World AIDS Day at Anasazi Winery -- Dec. 1, 6-9 pm

To benefit the Zulu Orphan Alliance, a Placitas nonprofit serving children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa, The Alliance provides shelter, nutrition, safey, medical care, educational opportunities, and acess to counseling and expressive therapies essential to their survival and healing. The Anasazi Winery event will feature wine tastings, food, and a silent auction. A $10 donation is suggested. For more info, call Nancy at 505-867-1382. Visit their website at https://zuluorphans.org.

Building Green

Many Americans are looking more seriously at green construction and/or adding new energy-efficient upgrades while determining value versus cost. Pike Research in Boulder, CO believes that expenditures on energy-efficient home improvements are going to see big growth in 2014. High-efficiency insulation and windows, tankless water heaters, and renewable flooring products are going to be on many buyers' must have lists.

30 Years and Counting!

The Placitas Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale is coming up on Nov. 19-20th. This is the 30th year for the sale -- you read that right -- 30 years!! The juried show will showcase dozens of artisans at 3 venues. Get all your holiday shopping done in one place on one day. Can't beat that. Visit www.placitasholidaysale.com for more information.

Cheap and Easy Makes Us Smart and Happy

John Davis, Harry Guffee, and John Bullock

I can't tell you how much fun it is to have talented musicians playing at the local cafe. And the fact that they are all our neighbors makes it even more entertaining. The third Tuesday of the month, our local band, Cheap and Easy, regales us all from 6 to 8 pm at the Placitas Cafe. There's John Bullock, songwriter and guitarist; Harry Guffee, songwriter and bass guitar; and John Davis, songwriter and dobro. It's the kind of evening where everyone can say, "I'm with the band." But that's Placitas for you!

Gardening is Me

Just got the geraniums indoors moments before the freeze. Now the sunroom is full of geraniums in transition and green tomatoes and the refrigerator is full of zucchini. Various chards and herbs are doing fine. A gorgeous chile ristra is hanging in the kitchen.  Beloved Eva gave it to me!  Love that gal!