Of course Bill and Margaret Franke have been back in Truchas for some time now, after a winter away. And their beautiful Hand Artes Gallery is shimmering with new work and energy for this new season.

As most of you know we’ve been getting a lot of rain storms here in the mountains of Northern New Mexico lately. We need the rain so they are always a blessing. Often, I drop whatever I am doing to watch the storms approach.

I’ve shared Anna and Bill’s wonderful garden with you and three of Anna’s recipes and now I wanted to share the culmination of all of them with you: another splendid dinner at Anna and Bill’s.

I have mentioned to you all many times before that Anna Karin is not only an amazing artist, but also a stunning gardener. Her garden is an extension of her art and is never a burden to her, but always a joy.

I recently became aware of a bird’s nest on my western-facing portals–a very good, safe place for a nest. The parents have been busily working, first sitting on the eggs and now feeding their young. My friend, Kim, who knows a lot about birds, thought they were Flycatchers, so I looked them up and I believe he’s right.

Anna got a call the other day from Pam Jackson who lives in Albuquerque. She and her friend, Carla Sanchez, were coming to Truchas and Pam had something for Anna. Would Anna be around? Yes, indeed she would.

Suellen Shapero has been following the blog for some time. I met her with her husband, Ed, at Hand Artes Gallery last season, and I guess one time before that in Anna and my gallery when we were in a previous location.