Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | October 19, 2012

Keith and Company

Last Saturday, we gathered at the home of Keith’s daughter, Courtney, for a fun day with the “Pence Girls”  and their families.

Keith’s son, Tyler, was unable to make the trek from Minneapolis, but we did have the chance for some “face time” with him, his girlfriend, Stacy, and their cat, Steve, via iPhone.

Ellie, Maylee, Keith, Matt, Courtney, Meghan, Ticker and Gabe

We sat around the table in the light-filled dining room for beverages, appetizers and lunch, courtesy of Keith’s daughters, Meghan and Courtney, while the grand-daughters provided entertainment in the form of a fashion show….prancing along the runway in an interesting variety of dress-up outfits and footwear borrowed from mom’s closet, while grandson, Tucker, sat with the grown-ups, and watched the KU football team lose to Oklahoma. Boo!

We gifted the grandkids with tie-dye t-shirt creations from Dukatt, the T or C Tie-Dye King, which bore the slogan “Not really new, Not really Mexico” in the outline of the state of New Mexico, which gave their parents a chuckle, even if it did not impress the kids.
Here are a couple of photos of Keith with his grandkids, all sporting their new threads…

Maylee, Ellie, Tucker and Keith

Three “Goonies” and one “Cool Dude”

Once the food and drink had been consumed, the football game played, the grand-daughters had tired of wrigging and climbing all over grandpa, and we had all caught up on one-anothers’ news, we decided to call it an end to a fun-filled day spent in the company of wonderful people.

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Posted in People, Travel

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | October 11, 2012

Sisters

A few weeks ago, as the seasons began to change, and we felt that slow shift toward cooler temperatures, Keith and I decided that it was high time to make a mad dash to Kansas to visit family, before winter weather could raise its ugly head and make travel miserable.

A quick look at our work schedule, and a bit of coordination with the schedules of others, resulted in a small window of time this week that was open to make the trip.

So, we packed up some clothes and left our desert home on a lovely 94 degree afternoon, and pointed the truck toward Amarillo for our first night stop.

As we climbed from the truck in front of the Holiday Inn Express at exit 64 on I-40 later that evening, in our shorts and sandals, we were hit with a shock of 34 degree night air that had us hustling toward the door. It was our first experience with temperatures that cold this season, and I can’t really say it was enjoyable.

Our room at “The Inn” was gorgeous! A new facility with the most comfortable bed I think I’ve ever slept on….it even had a flat screen TV in the bathroom (in addition to the larger version in the main room)!

After an amazing night’s sleep, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and climbed back into the truck for the drive to Grove, Oklahoma, and a short but sweet visit with my sister and her husband at their Grand Lake home.

Me, Keith, Carol and Dave in Grove, Oklahoma

The guys played golf and my sister and I did some casual house-hunting, which, if you know our family, is always a favored activity…we moved so often and had so much experience with home selling and buying, that “real estate lady” was a favorite childhood game :)

After a too-short visit, we climbed back into the truck for the drive north on Highway 59, toward Ottawa, Kansas, our old stomping grounds, for a late-afternoon soiree with Keith’s sister.

Keith and Kathy

We both would have preferred to spend more time with our sisters, but at least we had the opportunity to reconnect and share some smiles and time reminiscing.

And, although I missed my sister in Portland on this trip, know that you are on the radar for 2013!

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Posted in People, Travel

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | October 3, 2012

How to Cook a Fish ~ “Bone Appetit”

It’s been a hit and miss summer of fishing at the lake….but we have enjoyed a number of delicious meals of white bass and walleye.

At first we cut filets from the fish, but it bothered me that we were wasting a lot of meat.

There had to be a better way to prepare them, and to honor the fish we were about to consume,…for, after all, these fish had given their lives for our meal.

It just seemed that cooking the fish whole would do the trick, so I searched for directions on how to cook a fish, expecting it to be a difficult, long and drawn-out process.

Boy, was I wrong.

The other night, we set out to test the process, and were rewarded with delicious results!

Here’s how it went….

Washed and gutted white bass ready to prepare.

After cleaning and gutting the fish, and rubbing the outside with olive oil, I stuffed the cavity with garlic, fresh basil and sliced lemons while Keith preheated the grill.

Fish stuffed and ready for the grill.

After 15-20 minutes on a medium hot grill ~ with the top closed to keep in moisture and add a hint of smoky flavor, Keith carefully turned the fish for another 15-20 minutes of cooking. (Note: cooking times will vary with different grills).

First side cooked and smoked.

Our mouths were watering as we waited those last few minutes, but it was well worth the wait when we plated up the fish and sat down to dine on the tender, flaky, lightly seasoned meat!

Grilled bass ready to eat!

We paired our bass with side dishes of coleslaw and polenta with mushroom and gogonzola…..and a glass of our homemade Elderflower and RoseHip wine. Yum!

At first I was concerned about the actual eating process, with all the skin and bones, but the skin was crisp from grilling and it pulled off easily to expose one side of the meat, which pulled off from the bones with little effort.

Once the meat from the first side had been consumed ~ even the small but tasty morsel from the cheek, we could pull off the backbone and remove the meat from the other side.

The process did slow down dining time, as you had to pay attention to avoid rib bones, but it was actually a bonus, as we were forced to relax and enjoy our meal….kind of a Zen experience.

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Posted in Food

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | September 28, 2012

August Burns Red

When you first open your eyes in the morning, you just never know what the day will bring….

The other day, Keith and I were sitting in the office at Riverbend Hot Springs, quietly sipping our morning coffee, when a huge Prevost custom tour bus pulled up outside ~ you know, the kind you see on the highway, transporting famous entertainers to their next destination.

A friendly, unassuming twenty-something-looking guy named Josh stepped out of the bus.

Turns out he is the Tour Manager for a wildly successful metalcore band  ~ August Burns Red ~ and he’d made arrangements for the band and crew to spend the day at Riverbend for some much-needed R&R between shows.

Now, we’ve all heard horror stories of bands trashing hotels and partying until all hours of the night, but these guys turned out to be some of the nicest, “real” people we’d met in a long time, and we had a great time sitting around visiting with some of them on the patio.

“Me and My Baby” and the boys in the band, “August Burns Red”, and their crew, at Riverbend Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

Christopher, the tour Merchandise Manager, gifted us with a couple of souvenir guitar pics, and also taught us a lesson that gives us new respect for apples!

After a fun day in Truth or Consequences, the band piled back into the bus and it pulled out in the wee hours of the morning, heading for a show in Odessa, Texas.

The plan is to work their way back east toward home in Manheim, Pennsylvania, for a little break before heading out on an extensive European tour.

One of the things that impressed us the most with their music is the multiple time signatures in each tune…”Sleigh Ride”, one of the cuts on their holiday CD, “Sleddin Hill”,  gives you 4 at the same time! It’s by far the most energetic version of this holiday classic we’ve ever heard.

We wish the boys in the band the best for their future, although they seem to be doing amazingly well on their own :)

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Posted in Entertainment, Music, Musings, People

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | September 22, 2012

Doing What We Do

Making music is what we do best, and some nights things just fall into place moreso than others.

Last night was one of those special evenings.

Perhaps it was the tone of the universe ~ the eve of fall equinox, when night and day are equal, and we experience a true sense of balance in our lives.

Perhaps it was the venue ~ the Ivory Tusk Tavern at Elephant Butte Inn, where Jack and the crew make everyone who walks in the door feel like an old friend and a V.I.P..

Perhaps it was the great group of friends who showed up to support “Me and My Baby”, or maybe the new friends we made at the show.

Whatever the reason, there was magic in the air, and our two-hour show time passed in a blur of fine tunes and comaraderie.

The experience of seeing people  enjoy our music makes doing what we do worthwhile, and we look forward to appearing at the Ivory Tusk again on October 19th!

“Me and My Baby” at the Ivory Tusk Tavern, Friday, September 21st, 2012.

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Posted in Entertainment, Music, People, Travel

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | September 12, 2012

Comfort from the Kitchen

Don’t know if our bodies were already intuitively craving high calorie foods to prepare for winter, or if we were just in a mood for some comfort food to mix up our normally healthy diet, but yesterday, we stepped into the kitchen to whip up a tuna noodle casserole, along with a lovely little lemon cake.

There’s just something about tuna casserole…the 1950′s variety…made with Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, canned tuna, egg noodles, peas, cheese, and – of course – a crunchy coating of crushed potato chips on the top…that wraps you up in a rich, creamy, steamy wonderland of memories from your childhood when all was safe and cozy and warm.

We sat around like anxious kids, waiting for the casserole to emerge from the oven, and then scooped up heaping plates full to munch contentedly while relaxing in our La-Z-Boys in front of the TV :)

I find it most interesting that this happened on the day that my chiropractor and nutritional counselor had complimented me on my good eating habits! Oh well, no one if perfect!

It took several hours after wolfing down our casserole before we were even interested in eating the lemon cake…..a moist, sweet/tart recipe topped with a lemon glaze rather than frosting.

It was absolutely delicious – dense and very “lemon-y”….we each ate several pieces!

Here’s the recipe:

Glazed Lemon Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
1 small package lemon jello
3/4 C. water
4 eggs, well beaten
3/4 C. oil

Glaze:
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
2 C. powdered sugar

Grease and flour a jelly roll pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 18 x 13-inch jelly roll pan.

In a large bowl, whisk the cake mix and jello powder together to remove lumps.

Add the water, eggs and oil. Stir about 50 strokes – lumps are OK.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake 25 minutes.

To make the glaze, stir together powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest.

When the cake is ready, pierce it all over with a fork and spread/pour the glaze over the top.

Wait ‘till it’s cool, and enjoy!

Although the recipe calls for baking the cake in a jelly roll pan, I had to use a smaller pan that would fit in my camper oven, so my cake was a bit thicker than it should have been. But, the glaze still soaked down to the bottom as it was supposed to do, and I will definitely make this recipe again when we next jump off the healthy food bandwagon for a day!

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Posted in Food, Musings

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | September 9, 2012

Where Did the Summer Go?!

It’s 61 degrees…grey and drizzling…clouds hang low on Turtleback Mountain…fall has arrived in New Mexico, and I sit, wondering, where the summer went.

The brutal heat we endured for months, which chased us indoors by 10 a.m., is gone. Oh, there will still be warm days, but the sun now hangs low in the sky, and all of us  “desert rats” can finally come out of hiding.

It WAS a good summer, though – good-natured complaining aside – and we spent many fine afternoons swimming and fishing at Elephant Butte Lake, evenings playing music for a growing fan base, a fun trip to Virginia to visit grandson, Bennett, cook-outs with friends, and simply relaxing through the heat of the day.

I am hopeful that the cooler weather will inspire me to start blogging and sharing our Sunset Ride adventures more regularly.

Here are a couple of pics to get things started!

Our little desert garden…..lots of tomatoes, basil and peppers, but I couldn’t grow a green bean to save my life!

Keith introducing the Blue Moon, Friday, August 31st ~ the last until 2015!.

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Posted in Boating, Musings, Plants, Travel

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | August 21, 2012

Celebrating Two Years On the Road

August is the month that Keith and I celebrate the anniversary of our “Sunset Ride”…a term coined for our life as traveling musicians, which began two sweet years ago.

“For Drinks and Tips” chronicles many of our adventures as we’ve traversed the country, though at present we are somewhat grounded in the quirky New Mexico desert town of Truth or Consequences.

Life here allows us to live comfortably in our fifth wheel, play and develop our music, and meet up with some mighty interesting folk who share our freedom-loving philosophies.

We began our anniversary celebration on August 1st, with a much-anticipated visit from my sister, Carol, and her husband, Dave, who traveled from Grand Lake, Oklahoma to check out our digs.

Here they are, enjoying a morning soak in one of the three private pools at Riverbend Hot Springs.

The four of us enjoyed a late lunch at Cafe Groovy Gritz, then stopped in to see Jeff, the Tie-Dye King.

We each made a creative,  colorful purchase, and the customary photos in tie-dye with antlers and the “World’s Largest Underpants” were taken!

We all had a good laugh, and then loaded up into the truck for the short drive to Elephant Butte Lake, for a cocktail hour cruise on our boat, followed by dinner at the marina, with our “Lake Friends”.

Patrick made his famous “Bunny Chow” ~ a rustic lamb curry ~ served in homemade bread bowls.

We all sat around on Mack’s pontoon boat to eat and chat, and watch the full moon rise over the lake…

To celebrate our guests of honor, the full moon, 2nd anniversary, good food and friends, we broke out the first bottle of our  homemade Elderflower Wine, which everyone – except Patrick – enjoyed.

But then, he’s a scotch drinker, so his thumbs down was not a deal breaker, and I noticed that several of our guests went back for refills, so we decided our wine ~ and anniversary ~ was a huge success!

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Posted in Boating, Events, Food, Musings, People, Updates, Wine

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | July 23, 2012

Crescent Moon Magic

Last night, after dinner at the lake, we watched the crescent moon rise over the water, to float through a sea of clouds on the velvet sky.

While gazing heavenward, I remembered a little crescent moon good fortune ritual that our friend, Patrick, a “Brit” who was raised in South Africa, had told us about…something he has done since childhood, and which he claims has prevented him from ever being without means.

It sounded simple enough, and as every one of us could use a nice dose of good fortune, we decided to join him in his practice.

Patrick’s wife, Ellen, made a quick dash to the sailboat for some coins, and then passed them out so that each of us had some silver in our pockets.

When the moon emerged from the clouds, we stood on the dock, bowed to her three times, turned the coins over in our pockets, and offered up a silent prosperity prayer to the universe.

This morning, I did some internet inquiry into this practice, and learned that Patrick’s ritual is based on ancient British and Scottish folk customs.

The concept is that as the moon -  which is associated with the metal, silver – increases in size, the silver in your pocket will do likewise, when you make your request appropriately at the crescent moon.

Sure hope it works…and next month, perhaps everyone should give it a go!

Just for fun, if you’d like to see a list of this, and other snippets of moon folklore, check out this link.

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Posted in Musings, People

Posted by: Barbara Evanhoe | July 19, 2012

An Enchanting Day at the Lake

There we were….guys perched along the edge of the dock like so many seagulls….

Keith, Patrick and Mack

…girls lounging on the decks of our boats….sharing cocktail hour and sunset after a relaxing day in our lives at the lake.

Ellen, on her and Patrick’s sailboat, the “Escapade”.

First Mate, Barbara, on the “Sunset Ride”

We felt like young children on summer vacation…tired and hungry from fishing and playing in the water all day….elderly Tom Sawyers and Huckleberry Finns, with not a care in the world.

Life at the lake is like that.

You wake up in the morning, pull your bathing suit on, grab the cooler, and – in our case – drive about seven minutes to the marina…park and walk to your boat, which is waiting like a faithful puppy to go out and play.

For the first time in many weeks, Keith and I decided to make yesterday a “lake day”.

We arrived around 11 a.m., after running a couple of necessary errands. and were on the water in no time flat, cruising around Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest lake in New Mexico.

This time of year, the water level is low, as the water actually “belongs” to Texas, and it’s released for irrigation purposes, to flow via the Rio Grande to southern points unknown.

That said, there is still plenty of water in the lake to have a grand time, and to see some of the most beautiful scenery in New Mexico, from a unique perspective………

After our little scenic tour, we headed for a cove named “The Jungles”, dropped anchor, donned life vests, and hopped into the water for a refreshing swim.

We paddled about, relaxed and simply bobbed up and down, and actually did a little “work” – scrubbing the “lake goo” off the submerged parts of the boat.

Once the boat was sparkling clean and we were nice and cool, we pulled the anchor and went back to deeper water to try out some of the new fishing lures we’d purchased.

I drove the boat while Keith threw out a line, and he had several nice strikes, and even caught one small white bass, which he released.

So, when we decided to head back to the marina for cocktail hour, there were no fish in the ice chest. But, Patrick fed us all a lovely supper of oxtail, rice and vegetables, with some tasty brown gravy, accompanied by a lovely sunset show of lights and shadows playing on the mountains across from the marina.

Day’s End at the Lake

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Posted in Boating, People, Travel

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