Welcome to a potpourri of fun! On this page you’ll find the latest comics by Jari Thymian, a motivational quote, a crossword puzzle contest, and whatever else we decide to throw in here. Be sure to check back for the latest!
- Earth Corner – With Pat Walsh
- Star Stories – by Kelly Ricks
- Riding the Santa Fe Trail – by Laura Brewer
- Every Day Should be Earth Day – Editorial by Laura Brewer
- Find the Differences
- Frank Mahannah – Gallery
- Exploring Climax Canyon by Mauricio Meneses
- Madi’s Kitchen
- Quotes & Riddles
Quotes & Riddles
Earth Corner – With Pat Walsh
Ice Free and Dog Friendly!
January 2025
As I and others can testify, slipping and falling on ice is no fun. One second you’re on your feet, and the next you’re flat on your back wondering what happened.
Here in Raton, winter ice often appears on sidewalks, roads and trails, especially after it snows. The snow melts under the daytime sun, only to freeze overnight. Then, the question for businesses and public places becomes how to prevent dangerous falls.
Recently, Laura Brewer – editor of The Ratonian – noticed piles of rock salt and ice melt on the sidewalk in front of our post office. The ice was long gone, but the rock salt and ice melt remained. She called my guy to see if we could help. We swept up the residue, later returning it to the post office for more careful re-use.
So why did we bother?
Rock salt and ice melt have many downsides. At the post office, we could already see how these products were staining and pitting the sidewalk. But we also knew that the stuff would eventually wash into nearby soil, threatening the trees and shrubs planted there.
In addition, “these chemicals can also go down storm drains and seep into the water supply,” according to earthfriendlytips.com. “Not only can this pollute the water, but it can also harm aquatic life.”
As if that weren’t enough, earthfriendlytips.com adds, “Unfortunately, conventional ice melts not only have a terrible environmental impact, but they can also make our pets sick,” Best Eco-Friendly Ice Melt (Pet Friendly, Too!) – Earth Friendly Tips
The Humane Society of the United States says, “Rock salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet’s feet. Wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.” Five ways to protect pets in winter | The Humane Society of the United States
This is also a problem if a small child tries to eat the rock salt or snow melt.
Fortunately, I discovered there are more earth-friendly choices out there. One uses sugar beets! They may be more expensive than regular ice melt and rock salt, but I’m hoping your conscience will be your guide.
Here are some options listed by Earthfriendlytips.com: Organic Melt Granular Ice Melt (made with sugar beets), and two products made with magnesium chloride from the Dead Sea: Sunday Pet Safe Ice Melt and Green Gobbler Pet Safe Ice Melt. Others listed include Safe Paw Salt-Free Ice Melt; Ecos Ice Melt; Natural Rapport Pet Friendly Ice Melt; and Northern Salt North Pro Nature Sub Zero Deicer.
So go forth and keep your sidewalks ice-free and planet friendly!
Star Stories – by Kelly Ricks
Where is the Milky Way Tonight?
Posted January 26, 2025
Here in northeastern New Mexico we are fortunate to have one of the darkest night skies in the nation. We’re so used to our starry sky, it’s easy to forget what a treasure it is to go outside and see the Milky Way galaxy from our own backyards. 80% of Americans today live in places where it’s impossible to see the Milky Way and some will never see it in their lifetimes. But here, all you have to do is drive a short distance from town on a moonless night and you’ll see over 5000 stars with your unaided eye. As a comparison, someone living in Chicago can only see 35! One of the reasons people visit our area is simply to experience a truly dark sky…and especially the Milky Way.
Just as we see different constellations from season to season, our view of the Milky Way changes as well. As Earth orbits the sun we see different parts of our galaxy, and it also appears in different places and orientations across the sky. In this article I’ll be talking about where and when the Milky Way can be seen between sunset and midnight—the time most of us are more likely to stargaze.
Over the next month our sky seems focused around the famous constellation of Orion. Look for the reddish star Betelgeuse (usually pronounced “beetle-juice”) that marks the mythical hunter’s left shoulder. Harry Potter fans will recognize the “movie star” in his right shoulder: Bellatrix. Following on the heels of Orion is the brightest star in our sky: Sirius, the “Dog Star:” the “heart” of the constellation Canis Major. And don’t forget Canis Minor: the “Little Dog” with a big heart named “Procyon.” The large pattern of bright stars around Orion is sometimes called the “Winter Hexagon.” These stars are largely in our galactic neighborhood. They’re close, and bright, and a few are extremely colorful. But there is still another treasure hiding among these winter constellations. One so precious, it is impossible to see in all but the darkest of skies: the “Winter Milky Way.”
The Milky Way view most of us are familiar with is the part of the galaxy we see in summer. For us in the northern hemisphere, summer is when the brightest part of the Milky Way is most visible after sunset. The dense, starry core of our galaxy is high above the southern horizon, and the spiral arms stretching up from it are rich with layer upon layer of countless stars. In winter however, we are looking directly away from that bright core and into one thin layer of stars at the very edge of our galaxy. The Winter Milky Way is faint and delicate. It floats like vapor through the Winter Hexagon and is only visible in a moonless and pristinely dark sky. Most people have no idea it’s there.
February is an excellent month for Winter Milky Way viewing. Nights with the least amount of moonlight during prime after-sunset stargazing hours are: February 1 – 4, and February 19 – 28. Drive a short distance from town about an hour after sunset. Look for Orion high in the south and see if you can identify his reddish shoulder: Betelgeuse. The Winter Milky Way runs next to Orion and right through the Winter Hexagon. For the best view you’ll need to let your eyes adapt to the darkness for a half hour or more so dress warm!
More February Star Stuff:
- Venus, Jupiter, and Mars are still bright and easy to see. Venus is in the west after sunset. At the same time, Jupiter and Mars are embedded within the Winter Hexagon, almost straight overhead.
- February 1st: Moon & Venus make a beautiful pair.
- February 9th: Moon, Mars, and two bright stars in Gemini make a beautiful quartet high overhead.
- February 16th: Venus reaches peak brightness.
- The sun will be at peak activity through 2025 and more aroura (northern lights) events are possible in our area. Up to the minute aurora forecasts can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast and many Aurora Forecast apps are available for smart phones.
Illustrations by Kelly Ricks
Help our Earth – Editorial by Laura Brewer
Every day should be Earth Day, but officially we celebrate in the U.S. on Monday, April 22, 2024. Below is a graphic of some of the things one can do to help our Earth.
Posted December 15, 2024 – Provided by Laura Brewer
Madi’s Kitchen
See additional recipes on Madi’s Kitchen page
Chinese New Year Dumplings
Posted January 26, 2025
Chinese New Year is here, and this year it is from January 29th to February 12th. This year is the year of the snake. What is better to serve for Chinese New Year than dumplings, fried to perfection, with a slightly salty sauce! You could also have some miso soup with your dumplings or something like fish, or crab puffs. These are all good options, but my favorite for sure is the dumplings. This recipe, kind of like the miso soup, originally didn’t have any carrots in it, but I do like having carrots in it. Ok, I just really like carrots. I think they’re super tasty and added a different flavor to the mix.
For Chinese New Year’s (or Lunar New Year, as it’s known everywhere other than China!) people usually celebrate by decorating with red colors and paper cutting decorations and talismans. Those celebrating wear new red clothes, celebrate with family for a large reunion dinner and give red envelopes with money in it to younger generations.
Some people also set off fireworks while eating delicious and traditional foods. This is all aimed at welcoming good luck and prosperity for the New Year. It’s a time to honor ancestors and is marked by festivals, parades, and dances. Red is considered a lucky color, so homes are adorned with red lantern paper cutting, couplets (with auspicious wishes) on doors, and other red decorations. It’s also why people typically wear red, and their new clothes are to signify a fresh start for the New Year.
Another thing that is done for good luck is giving red envelopes containing money to little kids as a blessing of good luck and setting off fireworks is a blessing to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. I was born somewhere with a large population of Asian-American people, and was lucky to get more than a few red envelopes from neighbors! But one of my very favorite parts about Chinese New Year is getting to see the dances. They’re always so pretty with a giant dragon—or two! –dancing around.
I also love all the food. My favorite food is probably the dumplings. I like to fry them up until they are crispy on the bottom and then steam them until they are see through. Then everyone enjoys them when they’re still nice and fresh. For this year’s dumplings we used local Big River ground bison instead of the traditional ground pork.
I hope everyone has a good Lunar New Year and I hope this year is filled with prosperity and good luck. Enjoy!
Chinese Dumpling Ingredients
For the Dumplings
- 1/2 medium green cabbage, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup carrots
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped scallions
- 1/2 cup chopped garlic chives (optional)
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 package dumpling wrappers
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Dipping Sauce
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon thinly sliced scallion white
- 1 pinch of toasted sesame seeds
Directions
Transfer the dumplings to a plate and serve with the dipping sauce.
The Filling: Place the cabbage in a food processor, add 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pulse until finely chopped but not puréed. Wrap the chopped cabbage in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze to remove juices, then transfer to a large bowl. Add ginger, garlic, scallions, and, if desired, garlic chives. Add the pork and season with 1/4 cup of soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix together by hand. Taste the filling by poaching or frying a small amount and adjust seasonings to taste.
The Sauce: To prepare the dipping sauce, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds in a small bowl.
To Wrap: Place 1 tablespoon of filling onto the center of a dumpling wrapper. Wet the wrapper’s edges, then fold in half to form a taco-like shape. Make a pleat on the side facing you about 20 degrees from the apex of the half-circle and seal with your fingers to the back of the skin. Repeat on the other quarter, in mirror fashion, and seal the dumpling completely, trying to eliminate any air pockets. Repeat until all filling is used.
To Pan Fry: Heat oil in a large, nonstick pan over high heat. Add the dumplings in one layer so that they do not overlap. Add water to come halfway up the dumplings and cover the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook until all the water is evaporated, and the bottoms are browned and crispy, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, the dumplings can be steamed until cooked through, about 5 minutes in a steam basket.
Find the Differences
Find the five differences in the two images above.
Exploring Climax Canyon by Mauricio Meneses
Artist Mauricio Meneses (D’MAU) is creating videos highlighting sights in and around New Mexico. Visit his YouTube channel to see more. Click on the image below to go to the YouTube video.
