Prosser Martin

Photo from http://tcondry.blogspot.com/

I used to love walking into Prosser Martin's shop in downtown Del Rio. Upon entering the store my hair would always be blown back from the powerful vent’s cool air. Coming in from a hot and sweaty car ride or walk, this gust of ice cold air made an impression that I will never forget. I always wanted to visit the shop and my Grandfather was the only one who would take me there anytime I wanted. He would usually run into someone and talk while I roamed the store looking at the same things I had looked at a hundred times before.

What got me so excited about this western wear store were the autographed photos of movie stars hanging on their wood-paneled walls; Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Dean Martin, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Gene Autry and Charlton Heston were the few I remember. Prosser Martin had outfitted all these actors when they were in town for movies at Alamo Village. Everyone there looked like Bic Benedict, tall, imposing ranchers (a la Giant), that would come in just to hang around and talk. Once at the store I remember hearing a call for extras for Centennial that was scheduled to film at Alamo Village. At seven years old I used to think that Prosser Martin's was the most glamorous place to be and probably something like Hollywood.

The place smelled of leather and everywhere there were cowboy hats in those big cardboard boxes, as well as some cowboy shirts and pants, but mostly lots of belts, spurs, boots, chaps and saddles. I can't recall when they closed but it was before I hit the double digits. Prosser Martin passed away in 1970 at the age of 73 so the store was probably just lingering to liquidate when I was visiting those few years. It turned into a dressmaker's shop and I remember feeling so sad and angry when the stylistic Prosser Martin mural that was painted on the side of the store was painted over with the dressmaker's logo.

It has only been recently that I have discovered all that Prosser Martin was, mainly through descriptions on Ebay, otherwise, there isn't much out there: Prosser Martin was an important Western-wear and saddle maker in Del Rio, Texas through the mid-20th century; they were the official outfitter of the Madison Square Garden rodeo, America's foremost western outfitter. Their catalogs are collectible cowboy ephemera. There was nothing like being in the actual place, because the mythical, Texas cowboy, in all his glamour, was alive at Prosser Martin.

Spring hibernation

I guess we've been hibernating because we haven't been out and about much. Since the time change I have felt too lazy to venture out of the home to do much. I find myself getting lost in a project then relaxing under the trees then moving indoors for some baking or movie watching. The weather has been perfect and won't stay this way for long so it seems right to spend as much time as possible hanging outside. The breezes and bird chirping can send me into a deep sleep on the hammock.

The roses I planted last year are really taking off. In fact, much of what I planted last year and thought dead or anemic has taken off this year. That means the only failure was the garden. The new garden seems healthy so far (knock on wood), made improvements to the soil and sunlight.

The fig trees are really growing , finally, and it looks like we might actually have figs this year. The strawberry plants are looking good but I hope we get to them before the birds do. So far birds-2, us-0.

Been feeling this way lately:

Vintage reproduction aprons by Bella Pamella. Tres cute!

It's hard to leave a place that has cucumber water in a cute pitcher chilling in the fridge.

After participating in Earth Hour, candlelit evenings outdoors are du jour until the mosquitoes begin.

Teehee

If you ever want to irk audiophiles just drop by a rare records bin and do like this:
"Got it, have it, got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, woohoo got it,yep, have it, got it......" Then turn to your pal and say, "Let me take you where they really have rare records."

From 'A Coney Island of the Mind'

Number 20

by Lawrence Ferlinghetti



The pennycandystore beyond the El
is where I first

fell in love

with unreality
Jellybeans glowed in the semi-gloom
of that september afternoon
A cat upon the counter moved among
the licorice sticks
and tootsie rolls
and Oh Boy Gum

Outside the leaves were falling as they died

A wind had blown away the sun

A girl ran in
Her hair was rainy
Her breasts were breathless in the little room

Outside the leaves were falling
and they cried
Too soon! too soon!

Minutiae in Beatsville

I've been asked what's been going on lately and I respond honestly,"Not much". I'm content with that answer. Aside from trying to get the garden off to a better start than I did last year, not much. I would really like to see some food growing in the backyard, aside from eggs.

The Art Bra I made with Bonnie will be one of the ones in the fashion show and up for auction. They loved it I heard. Yay! April 18th!

I read Skinny Bitch, finally, and I must say, don't touch the soy! There is so much in the book I agree with, sure, however, soy is not a food that I would consider safe for female consumption. I really wish the authors would have looked into the dangers "correlated" with soy and perhaps had read some of the European studies. I can't help but see it as nothing more than a plastic by-product. Yuk!

In search of a beach.

Escargot, it's what's for dinner this week. I can't wait. A received some as a gift this weekend and we are looking forward to it.

Thoughts are with my friend this week and I'm hoping she doesn't have to move out of her apartment. It's so cute and she's so cute.

Speaking of cute, Ducky is a happy hen. She took the four fertile eggs I got for her and happily rolled them under her. She now sits proudly on them and no longer has that sad slump. April 17th!

Had to visit The Birth of Cool exhibit again.

Dobie Gillis needs to be released on DVD soon. It's amazing it hasn't been. What is up with that?

I have a ton of things to upload to the website but it's the poppies, the poppiesssssssssszzzzzz

Thompson is a documentary

It is not an easy task to get your film into SXSW. My friend's daughter and her boyfriend made it into the competition. This was really cool. Then last night, they won:

Short Jury Awards
REEL SHORTS
Winner
Thompson, Director: Jason Tippet

That is an uber awesome achievement! Documentaries are my favorite genre and after seeing the trailer I knew Thompson would be great. The subject matter was interesting, the music and the editing of the trailer all promised an engaging and poignant documentary. I have yet to see it because the SXSW schedule has limited it to only days and times I cannot make. I was right about this doc though...congratulations Elizabeth and Jason on a great documentary!!!!!!!

News from the coop

Of my three Silkie hens it is Ducky who is the most lovable. When she was only a few weeks old she came down with a cold and was coughing, sneezing and had a runny nose. I had never heard a chick cough or sneeze, never knew chickens got sick like this. I didn't know it was just a cold though, I thought it was Newcastle or something else that would kill her. Because she didn't perish within 24 hours I figured she had nothing serious. However, I was kept distressed because a sick chick struggling to breathe is a sad thing to see. I fed her garlic, electrolytes, a bit of yogurt and vinegar. Anything that I could think of to make her better. I sat up with her on my lap trying to keep still and quiet so she could get some sleep. She wasn't resting with all the other healthy chicks running all over her. She was held a lot during this time and I think that is why she is not skittish when it comes to being picked up. She is as strong and fearless as her roo brothers.

Nothing sadder than a depressed looking hen just slumping on the nest while the rest are having fun taking dust baths. The other two, feathered ladies are so much thinner and have never gone broody. All living things have a personality. The Silkie Bantam hen was bred to brood and it's their instinct. That being said, I have seen a happy hen sitting on her clutch knowing one day her family will emerge. Ducky sits on eggs that PeeWee and Fuzztop lay for our breakfast. They get collected and she is left sitting on hay. I have noticed her expression change and her posture slump more and more. Ducky is milquetoast and that's not her.

She was broody for a few weeks last fall and I was able to get her to come out of it. She has gone broody again and I don't see her coming out of it until she hatches babies. Of all the hens, Ducky fits the classic, mama hen silhouette. She is a born mommy though not even a year old herself. So I found Ducky a few fertile eggs and I'll be sneaking them under her in the middle of her night, which is 8ish, 9ish. In three weeks, if we are all lucky, we'll have some baby chicks. I have a home for a roo, in the event we get one. I am excited for Ducky, It will be nice to see her sitting on a real clutch and not crying every time I get our eggs for the day. I am hoping next time she goes into a serious brood , she can help hatch some chicks or game birds for someone.

PS: The three hens can be seen this evening on the five o'clock news. Fox 7 came to interview them. Ducky was on her nest brooding while the other two were giving shout outs.

Put this on the top of your to-do list

Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury
February 22 – May 17, 2009
The Blanton Museum of Art

I had to see it more than once.

He was a Pisces

Minutiae

Gnocchi:It's what's for dinner. Is it me or is it real in these days?

BeardHead: Why didn't I think of that? Actually I did, I just didn't think it was a hot idea. Poop.

Choices: What do you wear when someone wants to interview your chickens?

Ducky: Will she ever snap out of her depression?

Weather: It's cold again? Yay! Rain!

Capirotada: I must admit that I make it really yummy, not at all soggy or weird. If you are Hispanic and grew up with it and hate it, it's because your Grandmother never made it right. Que triste.

Studio: I've been seriously working on my first big project:an art bra with Bonnie.

TGIF

Thursday evenings are the new Fridays at our place. When I get home from the gym it feels like the weekend is just starting even though I have a whole eight hours to log in at work. Lately, the last workday of the week goes by so fast, I sometimes feel I don't have to count it.

Fridays are full of hope and I'm usually hyper most of the day. The to-do list begins to take form in my head and some ideas make it to sticky notes that are then tucked into my purse. These are the optimistic plans for the weekend, the names of people to call, places to go, things to do. Saturday morning brings in it's own energy and spontaneity takes over. Phones calls we were supposed to answer become messages not received until much later, too late, projects not on the list are finally completed and the satisfaction of accomplishment sends us to a favorite restaurant, not the new one we meant to try and we end up running into friends unexpectedly and then the hours lift and hurl us into Sunday.

Sunday is a wild card. It can be a completely languid day filled with much needed relaxation that is much appreciated but dissolves into a Monday morning rush. Sunday has the added stress of being the last free day. What is done on Sunday can make the weekend seem so long and lush or nip it all too soon. Now that I have deconstructed the weekend for myself, perhaps it's time I clean out those stickies that have filled the side pockets of my purse. Why do I do this?

Tortitas de Camarón con Nopalitos

Tortitas / Shrimp patties:
2 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons ground dry shrimp
1 teaspoon Flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying

Separate egg whites and beat with an electric egg beater until stiff peaks appear. Gently fold in egg yokes. Fold in dry shrimp and flour.
In a frying pan heat 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. Using a tablespoon, drop prepared batter into hot oil. Turn each patty when golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Makes about 8 Tortitas or patties. Set aside.

Nopales / Cactus:
One 16 oz bag of pre-cut nopales
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 white onion

Buy the fresh, pre-cut nopales in a bag. Usually found in the produce section.
Bring 4 cups water to a boil and add cactus, salt and onion Let simmer for about 3-4minutes or until tender. Rinse well in hot water. Drain and rinse in cold water. Remove onion. Set aside cactus.

Caldito:
4 cups Chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
4 to 6 dry Chile California pepper pods
2 garlic cloves
Salt to taste
White pepper to taste
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Soak the uncooked dry Chile pods in cold water for about twenty minutes. Rinse and pull stem to drain seeds. Rinse again in cold water. Boil for 10 minutes till soft and bright red. Drain. In a blender put cooked Chile pods, chicken broth, corn starch, salt and garlic and blend till mixture is completely pureed. Strain through medium sized strainer to remove any seeds or unpureed pieces of chili. Add a little more broth if needed for blending.

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in large sauté pan and pour in mixture. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp patties and nopales then let simmer for 5 minutes. Serve in shallow soup bowls

575 hours of footage

I finally watched The Up Series. I had wanted to see this documentary ever since I caught a trailer for 35 Up. The DVD set did not include the recent 49 Up. If you haven't watched these, I highly recommend them, just not all at one time. All the children at age seven were cute and entertaining but I was most interested in following Neil and Symon. I watched 575 hours in two days because they are on loan on a friend's library card and have a short checkout time. At the moment I am still dizzy from the whole thing and have the World In Action theme song echoing feverishly in my head. I'm putting off 49 for another time. I would own this DVD set just to loan out since I feel I know the series so well now. I don't think I'll ever forget the faces or the stories of these 14 individuals for a very long time.