Wolf Moon over New Mexico

I was so lucky to be in New Mexico for this weekend's "Wolf Moon." How many people can see the moon in all its luminescent glory in an enormous midnight-blue sky? We watched as it hid behind clouds, drop low on the horizon, and finally rise high to its perch in the big New Mexico night sky. The snowcapped mountains glowed.

Driving down the mountain from Los Alamos toward Santa Fe, we took our eyes off the moon long enough to notice the sign for Gabriel's restaurant. We stopped in this colorful southwestern eatery to enjoy a spontaneous bite to break up the drive back to Albuquerque. In front of a cozy kiva fireplace, we feasted on a desert brochette of mesquite grilled scallops, shrimp, steak and chicken and and order of red-chile smothered rellenos. For you gringos, a chile relleno is a poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, fried, and smothered in red or green chile--or both: "Christmas." The guacamole was made fresh for us with a flourish: our waiter deftly mixed buttery fresh avocados with onion, pico de gallo, garlic, cilantro, salt, jalapeno and tomato. Though the food was good, I loved the atmosphere: courteous efficient service, colorful art adorning the walls and fireplaces in each dining room. Had it been warm, we could have eaten alfresco and enjoyed a view of the mountains.

Back to MoCo in the morning; the desert moon (and the green chile) holds me for another night.