Torreya There's natural hybridization and artificial hybridization... Surely, there are natural hybridization between montezuma and bald cypress in Texas but there aren't really any information on that subject. At this point, I don't know how to tell whether they are hybrids or not. There are many variabilities apparently from what I've read. Some don't have knees. Some have smaller cones. Some retains their foliage round year (Montezuma is evergreen in zone 9 and warmer). Montezuma has darker green leaves compared to bald cypress that I've seen up close. There happens to be possible montezuma cypress in another subdivision a mile away. it is very rare that they are sold so I wonder how they ended up with that tree but I like it better than bald cypress which doesn't look all that great growing in area with caliche/limestone base soil. China has done major stuff with montezuma, bald cypress and pond cypress breeding program for quite a while, probably 20 years or longer, i forget the exact numbers but it's a big thing going on over there. They are literally growing millions and millions of cypress seedlings to plant across south area of China. Those trees are not native to their land. They were brought over there from USA in 1800s if I recall correctly. One hybrid that they came up is between Montezuma and bald cypress called 'Nanjing Beauty' that I have 4 at my house. A professor at my college went to China in the early 2000 to provide some help regarding taxiodium trees and he brought some 'Nanjing Beauty' back from here and I guess he started propagating them since then for evaluation program at 50 different locations across USA. China has since come up with more hybrids. They tend to classify their hybrids such as T-101, T-20, etc like that and do some testing on how they do over certain period of time. It's pretty interesting what they are doing over there. It might be a while before you see 'Nanjing Beauty' being sold anywhere if it gets that far. It is relatively new brought into USA in the early 2000s.

Sorry I haven't responded here in a couple of days. I know you all understand, though. Jeanne, your photo is gorgeous! What a lovely walk that must have been. Oh, and I'll have deviled egg appetizers waiting for you when you get here. I love them, too! I have one of those storyteller candles! I bought it years ago when we were in Taos. That's where they make them. I've never lit it, though, and don't ever plan to. Here she is: PartyMusic: thanks! You're more than welcome to jump on the Holiday Bus and come along for breakfast, too. MM: too funny! I get the same way when I see pics of Huevos Rancheros. Most restaurants out here serve it all day, because so many of us love them anytime. Last night when we went out to dinner, I almost had them again but chose Chile Rellenos instead. Mmmmm! Luvs: You are always welcome here! And, scrambled eggs are wonderful with salsa or red chile on them. I always have some on the table when I make scrambled eggs. I hear you regarding Spanish pronunciations! I took 7 years of it as a kid in Michigan. Never got to use it much, because you hear more French there. But, once I moved to NM, a lot of it came back to me. The "LL" sounding like a "Y" throws most people off and so does the "J" sounding like "H" do, too. Funny! As for my seed placemats, I'm really liking them. At first, I was going to take them back as I was worried that they'd be very hard to keep clean, but they're not that bad. I just have to be careful about what I serve when I use them. Drips down between those seeds would not be a good thing! Kathleen, I'm Scot and I love them. I think it becomes an addiction when you move here ;^D When DS was in college, I had to send him chile on a regular basis. The main requests our NM service men & women have from home are canned green chiles and salsa! I can't imagine getting on without it now. OK, I'm making myself hungry! Karen: they sure can be made with scrambled eggs! Do you ever make Breakfast Burritos? You roll a flour tortilla around warm scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon, sausage or ham, add some hash browns, beans if you like, shredded cheese and then salsa or red chile sauce. That's got to be New Mexico's other favorite breakfast! Even the McD's out here serve them. Punk: I'd love to have you come for breakfast! I love the pinecone napkin rings that Jane sent me, too. They look great with three of my dish sets: these pinecone ones, the ones with actual pinecones painted on them and my green Solare dishes. They get used a lot! Glor: Yes, that dip is very popular out here. We usually add diced jalapenos or green chiles to ours. I've had it used as a stuffing for enchiladas and burritos, too. Have you ever had Green Chile Roll-Ups? They're a pinwheel-type appetizer and very popular out here. Luckygal: I don't care for very hot food either. But, what I now consider mild, I find that my Michigan family thinks is medium-to-hot. I guess I've just gotten used to it over the years. OA: thank you :~ ) Yes, that brown pedestal is from HL and was meant to hold a candle, I think. I keep looking for a more rustic one to use on a table like this, but haven't found it yet. I'd love to hear any ideas you might have for a substitute. That pedestal is probably the main thing I don't like about this vignette. The pottery comes mainly from two NM potters, one is my neighbor. I love his work and, as I've mentioned, use it every day. I feel the same way you do about centerpieces! I have several 5x7 frames with easel backs I keep just for adding an interesting card to for a centerpiece. There are so many possibilities out there these days and the frames are so quick and easy to change out. Well, now I'm REALLY hungry for something with chiles! I think I'll go make myself a grilled cheese with green chile sandwich for lunch. Lynn

Oh my gosh, what a surprise to see my old post again! Thank you RGRS, I'm very flattered. I'm embarrassed to say that my home, decorated for Christmas this year, looks pretty much the same as it did in these pics. When I find a good place for a decoration, I tend to remember and put it back there again the next year. It works for me. The only major change will be my dining room table centerpiece. That I do change every year.

Yes I've heard about the problems and I think it's worse in Juarez. Nuevo Laredo has also had the same type of problems for the past couple of years, but not as bad. That's where we usually cross over for shopping. We haven't been in the past year because of our medical problems, but I would love to go back. I think I would cross over further south in the Texas Valley area. We have made such good friends in Mexico as we've ridden to several motorcycle rallies there. We have been treated with wonderful hospitality. I look forward to going back. There are good and bad people everywhere and I feel like my life has been made so much better by loving people of all colors and races. It's the drug cartels and big money that is causing so much conflict on the Mexico/USA borders.