La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
SAN GERALDO AND I DROVE the five minutes to the fairgrounds yesterday evening for our flu shots (click here). Since there was no market at that time, we knew the parking lot would be completely empty. Besides, San Geraldo didn’t want to walk 20 minutes there and then 20 minutes back in the autumn chill. The temperature had already dropped to a damp, bone-chilling, if you were to ask him, 64F (18C), with a 2 percent chance of rain. SG’s appointment was at 6:02 p.m. (18:02) and mine at 6:06 (18:06). We were home at 6:11 (18:11). No fustercluck.
I noted from our terrace Wednesday morning the arrival of an enormous crane at the soon-to-be-former Plaza San Rafael (click here). A crane big enough to hoist the statue from its sky-high pedestal. San Geraldo can see the plaza from his office windows. So, I told him to keep a lookout because I wanted to be sure to get photos of the process. We finally sat down for lunch. An hour later I checked the plaza; the statue was gone. I ran down in hopes of seeing the statue get hauled away. No such luck. It was standing alone, still streaked with seagull poop. There was a giant circle-saw blade way up high, aimed (but idle) at the column itself. The statue is wrapped in plastic this morning. The saw is at work on the column. Every time I get my camera out, the saw takes a break.
I’ve become a bit daring in the kitchen. I adapted Susan’s overnight oats recipe (click here) and added chia seeds to thicken it. When I served it up in the morning, I added a Clementine orange and a tin (sorry) of peaches, pistachios, almonds, and Kellogs Extra (original). Just call me Julia, as in Child. OK, maybe just call me Child — as in child.
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SAN GERALDO Y YO CONDUCIMOS los cinco minutos hasta el recinto ferial ayer por la noche para nuestras vacunas contra la gripe (haz clic aquí). Como no había mercado en ese momento, sabíamos que el estacionamiento estaría completamente vacío. Además, San Geraldo no quería caminar 20 minutos allí y luego 20 minutos de regreso en el frío otoñal. La temperatura ya había bajado a un nivel húmedo y escalofriante si le preguntara a SG, 64F (18C), con 2 por ciento de probabilidad de lluvia. La cita de SG fue a las 6:02 p.m. (18:02) y el mío a las 6:06 (18:06). Estábamos en casa a las 6:11 (18:11). No fustercluck.
Noté desde nuestra terraza el miércoles por la mañana la llegada de una enorme grúa a la que pronto será la antigua Plaza San Rafael (haz clic aquí). Una grúa lo suficientemente grande como para levantar la estatua de su pedestal altísimo. San Geraldo puede ver la plaza desde las ventanas de su oficina. Entonces, le dije que estuviera atento porque quería asegurarme de obtener fotos del proceso. Finalmente nos sentamos a almorzar. Una hora después revisé la plaza; la estatua se había ido. Corrí con la esperanza de ver que se llevaban la estatua. No tuve tanta suerte. Estaba parado solo, todavía surcado de excremento de gaviota. Había una hoja de sierra circular gigante en lo alto, apuntada (pero inactiva) a la columna misma. La estatua está envuelta en plástico esta mañana. La sierra está trabajando en la columna. Cada vez que saco la cámara, la sierra se detiene.
Me he vuelto un poco atrevida en la cocina. Adapté la receta de avena nocturna de Susan (haz clic aquí) y agregué semillas de chía para espesarla. Cuando lo serví por la mañana, agregué una naranja Clementine y una lata (lo siento) de melocotónes, pistachos, almendras, y Kellogs Extra (original). Llámame Julia, como en Child. Bien, tal vez solo llámame Child (como en Niño). [Julia Child era una famosa chef en los Estados Unidos.]
Donde fueron enterrados los
Sorry you missed the denouement of the statue. That is one wicked looking saw. Reminds me a scene from an old James Bond movie.
Mary:
I always think of the same James Bond movie when i see blades like that.
We love overnight oats – I also put hemp hearts in it and I like chopped up candied ginger added. Any little bits of fruit are added, too.
sillygirl:
Candied ginger sounds really good, but probably not good to have another sugary addition — for me. I do add dried blueberries and cranberries when I mix up a batch.
Is the column stone or cast concrete? Interesting that they are cutting it in sections to remove it, stone would normally be put up in pieces and taken down the same way.
David:
I’m sure it’s concrete. But I’m wondering if it was put up in pieces and then cemented together.
18C……poor SG! Warmer here yesterday in the north Atlantic…….21C. Strange eh?
Well at least you got these photos of that statue being ‘dealt with’. Is it off to a museum like most statues from the past?
Being an ‘oats guy’ myself I may consider trying this. Just has to be heated up in the morning.
Jim:
SG would still complain about 21. I’ve read that the statue will be moved someplace else in our neighbourhood. Definitely not museum worthy. Not a good idea to heat up overnight oats. They’ll get really mushy and not very palatable. They’re intended to be eaten cold.
Oh, good to know. Thanks.
Jim:
You know you can count on me for kitchen tips!
That sounds like a heathy (and tasty) breakfast!
Debra:
It’s delicious and very satisfying. I’ve got to mix up another batch this afternoon.
Are they just making the column shorter? Here they are removing statues for political correctness reasons. It seems every monument offends some group or another. Christopher Columbus is anathema here in New Mexico. They haven’t yet found fault with Our Lady of Guadalupe, but I’m sure she has her critics.
Frank:
The statue will end up somewhere else in the neighbourhood. The entire column is being removed but I don’t know what they plan to do with it. The whole plaza has been redesigned. Completely new and will be done by mid-December (they hope).
hope your kitchen doesn’t explode! ;-b
anne marie:
I’m feeling kind of cocky lately. I’ve been looking up protein muffin recipes!
Wait…..no kitchen disasters?!?!?!?!?! And the park work is really coming along now!!
Mistress Maddie:
No kitchen disasters. OK, I hit my head on a pointy cabinet handle… again, but that’s it. The new plaza is supposed to be completed by mid-December. They’re making great progress.
First time I’ve seen an angel holding a fish; makes sense for the location. If all dogs go to heaven (which I think they don’t) it is comforting to know some fish get in as well. Being a bit of a purest, and a great lover of oats since I was knee-high to a Blue-footed Booby, I only add raisins – to the mixture before refrigerating, to make sure the raisins are soft. I’ve upped the oats a bit, and is it comes out to thick, well, that’s what they invented heavy cream for. (Arteries don’t fail me now…)
wickedhamster:
It’s a bible story. Apparently San Rafael had someone gut the fish to cure his father’s blindness. And that’s as biblical as I’m going to get. As for the overnight oats, I now due equal portions of rolled oats and milk, and a half portion of yogurt. The addition of the small amount of chia seeds made a huge difference. I also add dried blueberries and dried cranberries right away to the mixture, so they soften and plump. I HATED oatmeal when I was a kid.
I’m waiting for Mitchell’s “Cook” Book!
Bob:
I have been so tempted! One never knows… do one!
I forget why (if you said) they are taking the statue? I like cooked oats with cinamon and cut up apple that cooks with it – but yours looks yummy and doesn’t require a stove on so safer for everyone 🙂
Cheapchick:
The entire plaza is being redone (and it needs it; it was really badly designed the first time around). I also love cinnamon and apple chunks in oatmeal. Thanks for reminding me. And, yes, if I had to COOK, actually COOK, oatmeal in the morning, it wouldn’t happen. Microwaving instant oatmeal was bad enough.
That saw is so cool! It would be great to see in action. I have to say, though, the statue is pretty ugly. And you are just too healthy what with your flu shot and cooking your overnight oats.
Wilma:
Never did get to see the saw in action. Passed by today after coffee and it was all done! And yeah the statue is pretty ugly close-up. I wonder where in the neighbourhood it will end up.
Great photo of the dismantling of the monument. I wonder if they will try to recycle it. You are a gourmet looks tasty.
larrymuffin:
The statue of the crook is being moved to somewhere else in the neighbourhood; I don’t know where. I have no idea what they’re doing with the column sections.
I’m surprised it’s such a chore to take that thing down. it’s not like it’s the Statue of Liberty.
Kirk:
I wonder how long it would take to dismantle the statue of liberty. They’ve been working on the plaza for about two weeks, but only took a couple of days really for the statue and column.
I have a long time secret liking for tinned peaches. Good for you to add some.
Urspo:
I like them, too, but fresh fruit would be healthier. At least I drain all the syrup!