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
Playing Peekaboo with Mars
Posted January 3, 2025
Day after day we watch the sun rise and set: east to west…east to west…east to west. We watch the stars, planets, and moon rise and set: east to west…east to west…east to west. We see the sky this way because the Earth spins on its axis once per day in the opposite direction: west to east. Imagine driving from Raton to Clayton: when you come up over 19-mile hill you see Capulin Volcano appear on the eastern horizon. Then as you drive past it, the volcano recedes to the west—east to west—because you are driving west to east.
But over the course of a month, season, or year, the planets, our Moon, and our Sun actually appear to cross the sky from west to east: the opposite of what we see in a single day and night. From above, objects in our solar system orbit the sun in a counter-clockwise motion, and over long periods of time the steps of that cosmic dance come into focus.
This is easiest to notice with the moon. In the first week of this new year you may have seen the crescent moon and bright planet Venus close together right after sunset. Every night after that the moon moves further and further to the east of Venus, rising about 50 minutes later every day. On January 13th the full moon will rise at the same time the sun sets, and then 50 minutes later the next day, and the next…moving further east until it rises just before the morning sun as New Moon approaches on January 29th.
But there is a special event in this first month of 2025. The west-to-east motion of the moon will be on full display as it appears to go right over the top of Mars. This visibly red planet will disappear behind one side of the moon and then reemerge on the other exactly one hour later…peek-a-boo!
If it’s a clear sky on Monday, January 13th, go outside at 6:45 pm. You’ll see Mars (bright and noticeably orange) extremely close below the full moon. You can easily watch with your eyes alone, or pull out some binoculars or a small telescope for an even better view. The moon will get closer and closer to Mars until it “gobbles up” the planet at 6:54 pm. Mars will peek into view again on the moon’s opposite side at 7:54 pm. Watch for a while longer and you’ll see the moon continue its eastward orbit as it moves further and further past Mars.
This event—one celestial object appearing to move in front of another—is called an “occultation.” It’s relatively uncommon for the moon to occult another planet, and this time will be extra spectacular because Mars will also be as close to Earth as it gets. If you do have a telescope, you may even be able to see Mars’ icy north pole: a bright white cap against its rusty orange landscape. What a sight! Let’s hope for good clear skies!
Other things to watch for this month:
- Close pairing (conjunction) of Venus and Saturn January 16 – 19.
- Though the shower’s peak is between January 2 – 3, we’ll continue to see Quadrantid Meteors through January 16th.
- 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.
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
Miso Soup
Posted January 19, 2025
Miso soup holds a special place in my heart—it’s not just a soup; it’s warm memories when it’s cold outside! For me, the combination of the rich umami from the miso and the texture of the tofu is absolute perfection. But one of my favorite things to add to miso soup is carrots! I know, I know—many recipes don’t even call for them, but they add such a lovely pop of color and a little extra bite to the soft textures and otherwise sort of bland green and white colors. Plus, they just look so pretty floating in the soup, don’t they? Of course, if you’re not into carrots, feel free to leave them out!
Miso soup is so light and comforting, it makes it the perfect pairing for something heartier—the combo just feels cozy and satisfying, without being too heavy. If you’re a vegetarian, it’s also easy enough to swap out the dashi (or broth) base from bonito (tuna flakes) to dried mushrooms. It’s also an easy enough swap if you don’t have flakey dried tuna on hand—we are far from an ocean, but mushrooms grow pretty well in Raton, and they dry even better for long term use!
So, with Lunar New Year around the corner, what better way to celebrate than with a bowl of this awesome soup? This Lunar New Year is the Year of the Snake, and if you’re into astrology or just love the rich stories behind it, lunar or Chinese New Year is such a fun time to reflect on the personality traits of each zodiac animal. The zodiac has a fascinating backstory that involves the animals racing across a river to determine which animal would represent which years in the cycle. I’m a Rabbit (yay!), and the next Year of the Rabbit won’t roll around until 2035—meaning I’ll be 24, which sounds both exciting and a little surreal! But beyond the fun of predicting personalities based on your zodiac, it’s just nice to pause and think about the year ahead, especially with family and food as the center of celebration.
So, whether you’re making this for a cozy evening at home or a celebration, I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as I do! And don’t forget to eat it with something tasty like rice and seaweed, onigiri or dumplings—trust me, it’ll make the experience even more special!
Miso Soup Ingredients
For the Dashi
8 cups water
1 piece kombu (dried kelp/seaweed)
2 cups dried bonito (dry tuna flakes) or 1/2 cup mushrooms, ground into a powder
For the Miso Soup
1 cup carrots, sliced
14 oz soft/silken tofu
1/2 cup miso
2 tbsp dried seaweed
1 cup green onions/scallions, chopped
Instructions
- Making the Dashi (can be done in advance): Start by adding the water and seaweed to a medium saucepan. If you’ve got the time, soak the kombu for 30 minutes—it’s worth it for the extra depth of flavor! One rule I always follow: never wash kombu and don’t remove the white powdery substance—it’s packed with umami, or savory flavor! Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium-low heat (about 10 minutes). This is Kombu Dashi.
- If you’re not vegan/vegetarian, add the fish flakes and bring it back to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 seconds. Now you’ve got Awase Dashi! You can store this in the fridge for about 3-5 days or freeze it for up to two weeks.
- If you are looking for a vegan option, put 1/2 cup of dried mushrooms into a blender—shiitake are good, but so are the oyster mushrooms my uncle grows! Blend well. Add the kombu dashi and bring back to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 seconds. This traditionally is called shiitake dashi, or mushroom dashi.
Making the Miso Soup:
- Add your dashi to a saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer. Toss in your carrots and cook for about five minutes until they’re tender but still have a bit of bite—unless you really want mushy carrots!
- Cut your tofu into 1/2-inch cubes—don’t worry if it’s a little messy, just be careful with your knife. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can cut the tofu right in your palm (a common practice in Japan!), but I recommend a cutting board if you’re new to this. Add the tofu to the soup.
- Then, throw in the dried seaweed and chopped green onions, and cook for another five minutes. Turn off the heat and add the miso right before serving—don’t boil the miso! It’ll lose all its lovely flavor and aroma if you do.
- Serve hot! Enjoy the soup, enjoy the season, and most of all—enjoy the year ahead!
The Chinese Zodiac Animals and Their Personalities:
The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle, and each year is associated with an animal, each with its own unique traits. Here’s a quick rundown of the order of the cycle and personalities of the animals:
Rat – Quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, and kind
Ox – Diligent, dependable, strong, and determinedTiger – Brave, confident, and competitiveRabbit – Quiet, elegant, kind, and responsible (that’s me!)
Dragon – Confident, intelligent, and enthusiastic
Snake – Enigmatic, intelligent, and wise
Horse – Animated, active, and energetic
Goat – Calm, gentle, and sympathetic
Monkey – Sharp, smart, and curious
Rooster – Observant, hardworking, and courageous
Dog – Lovely, honest, and prudent
Pig – Compassionate, generous, and diligent
These personalities are fun to think about, but just like astrology, they’re a little more playful than factual! For example, I’m a Rabbit, which feels pretty spot on for me, but my brother is a Goat—and a nine year old! Not quite as accurate! Still, it’s a fun tradition and something to look forward to each year!
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.
