Another Fall…Another Turned Page…in New Mexico
To begin this post, I have to turn the page back in this ‘book of Life’ that I am living.
Back to the Land of Enchantment…New Mexico and how my Mexican Pottery tablescape for today came about.
First I want to clarify that New Mexico is a state. You might be surprised to know that many people think it is a part of Mexico. 🥴
When my late husband and I moved to New Mexico, …it was love at first sight for me. You see, he was born and raised there, but I had only visited until we decided to pack up and move. His Mother’s adobe house, just off Route 66, was considered the oldest house in the small town of Moriarty. It had 12 inch thick walls and a red tin roof…..and my late husband was born in it….. and at the time, his mother still lived in it. A few years after we moved to N.M, she went to be with the Lord and the old homestead was demolished making way for a doublewide. 🥲
We moved to New Mexico in the Fall, not far from Tijeras Canyon and about 20 miles from Moriarty to the East and Albuquerque from the west, respectively. It was so beautiful up there, nestled in at 7800 feet in the Manzano Mountains. We moved into an old ranch house, excited about our plans to remodel it for our family and I particularly loved all the trees on our property.
Because it was Autumn, New Mexico was a hug of colors and flavors and sounds. There was the smell of pinion wood-smoke that permeated the cool night air. When outside, one could hear the rustling of the cottonwood leaves as they were whisked from their limbs high above our heads by the gentle mountain breezes. I loved to watch the large yellow and green leaves as they fell in a zig-zag pattern lazily to the ground. There was also the sweet and savory aroma of roasting green chiles and the ever present pot of pinto beans simmering on the back of the stove. I LOVED it the minute we moved there and I must confess, since leaving there, I have had many nights where I have laid in my bed, smiling at the memories that were made in the mountains of New Mexico. I definitely became a lover of the Southwest, wearing cowboy boots and Levi’s while we raised Santa Gertrudis and Black Angus cattle. We also had quarter horses, chickens, peacocks, guineas, ducks, turkeys, cats and dogs. We had yearly cattle round-ups (yes using horses) to brand, castrate and give injection shots to the young calves. We lived there for almost 15 years before my husband’s job transferred him to KC.
One of my special memories of New Mexico was of my sweet sister-in-love, driving up from Moriarty and visiting our ranch home shortly after we moved there. She was born and raised in New Mexico and is of Spanish descent. Our ranch house had several outer buildings, some close and some a little further out on the over 1000 acres around the ranch house, so she and I went exploring around the property. (I neglected to mention that we bought the place from one of my husband’s six brothers, so the property had been in the family a long time).
We entered one of these old barns just to look around; and noticed there was a small room with a locked door which of course piqued our interest. We searched around and found an old board and pried the door open. (It was really fairly easy). Inside were a few old boxes, some with smashed-in sides like the weather or the ravages of time had taken hold. We found old musty smelling books with yellowed pages that crumbled at our touch. We found old letters and bill receipts for hay purchases and such by our previous family members who had lived there. But the box that intrigued me the most was a box of broken Mexican Pottery. I, being from Kansas was fascinated by the rustic and crude pottery but my sister-in-love laughed and with a wave of her hand suggested we examine more boxes and leave the pottery.
My friends, you know and I know that one can never move away from dishes if one is hooked on table settings and tablescapes. We examined the other boxes and we determined who of the family we would return the degrading paperwork…in case they might want them for posterity’s sake…BUT…I went back to the Mexican Pottery box and started sorting through the broken chards hoping to find pieces that were not broken. I asked my sister-in-love why she thought they were worthless and she explained that EVERYONE in New Mexico had Mexican pottery at one time or another and that they served the purpose of cheap table ware at the beginning of a marriage, but as soon as affordable, the newlyweds would discard them and purchase “good” tableware.
Folks, I present you with my table today…full of Mexican Pottery. Some very old and from that box and some purchased off and on during the past years. And I have never considered the Mexican Pottery as disposable.
We will start with the basics for my table setting.
The table covering is pretty rustic…burlap to be exact. And the centerpiece begins with 3 vases of different cactus types.
The flatware is Wallace Taos Silver with a Southwest design and comes with five serving pieces.
The water glasses are made in Mexico. I have had them and a matching pitcher for years They are hand made and therefore not uniform in shape and size. They have thick, blue (Azul) rims. Perhaps you know the Spanish names of the colors, but in case you don’t and would like to know…I have included the Spanish word in parenthesis, along with a few other nouns.
The little pig (puerco) salt and peppers are so colorful with their purple (Morado) and green (Verde) ears.
The sectioned relish tray (Bandeja) can be used for different types of salsa or condiments. Separated, the bottom tray can become a serving dish.
The bean pot (olla de frijoles) and large covered casserole (cazuela) dish will hold New Mexico recipe dishes. The smaller cazuelas will hold soup (posole).
The smaller tortilla holder is a little basket with a sombrero lid. I usually put corn tortillas in it. You can see it here.
I also have a larger tortilla holder that will hold my larger flour tortillas. I purchased it many years ago on-line. You can find a similar one here.
The plate stack isn’t much of a stack. I used the Mexican Pottery dinner plates (platos de cena) with matching cups and saucers (tazas y platillos), I laugh as I say “matching” because these are hand made and they really don’t match in complete detail, but that is what I love about them. Sitting atop the dinner plate is a soup bowl (cazuela).
The lime green napkins (panales) I have used in many tablescapes (paisajes de mesa).
Down the center of the table, (la mesa) you will see my collection of Lupita Dolls. There are eleven of them.
I just love them and wish you could see them in person as they are so lovely in their colorful skirts and sweet angelic faces. The details are what attracted me to them in the first place.
I started collecting the hand painted Lupita dolls while living in New Mexico. I am using them all on this one table…Probably a little overkill but I love them. My first doll was purchased near El Paso, a Mexican border town…. after a trip to Truth or Consequences N.M.
Here is a bit of geography you may or may not know: El Paso is unique in that it’s where the borders of three states and two countries converge. (Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua and the United States and Mexico.). Here is another unique fact: The Four Corners area in the upper Northwest corner of the state is the only place in the United States where four states meet: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. It’s located on Navajo Nation land and is a popular tourist destination.
But I digress…some day I will write a detailed post about New Mexico.
Back to the dolls. I will describe them for you, because the pics do not do them justice. My Bible Study ladies just oohed and aahed as they kept touching and lifting them from the table. The dolls are about 12 inches tall and about 6 inches wide at their skirts. Each one has a different hair style, ie; braids and such…and their ear rings actually dangle.
The kneeling Lupita Tortilla doll wears a purple (Morado) skirt and she is making tortillas in a large molcajete. She is the only doll on a base. The Lupita Doll with the guitar is wearing an orange (Naranja) skirt. Notice all the dolls wear hand painted aprons that depict what they are holding.
The Lupita Nopales (cactus pads) doll is wearing a fushia (Rosa Fuerte) skirt and is offering cactus pads in her basket. The edible Prickly Pear cactus on her apron show harvesting the cactus. The Lupita Navidad doll is wearing an aqua (Turquesa) skirt and she is holding pumpkins (calabaza) in a basket. Her apron features the Bethlehem Nativity.
In this photo, the Lupita Pajaros, blue (Azul) skirted doll is carrying a small wood crate on her back with little birds (Pajaros) perched inside. The Lupita yellow (Amarillo) skirted doll is holding a basket of cooked fish (Pescado). Live Fish (Pez) are featured on her apron.
The Lupita Periquito (parakeet) doll holds a parakeet in a cage and is wearing a pink (Rosa) skirt. The Lupita doll with the Morado skirt is holding a basket with a little pig (puerco) in it. Her apron features a farmer with a pig.
The Lupita Margarita doll with lilac (Lila) skirt is carrying a basket of several different colored daisy (Margarita) flowers. And No… Margarita in this case is not a drink. 🥰. The Lupita Manzanos doll with the lime (limon) skirt is carrying a basket of apples (manzanos). Her apron has apples on it also.
Finally, the Lupita Perico doll with the red (Rojo) skirt has two braids and is holding bird cage with a parrot (Perico) inside. Most of the Lupita dolls blouses/tops are white (Blanco).
My Menu for this little Fall Fiesta includes Agua Fresca de Pepino con Limon (fresh water with cucumber and lime) for the water glasses. Posole Soup, Oven Enchiladas, Spanish Rice and Pinto Beans. You may ask what the Spanish call a lemon if a lime is limon. A lemon is an Amirillo Limon.
The five section tray (Bandeja) will hold condiments such as chopped tomatoes, sliced limes, avocado slices, shredded cheese, crema and Pico de Gallo in the separate bowls. The larger tray underneath the individual bowls will hold the Spanish Rice. The red pepper shaped dish will hold N.M. Salsa and the avocado shaped dish will hold guacamole.
The Covered Casserole dish (Cazuela) will hold the Baked Enchiladas.
The covered bean pot will hold the pinto beans and the tortilla holders will hold warm corn and flour tortillas for scooping and dipping the food.
The small round baskets at the top of the plate stack will hold the dessert. Biscochitos/Bizochitos cookies which are made with cinnamon, sugar and anise. I always make these cookies at Christmas time, but they are good anytime. Recipe here. And the coffee cups will not hold coffee but Mexican Hot Chocolate to drink with the Biscochitos cookies. A very simple dessert.
Thank you for reading a little of our 47th State, New Mexico and a little about the country Mexico and some of my favorite foods and of course my journey with Mexican Pottery.
Matthew 9:37-38″Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'”
Have a great and amazing day and a big shout out to Rita for organizing this hop.
Check out these wonderful stylists.
Oh Kari, this table is beyond fantastic! I loved your backstory (especially since this is my first time to your blog.) And I have always adored the warmth of the Southwest colors, the pottery and the art. You have brought them all together in a table that is elegant and yet so much fun. And that Taos flatware pattern was new to me and I really love it. It’s beautiful on its own; more perfect with your Southwest setting. Lovely. And, on another note, thanks so much for coming to visit me at Marmelade Gypsy! ~ jeanie
How delightful Kari, and such a table full of sweet memories for you! I love the dishware, I can’t believe it was not appreciated at that time. I’m crazy about the Wallace Taos flatware too, how perfect. Of course your collection of Lupita dolls steal the show! Thanks for sharing the history of all your treasures!
Jenna
Thanks for stopping by Jenna and for your sweet comments. As I have said many times, I love playing with dishes and dolls! LOL. I even tried doing a sketch of one of the dolls like you do…but it is not really worthy of showing.🥴 LOL
Kari, I love tablescapes that are truly personal, especially those that are built around beautiful or interesting collections. Yours has both. I love the handmade, unique, colorful lupita dolls. They practically glow among the more neutral elements such as the pottery. The basket details add flair along with more color.
I also enjoyed hearing about your life in NM. I love the southwestern states and the gorgeous vistas at every turn. I’ve visited NM many times, first for fascinating vacations and now more often to visit my daughter who lives just north of Albuquerque.
Have a wonderful September!
Thank you Sandra! Where exactly North of Albuquerque does your daughter live? Bernalillo or Rio Rancho? I still have lots of relatives in the state, and they are spread out all over. I do use the pottery tho a few pieces are a little wobbley on the bottoms, like the cups on the saucers. LOL Stay cool and enjoy September.
Kari
I love everything about this tablescape. Thanks for sharing your story, made me love it even more.
Thank you Jennifer for stopping by. Have a great week-end.
Kari, this was such a delightful post and I loved hearing about your life in New Mexico. I’m so glad that you saved the Mexican pottery and added to it because it all looks fabulous on the table. The Lupito dolls are gorgeous and the details in their skirts are just amazing. I don’t think there is too many on the table at all. The menu sounds absolutely delicious and I hope you have a wonderful dinner at your lovely table. Happy September and happy all to you!
P.S. My husband and I visited New Mexico a number of years ago when he was collaborating with a colleague at Los Alamos. It was absolutely gorgeous everywhere we went!
How wonderful Kim that you went to N.M., I also like the architecture there. It is mostly Spanish/Mediterranean in the older parts of the different cities. So much history there. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments.
The pictures don’t do this one justice. It’s even more pretty in person
Thank you!🥰
Kari, what a fascinating history of your life while spent in New Mexico! It’s a wonderful tribute to your past and to your present bible friendship circle to share the colorful pottery you were able to salvage from the barns of the ranch. The Lupita dolls are beautiful! I can imagine the chatter among your friends as they handled them. I love Mexican glassware, and that blue rim is a definite distinctive trait. The glassware’s irregularities reminds me of Blenko glass (I have several from my mother-in-law’s estate!). I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish as you detailed all the pieces and the meal you described. Thank you for bringing along your cultural past to the present in this welcoming fall blog hop! Happy September!
Thank you Rita, I guess I will never tire of playing with dishes and dolls. I just wish I had space to admire my different collections. Many are packed in boxes and I know I could rotate them…but guess I am too lazy these days. LOL Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Kari, I truly enjoyed your paisajes de mesa! It brought back so many memories of shopping the markets in Juarez and picking vegetables in New Mexico many moons ago. My husband and I were born and raised in El Paso, way back when it was all cotton fields. Fortunately, we visit New Mexico often for, of course, Hatch chile. My mouth was watering thinking about your menu. When I share this post with my husband, I know what he’ll want for dinner! Blessings to you and your bible study ladies. How fortunate they are to have you 💝
Thank you Nannette…and we have the same last name but I’m sure no relation as there are so many of us! Our church has two families that also share our name. Years ago, I had a friend who worked at the nut factory in El Paso and she would give us huge bags of cashews every now and then. I have Hatch Chile (none better) shipped to me and always have some in my freezer. The Captain LOVES the way I make Mexican food and as you well know…you won’t get that same taste in any restaurant outside of N. M. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and Blessings 🥰🍁🌻
Such wonderful stories your lovely pieces of pottery and dolls tell. Having something that speaks to you of your life in New Mexico is very special. I really enjoyed hearing about your ranch and your descriptions of events and locations. The wide open spaces and the mountain views as described by you are so beautiful. What an adventure to live the life of a rancher in such beautiful country. Loved the descriptions of your dolls and the way you discovered your first pieces of pottery. Thanks. so much for sharing this with all of us.
Lynne, Thrifting Wonderland
Thank you Lynne for your sweet comments. New Mexico is not called the Land of Enchantment for nothing….it was certainly that for us. Many people think it is just desert, but there are ice caves, bat caves (Carlsbad Caverns) and Indian Mesas full of history. Thanks for stopping by.
Kari, Thank you for sharing a little history of New Mexico. You make me want to visit with your lovely and picturesque descriptions of your life there. It sounds so idyllic and beautiful. I love that your table and sweet collection of Lupita dolls hold such sweet memories. Your Wallace Taos Silver is perfect with its southwestern flair to pair with your collection of pottery and serving pieces. Wishing you a beautiful autumn season and Happy September! 🍂🧡
As with all things Mary, no where is idyllic…. however N.M. comes close for me. I do have to admit feeding cattle in the dead of winter by wading through snow drifts was not fun…but there is beauty even in that…when one is alone in the mountains with snow drifting down and the only sound is the cows munching on hay or alfalfa. God is good. Thanks for your kind comments.
Kari, the Mexican pottery is lovely. I’m glad you saved the pieces in the box and then added to it as the years passed by. It sets a beautiful table! I so enjoyed reading about your life experiences. One of my husband’s brothers and his wife retired to New Mexico, and my husband was born there. I’ve visited through the years. Your Lupita dolls make a beautiful and colorful collection. Another share to admire. Thanks for sharing this table. Happy Autumn!
Thank you for stopping by Sarah….I do love New Mexico …as I said to Jan, I guess one is never too old to play with dishes and dolls!
Kari, I bet if your sister-in-law sees this table with all your terra cotta type Mexican Pottery, she will change her mind. What she thought was worthless sure set a beautiful fall table. The Lupita dolls add so much color to the table and yes I noticed the dangling earrings right away. Thank you for adding the Spanish words for the colors and names of your accessories. Like other have said, I too have learned so much from you. What a wonderful life you have had.
I am truly blessed Jan, God has granted me so many friendships (like yours) and so many adventures and journeys….I like to joke that I am older than dirt. LOL. but I guess one is never to old to play with dishes and dolls. Hugs and how about KU FB??
I have mixed feelings for Saturday because Beau is a graduate of the school where our children went. However KU has had two big wins, so it will be exciting.
I love the Southwestern theme to your pretty table! I love the Southwest….we used to live in Scottsdale, and our oldest daughter was born there, so that makes her an official Zonie! The dolls are so sweet, and the colors of the dolls and the pottery are perfect for fall. Your table has brought back lots of happy memories for me!
I love the Southwest too Ricki Jill, as if one could not tell by my words. 🥰 The dolls with their beautiful skirts drew me in like a magnet and I was hopelessly addicted. Thanks for stopping by.
Kare, such a lovely post. Love your sweet Lupita dolls. How fun to collect them. Your dishware is lovely, complete with the handmade bean pot and casserole. Your menu sounds delicious. Love the Azul glasses and the southwest flatware. The tortilla basket is adorable, down to the sombrero lid. How fun you lived in New Mexico on that many acres. Busy gal. Your Bandeja is so handy for condiments/ You have thought of everything. I have so enjoyed your history of living in New Mexico. Happy September. Always a pleasure joining you.
Linda we ran cattle and horses on the ranch…and it was a lot of work as we had snow from October to May because of our high altitude. I don’t miss looking like the Michelin Man when I had to go down to the corrals to help feed by clearing snow drifts away from the feed troughs. LOL But I do miss the mountains in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Thanks for stopping by.🥰
Oh my goodness, Kari, thank you for sharing your memories of New Mexico with us. I can tell that you are so very fond of that state. Your table is so perfect with all the beautiful pottery. The Lupita dolls are each little works of amazing and colorful art. The detail is simply incredible. I so enjoyed learning about all of this today and I’d love to sit at your table and partake of that wonderful menu.
Thank you Kitty….I do love that state and their food. I make a lot of it and the Captain loves it even more which is a good thing. If someone had told me when I was in high school that I would be playing with dolls at my age, I would have laughed. I appreciate you stopping by my friend and I wish you a wonderful and happy September with your wonderful family.🥰🐿️🍁🍎❤️
Kari, I enjoyed your story about how you acquired your Mexican Pottery collection. I would have been right there with you looking through the box of pottery to see what was there, like a little treasure for us dish lovers! The Lupita dolls are so fun with all the details to take in on each one. My favorite though, is the silverware with the southwest design!! Fun table!! I hope you have a nice fall!!
I have several sets of Wallace silverware and they have proven to be good choices but I think these are my favorites of all the sets I own. …And Ann, my collection of Lupita dolls is definitely a collection of love…Between dishes (and all their trappings) and my dolls, I don’t think I will ever grown up. LOL Happy September!🍁🌻🐿️
Thank you! What a beautiful table and lovely story. I learned so much!
PS I’m having trouble posting my comments, just in case this goes through.
Thank you Sue for your kind comments….and I am not sure why some comments are not coming through, but I will check it out. Happy September and Blessings Always.
I love your memories of New Mexico, Kari! I knew some of your story, but it’s so fun to hear more about your exciting life – you’ve been so many places and had so many experiences – I’m always in awe! I’d be right there with you, thrilled with a box of old pottery. I’m so glad you saved some. Your table is lovely, and it’s so fun to hear about the different dolls, and the culture they represent. So bright and vibrant! Thanks for sharing your collection and your knowledge – I’m inspired to learn some more! Take care my friend, and Happy Fall!
Barb I have been so fortunate in my life…God has certainly been first and foremost and I have been around for a long time, so ‘been there-done that’ is in my vocabulary now. 🥴. I almost didn’t put the Lupita dolls on the table…you know…playing with dolls, etc. but since I play with dishes…what is one more vice? Have a great week my friend. Stay cool.🥰🍁🌻
What a BEAUTIFUL table and story! I learned so much…thank you!
Sue, it made it through…the comments….thank you so much for staying with it and not giving up with the sending. Not sure why, but I am checking into my word press and host. Have a great day.🥰❤️
Kari, I enjoyed your story on how you acquired your Mexican pottery. I would have been just like you and have wanted to go through that box to see the dishes!! The Lupita dolls have so much detail to them which makes them so unique. The flatware is my favorite part – the perfect southwest statement!! Have a wonderful autumn season!!
Ann, it was difficult looking at the other boxes because my eyes kept reverting back to the pottery box. I was trying to restrain myself from squealing out loud like a little school girl. Thank you for your sweet comments. Have a great day.🥰🍂🐿️🍁
Oh, Kari, I loved this blog. So colorful and educational for some people. Too bad some people who need to learn can’t read it. I even learned something new. I knew you lived in New Mexico at one time, but didn’t know you lived on a huge ranch and had cattle. Wow! What fun that must have been even though a lot of work. lol
You are a wonderful person. I hope this comment goes through because the last 2 or 3 haven’t.
Sandy
Yes, most people don’t know the work involved in running a cattle and horse ranch…I can remember getting up in the middle of the night to go down to the barn to help one of the cows give birth. Many of the cows would “drop” their calves out in the pasture, but this one was having a difficult birth and my husband and I had to….”help” her. But you do what you have to do. I’m sorry you are having issues with comments…but Sue said she was having the same problem. I am checking into it. Say hey to Ron for us too. Hugs 🥰🍂🐿️🌻🍁
Kari, how I loved reading a part of your history as you are an excellent storyteller and writer! I never knew you lived on a ranch and that you were a real cowgirl with a thousand acre spread. I have visited New Mexico and Butch has been several times. It truly is beautiful.
I can see you going through the old box and being intrigued with what you were seeing. The burlap cloth is perfect for your rustic handmade Mexican pottery and I love the Wallace Taos silver and Azul rimmed water glasses. The little basket with the sombrero lid is too cute. Wow, the collection of the eleven Lupita Dolls with their colorful skirts and angelic faces is amazing. It was special to read your description of each doll. I would love to see them in person…I am one that appreciates a collection. Just to read your menu makes me hungry.
I so enjoyed your post immensely and thank you for sharing a part of your life story. Happy fall, my friend!
Thank you my sweet friend, you are too kind. Yes, we lived in N.M. about 15 years and I was sad when we had to move on. We also had a covered chuck wagon with Percheron draft horses that we used in parades…once, we had the Governor of the state of N.M. in the wagon (even though he was of the opposite political party, …we didn’t hold that against him…. as our family knew him well.) 🥴 We helped him throw out candy to voters. 🥰 We also used the chuck wagon on branding days…Happy September and Blessings always.❤️🐿️🍁🌻🍂🍁