Waddley got basically a cheeseburger, and I had chili rellenos with red chili sauce, covered with over easy eggs, lettuce, tomato, black olives, and sour cream. Best rellenos I've
ever eaten, but then I
am in New Mexico at the moment.
I haven't eaten yet this morning, and don't really know if I will do so. I desperately need some coffee, but I think I'm not doing all that bad for having been awake for two hours without. I would make some, but although danlo and Lady Tam assure me it is not the case that I broke it, their coffee pot started leaking as soon as I attempted to make coffee on Saturday so there is now no coffee pot here. :::sigh:::
It was a great time! I enjoyed cooking for the Watchers and Lady Tam was well organized and fun to cook with.
(loves high tea!!!! i could bring some REAL Devon Cream and make scones!! 
they're delectable and easy to slow cook in an oven and finish on the grill.
Mine was perfect and the shrimp was great! Damm I thought everything went off perfectly-thanks for pointing out how much of a failure I truly am Pam!!!
