Quest for Donuts

When I left my small hometown 20 years ago, it soon became clear that I was not likely to ever again easily find three culinary staples of my childhood: fresh kielbasa; homemade ice cream (seemingly around every corner); and real bakery donuts.

After years in the DC area, I had discovered that you could mail order kielbasa from Usinger's. And eventually Lazy Sundae opened up a few blocks away, offering all sorts of great flavors of homemade ice cream. (Side note: and it was always busy — I mean, really, what took so long for someone to decide to open an ice cream shop? Virginia? In summer? Who would possibly want ice cream then? But I digress).

And we were introduced to Heidelberg Pastry Shop, with its amazing assortment of Old World pastries, including fresh donuts.

In Santa Fe, it was like we had to start all over again. We've discovered some local ice creameries — few, far between, but good. No European bakeries, but it didn't really concern me much, what with the other local breakfast delicacies we discovered.

But during Andy's latest visit, it occurred to me I wanted donuts. The way that Saturday morning was going, it made sense to just have some stuff around that everyone could eat as needed. Plus, I think having a New Englander around got it in my head. So I headed out to Dunkin' Donuts. They were fine, they got us through the morning, but not all that satisfying. At some point, driving along Cerrillos, Andy spotted a small (non-chain) donut shop in one of the plazas that we'd never noticed before. I filed that away for future reference.

Back in New England a couple weeks back where, especially around Boston, there seemed to be a Dunkin' every few feet, decided I wanted some of the bakery donuts I used to have growing up. M+D have gotten out of the donut habit, but were game — and, in calling around to the local bakeries, discovered that America (or at least Wethersfield) does, indeed, run on Dunkin'. None of the bakeries made donuts anymore.

This past week, we were dropping Monica's car at the shop on Cerrillos, I ducked over to the donut shop — Kip's Donuts — to note the hours (Tuesday-Saturday, 6am-noon or until they run out).

So this morning, headed there to pick up some breakfast.



A small place, a good selection. Baking going on right behind the counter. Sweet smells.



Mmmmmmmm.

More Mountain Lion

A follow-up article on the mountain lion found downtown in today's Santa Fe New Mexican.

We wound up amusing ourselves — way too much — creating our very own lolcats* from the (uncredited) photo of the poor thing.

If so inclined, you can click for larger. We got that working again.

  
  

And D was moved to write a haiku:

Haiku to a Trapped Puma
What is the sound of
an enraged mountain lion
while being flushed out?


* Yeah, never heard of the phenomenon either before a few weeks back. Had to research it ourselves.

house pix update... kind of

While I was visiting family in NC last weekend, I promised to post some new house photos. As you'll see, we haven't made a whole lot more progress unpacking. Instead, here's more of a virtual-type tour. My group!

Here's the view from the foyer into the original part of the house, which we sometimes refer to as "the north wing." Because we're nerds.



Immediately to your right, you will find the dining area, with the kitchen next to it. The sliding doors in the dining room and the kitchen windows both face east, into the backyard. As you can tell from the retinal-searing amounts of sunlight, I took these photos in the morning.





To the left of the dining area is the living room. If you were sitting on our couch, this is what you'd see: on your left, the window facing the street (west); one of Jim's lovely shelving units; the teevee, partially obscured by; the red chair; the closet door; the hallway, sporting a; stylish little fan; and the office beyond.
[click for larger]



Making your way down the hall, the first room on the left is the guest room. It's on the corner, with one window facing the street (west) and one facing our next-door neighbor's house (north). This room is also known as "the one with all the boxes and crap we haven't put away yet."



All right, move it along, nothing to see.

Next is the office. I hung the "Silence" poster this weekend, cleaned up, and filed a bunch of paperwork. Including our individual and joint tax returns going back to 1991. Why is it that one sheet of paper weighs nothing, yet a box full of paper is so heavy that not even light can escape its gravitational pull? Why?? Sorry, I digress.
[click for larger]



The office windows face the neighbor (north) and the backyard (east). Next to the office, and the last room off the hallway, is the bathroom. Yes, I know the shower curtain doesn't match the tile. Shut up! The window faces the backyard.



Back into the living room, and facing the couch, with the door to the foyer next to the other shelf from Jim. That's it for the north wing. Onward to the converted garage!
[click for larger]



Here's the view, from the foyer, down a mysterious, blurry hallway. Be not afraid! Enter!!



To your right is the room we sometimes call "the other room with all the boxes and crap we haven't put away yet" or "the fireplace room" or "the library." Window faces the other neighbor (south).



So where's the fireplace? That's it there, the dark, curved thingus, behind the mirror. As is the style here in Santa Fe, there's a built-in bench (called a banco) in front of the fireplace, so the hearth is raised up about two feet off the floor. Not that you can see any of that, what with the junk in the way. The back of the fireplace faces the street. It's where the garage door used to be.



And where are the books in this so-called "library" you ask? Why right here! It's our remaining pieces of Ikea Akrobat shelving! And, yes, they're mostly full of graphic novels. I blame you, Raphael!



Back to the blurry hallway. The double doors on the left hide the washer + dryer.



Next room on the right is the "master bath." The stepstool is in the shower because I've been stripping the water-damaged varnish off the wood window and window frame. The plan is to tung-oil the heck out of it, then hire a contractor to build the wall out (in? I mean away from the window), so that it's more recessed, and have the shower tiled (it's peeling, painted concrete now). First step is me doing the window, for some reason. Window faces south. Still no mirror(s). Makes putting my contacts in more fun that way. Also, the gold-tone fixtures...? Gotta go.



Our bedroom is at the end.



We figure this little alcove-ey bit was added on to the back of the garage when the place was renovated. Widows face north, east, and south!! Sun's up! Why are you still sleeping??



There are sliders opposite the foot of the bed that face north, out onto the patio. So bright! Go into the light!



Wait, let me adjust the exposure so you can see better. There you go:



Next time: the yard.

Mountain Lion Found Downtown

"A state wildlife officer tranquilized a mountain lion inside a Plaza jewelry store early Saturday morning before relocating the big cat to the Chama area." From today's Santa Fe New Mexican.

Happy Birthday, Maddy

(Showing where she'd planted beans.)