Be Aware of the Marmorated Stink Bug

Rutgers University Agricultural Experiment Station will help gardeners and farmers identify a devastatingly dangerous garden pest: the Marmorated* Stink Bug, originating in China, which was unfortunately introduced into Allentown, Pennsylvania in the 1990s, and is now either damaging or swallowing up fruits and vegetables country-wide.

Mini-Tacos with Avocado Salad

Taco seasoning by Tone’s, chopped tomatoes, onion, celery, yellow capsicum (a sweet pepper), New Mexico red chile gravy, and ground beef, cooked together about an hour and mixed until very fine, makes a perfect taco filling in combination with grated mild cheese.

Miniature tacos are made with sautéed Guerrero corn tortillas, which are filled with a ground-beef-vegetable mixture and colby jack cheese. The bowl contains shredded Romaine lettuce and small strips of avocado, dressed with lime juice, cilantro (coriander leaf) and salt.

©M-J de Mesterton 2011

New Mexico Wildfires June 27th

A Normal Evening in Santa Fe, before the Fires

The Same Mountains, Now on Fire

NM Wildfire Information is updated regularly at

http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/
First there was the Wallow Fire in Arizona, sending heavy smoke into New Mexico for many weeks. No sooner did the effects of that forest fire dissipate than new fires sprang up in Santa Fe National Forest and now in nearby Los Alamos. The Santa Fe fire is believed to have been started by campers or Recreational Vehicles’ hot mufflers while they are parked.

The Los Alamos fire is thought by some, though still under investigation, to have been started by a power-line being downed by high winds during the past weekend.

Fireworks are being discouraged for Independence Day, because New Mexico is in the midst of its worst drought in fifty years. Winds have been gusting at around 30 mph and often up to 60 mph almost daily for  four months, and with June temperatures in the 90s, this makes for very high fire danger. Anyone who is the least bit careless with incendiaries, including cigarettes and barbecues, is literally playing with fire.

Update: Governor Susana Martinez is beseeching residents and visitors in New Mexico to forgo fireworks of any kind this year.
©M-J
Help Los Alamos.com
is a Resource Site by Kerri Couillard, for Victims and Evacuees of the Las Conchas Fire in Los Alamos County

Elegant Brioche au Sucre

John Hardy Tweed Hacking Jacket 42L

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-JOHN-G-HARDY-WPANE-CHECK-TWEED-HACKING-JACKET-42-L-/290578508524?pt=UK_Men_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item43a7d42aec#ht_2670wt_905

Leather Dress-Belts, Made in the USA

Sole Survivor  makes all its belts, wallets and bags in the U.S.A., and offers them for reasonable prices. The site is fun to navigate, with many categories of belt-styles, belt-buckles, and tooled leather accessories.

M-J de Mesterton wears an elegant hand-dyed belt made by Sole Survivor.
Courtesy of THE GREATEST STUFF 

The Best Toolbelts, Made in California

OCCIDENTAL LEATHER

of California

Courtesy of THE GREATEST STUFF 

The Best British Blazer

Summer Blazers Made-to-Measure in England, by Bookster

My husband is wearing an elegant Bookster boating blazer in this Chap Magazine of London advert; original photo shot by Yours Truly. Now is the time to order your traditional English boating blazer, made-to-measure for you in England by Bookster. http://www.tweed-jacket.com
Courtesy of THE GREATEST STUFF