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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #234
October 1, 2004
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Dear Subscriber:

Life is not simple. I guess if it were, it wouldn't be much
fun.

To complicate life there are taxes, lawyers, politics, internet
spam and chili peppers.

Peg and I both love Mexican food. The basic ingredient of just
about all Mexican dishes is chili peppers.

When the people in Nebraska want to make Mexican food they go
to the store and buy a couple of cans of green chilies.

In New Mexico the grocery stores sell canned green chilies, but
you wear a disguise when you go in and buy them. No self-
respecting Mexican food cook in New Mexico would ever start with
canned green chili peppers.

Peggy is a wonderful cook. She insists on fresh ingredients in
all her dishes. She has a recipe for stuffed jalapeno peppers
that no one can duplicate...but she could never get chili
peppers to come out right. She would bake them, roast them,
boil them and nuke them, but nada.

Bruce and Vicky to the rescue.

Bruce and Vicky came to Cloudcroft this weekend from the hill
country of Texas to see us and buy a bunch of Hatch chili
peppers. Hatch, New Mexico grows the best chili peppers in the
world. They're the equivalent of Maine Lobster or Gulf Coast
shrimp.

Bruce and Vicky are what you might call "exotic cooks". Bruce
is an expert in preparing wild game dishes that are not just
edible, they're delicious. He doesn't talk my meat language.
I know Ribeye and T-bone but he talks Axis and Strap. If you've
never eaten quail at Bruce's house, you have no idea what quail
can taste like.

Bruce gave us a quick lesson on how to roast chilies. It's an
art. It takes a lot of heat and a little more than a lot of
patience. Bruce and Vicky left yesterday, but not before
bequeathing unto us a wealth of knowledge on how to roast chili
peppers.

Anxious to put our newfound knowledge to use, I drove to
Alamogordo and bought another couple boxes of chili peppers and
the instrument Bruce recommended as the perfect pepper roaster,
a new propane powered blow-torch. A big one...like the napalm
torches they used in World War Two only a little smaller. The
guy at the welding supply shop was curious. What was I buying
it for? I told him I was going to use it to roast chili
peppers. His facial expression got kinda screwed around and as
he slid the credit card receipt across the counter for me to
sign he said, "I'll sell this dang thing to you, but being as
how I'm a third generation Latin New Mexican and a chili roaster
from way back, I'll tell you right now you're doing it all
wrong."

My confidence wasn't dented. "That's how Bruce does it," I
said.

"Who's Bruce?" he asked.

Just about then another guy that worked in the shop came out of
the office and leaned against the threshold. A customer I
hadn't noticed before walked up to my right and leaned on the
counter. I knew the Great Chili Roasting debate was about to
begin.

"You roast them on a barbecue grill." The self-proclaimed Latin
New Mexican chili pepper roasting expert said. "Takes all day
but that's all right if the beer holds out."

The customer chimed in. "I let the produce people roast mine at
the grocery store. They roast them in those big propane fired
drums and they'll do it for free."

The guy in the office door said "Yeah, but they never get them
done right. I have this big piece of heavy gauge sheet metal my
father in law gave me. I put it over an open flame and get it
real hot. They come out perfect."

I grabbed my burner and made my escape. The guy behind the
counter couldn't resist one last shot as I got to the door.

"That's a weed burner, not a pepper roaster." The other two
guys giggled.

To make a short story long, the burner works great. We were so
excited about the way the peppers were turning out that we went
to town and bought yet another box of chilies.

I finished roasting them this morning. They freeze nicely,
providing for a whole year of fresh Rellenos, Tortillas, soups,
salads and football game dip. A total of three boxes of
perfectly roasted chili peppers, one singed eyebrow and a
slightly scorched Poplar tree.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. SPECIAL -- UNTITLED
3. SPECIAL PICTURE FEATURE. FALL FOLIAGE COUNTDOWN, PICTURE 4
4. VILLAGE NEWS
5. INSIDE THE SHOP -- GREEN MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
6. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NM SNOW STATISTICS
7. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
8. COMING EVENTS
9. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
10. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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A rainy week. Due to scheduling problems the reporting week was
short, but Thursday September 23rd through Tuesday September 
28th Cloudcroft received about an inch of rain. The annual 
rainfall to date is about 18 inches.

High for the reporting period was 66 at noon Thursday (23rd).
Low for the period was the same day at 9am.
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SPECIAL PICTURE FEATURE -- UNTITLED
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‘Tis the season of
Glorious farewells and adieus, 
When the air turns brisk
And the leaves pay their dues.
 
Though green boughs yet linger,
Bright foliage peaks through
With Nature’s announcement
That autumn’s here, too.
 
What a wonderful sight –
Old friends sharing new:
Kelly and Sage greeting
Crimson’s bright hue.
 
As we sit on the deck
Framed by curtained view,
The pageant begins:
Act One...Act Two…
 
Ahhhhh, Cloudcroft in the Fall!
I love this place!
 
J Dalton
Cloudcroft 
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SPECIAL PICTURE FEATURE -- FALL FOLIAGE COUNTDOWN, PICTURE 4
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We are two thirds of the way through our series. There are
indications our planned 6-week feature may not take us all the
way through to the apex of the fall foliage colors. If not, the
pictorial will be extended.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/photos/foliage.htm

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VILLAGE NEWS
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There are two fuelwood areas open to the public in the Lincoln
National Forest. For information on permits and locations, call
(505) 682-2551.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- GREEN MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
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Offering a complete package of real estate needs to the public.
Our operation consists not only of property sales, but also a
full-time property management team, the largest, most active
construction firm in the area, a land surveying service, a home
design staff, a complete custom cabinet shop, a retail lumber
and supply facility, and most recently, Custom Concrete, a
six-day-a-week concrete service. Two of our most notable
accomplishments have been the development of Bear Park
Subdivision and the construction of the Burro Street Exchange
in downtown Cloudcroft. Considering these services, and combined
with in-house financing ability for customers, people agree that
we are the most comprehensive real estate firm in the Cloudcroft
area. This has made us a dependable, steady leader in the field
of real estate. For more information, see the link to our web 
site on the Real Estate page of Cloudcroft.com:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/real.htm

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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- NEW MEXICO SNOW STATISTICS
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Information you may soon need.

http://www.snowstats.com/
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Has the designation of Highway 82 between Cloudcroft and
Alamogordo as a "Safety Corridor" served to cut back on
accidents?

A - For those of you that don't know, the "Safety Corridor"
designation for that span of US Highway 82 was begun about 2
years ago. The designation provides for double fines for
traffic violations and an increase in patrols.

Statistically, yes. There have been fewer accidents on that
stretch as compared to past years. Critics of the accident-
prone area have said the problems stem not only from bad driving
habits. Some say the passing lanes are much too short and there
are sections that allow for passing by entering a passing lane
that can be occupied by oncoming traffic. In short, the design
of the road may need to be addressed.

The overwhelming majority of injury and fatality accidents on
that 17 mile expanse over the years involve persons not familiar
with the extreme grade and blind spots.
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COMING EVENTS
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October 2 -- Flea Market/Garage Sale. 9am - 5pm. Cloudcroft
Elementary School Parking Lot. Cost of each booth: $15. The
$15 space rental goes to Cloudcroft Schools. (505) 687-3263.

October 2 -- Cloudcroft Bears football vs. Hobbs JV. Home
2pm.

October 2, 3 -- Oktoberfest. Cloudcroft. Aspencade tours.

October 8 -- Cloudcroft Bears football vs. Haggerman. 7pm.
Away.

October 16-17 -- High Rolls Apple Festival. Over 50 arts/crafts
vendors, local apples and apple products, food, kids' stuff,
and entertainment. Admission, parking, and ambiance are free.
For further information visit www.highrollsfestivals.com or
call (505) 682-1151.

October 16 -- Cloudcroft Bears football vs. Capitan. 2pm.
Home.

October 23 -- Cloudcroft Bears football vs. Mescalero. 2pm.
Home.

October 29 -- Cloudcroft Bears football vs. Carrizozo. 7pm.
Away.

November 27 -- Beginning of Christmas in Cloudcroft and Santa
Land.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Thursday of each month,
5:30-7pm, in the Old Red Brick School House.

Would you like to help deliver meals to the homebound around
Cloudcroft? Monday through Friday deliveries. Call the
Cloudcroft Senior Center at (505)-682-3022. For information on
other Senior Center services, see their web site, listed on the
Cloudcroft.com Links button.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/links.htm

Mountain Garden Club meets every third Monday of each month.
Call (505) 682-2910 for more information.

Senior Van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30 every Wednesday morning.

Free Vitals Clinic. Cloudcroft Senior Citizens Center, every
Wednesday. High Rolls Senior Citizens Center, first Thursday
of each month.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

Regarding the "Lost Puppy Alert"...the guy that delivers the
Sunday paper to my Dad, saw Abby out in the rain and with it
being so early in the morning took her with him and drove back
to Alamo to sit and wait until he read somewhere who this dog
belonged to. 

I want to thank this person, and you know who you are, for 
doing the right thing. Her twins are so grateful to have her
back. 

I want to thank you, Don, and your newsletter for reaching out
to so many people. We never would of found her without the
Cloudcroft online news.

Terri L. Hinsley 

[That's wonderful! Even if you had found the pup without our
help, that would have been great, but to have had a hand in
finding the little guy fills our hearts (and our egos) here
at Cloudcroft.com -- Don]

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Dear Newsletter:

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend, Harry. Thank you for
sharing your moving tribute to him. It reminded me of what is
really important, and that I need to slow down to enjoy those
very important things.

"It was beautiful."

Sincerely,
Hope M. Garcia
Rio Rancho, NM

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Dear Newsletter:

My condolences on the passing of Harry. I think it is those who
led the most expansive lives, who genuinely enjoyed life, and
who were genuine optimists and friendly people are the ones
whose loss are most keenly felt by those left behind. 

I can’t imagine the number of good stories that you must have
gotten from Harry, and you probably had barely scratched the
surface on the pool of the ones that he had to tell. The worst
thing is when we find out that such a treasure lived next to
us for so long, only to hear of the richness of their life
after they are gone.

I had three grandmothers. Well, one was an honorary grandma,
she was my mother’s mother’s best friend. Years after the
husband of the honorary grandmother passed away, she acquired
a boyfriend. Marvelous man.

I found out at his funeral that he once lent his dress jacket
for a formal affair to the man who would become King of England,
he also had lived next door to a scientist by the name of 
Einstein.

It is so sad, almost tragic, when we only learn the depth of
these lives at a memorial service.

Wayne West
Phoenix, AZ
Though up in CC almost monthly and hopefully to be a resident
within a year.

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Dear Newsletter:

There is no feeling like the emptiness that is created when a
friend passes away.

My thoughts are with you.

Trey 
Abilene Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

I do not know you or Harry, but that is the most wonderful 
tribute I have ever read or heard. You really have a special
way of selecting your thoughts and putting them into words!

Thank you for several years of insights into your brain...keep
up the good work.

B. Geurin
Cloudcroft

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Dear Newsletter:

Your "aspen-change" photos are just great. So far, after three
photos, we have strained to see some color, and there has been
very little so far. It appears it may be at least two more
weeks before they are golden.

Yesterday, we were at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, and I
visited a National Park Service booth from Big Bend and 
Guadalupe National Parks. I was told that, due to the good
summer rains, this will be one of the best color changes of the
McKittrick Canyon maples that they have had in years and that
should be around mid to late October. So, the same could be
around the corner for the Sacramento aspen.

Only a hard, quick frost and freeze could change this chance
for great color. If that happened, the leaves could drop 
overnight.

Let's hope that does not happen.

Keep the photos coming. Thanks! 

Jack and Sheila Carroll,
Brownwood, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

In September, 2003 my husband attended a business retreat in
New Mexico. Enchanted, he took the long way home and found
himself Cloudcroft. 

He called home; would I come back with him and....?
 
OK. 
But. 
If.
My personal commitment: One week; a couple of long week-ends. 
Agreed. 
 
February 2003, my first glimpse of Cloudcroft and the Sacramento
Mountains. Three days later, walking through Bush International
Airport I stopped. "I want to go back. Now." 
 
But we couldn't and didn't but four weeks later we were back in
Cloudcroft. In late July we closed on our mountain home. We
spent ten days in August. A second week in early September. We
will be back for a week in late October, then mid-November, and
two in December. 
 
My seven year old granddaughter and I have gathered wild flower
seed. I cleared and turned a small patch of the ancient-fertile
soil to be planted after the first snow. We toasted to our new
home and the awe of this sacred place with two charming 
neighboring couples who have welcomed us most warmly. 
 
And, for now, the one who said she wished to never retire gets
her 'Cloudcroft Fix' from your newsletter in these long "in
between" weeks. 
 
Cheryl (and Bob) Bennett
Sugar Land, Texas and Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Dear Newsletter:

Question for the weatherperson:

In terms of rainfall, how many inches of snow does it take to
make 1 inch of rain?

Thanks - really enjoy your newsletter.

Chuck

[Somebody told me about 10 inches of snow equals an inch of
actual moisture. Of course there are variations in the density
of snow (some snowfalls have more moisture per inch than 
others).

Our weather station precipitation collector is supposed to
automatically transpose snow moisture to actual precipitation
moisture. Since we haven't had the system in operation during
a snow storm, I guess we'll just all have to wait and see --
Don.]

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Dear Newsletter:

I have been enjoying your newsletter, tremendously. I am 
affiliated with Friends of Camp Mary White and the 
revitalization project of Camp Mary White.

When I was a camper there - a couple of decades back - Gordon
Wimsatt came to visit us. He told us about predicting the
weather from animal fat, with bear fat being the favored
animal. And he also showed us a little about 'water-witching'
or dousing. He had 100 girls hanging on his every work and
then clamoring for more when he was done. Many of us cut 
switches and walked all over camp looking for water, but were
never as successful as Mr. Wimsatt.

Would you happen to know if Mr. Wimsatt or some one in his
family is around who still has those particular skills? If I
remember correctly, the weather prediction was a something he
learned from the Apaches and the dousing was a talent 
practiced in the area by the 'mountain folk.' He said a form
of dousing could also be used to locate underground pipes and
lines.

We would love to be able to share the folk lore of the area 
with our girls.

Mr. Wimsatt was always a big hit whenever he came to camp.

Thank you,
Tracy McFadden
McKinney, TX

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