Saloon update -- open for Halloween!

 We got things put together enough to invite the neighbors over for a little festivity! We even were able to enjoy the first batch of homebrew cooked up in the new space, featuring "neomexicanus" hops grown by our neighbors.

Looks like something out of a movie set...

As does the bartender!

Prickly-pear margaritas were the cocktail of the evening (we harvested about 10lb of prickly pear "tunas" at the end of the summer)

The patio is a lovely place in the afternoon.

The "brewery" side is still a work in progress, but it's working!

Guard Pig.

Resident Ghoul.

Prickly pear harvest

We were a little late harvesting prickly pears this year, but caught the tail end of the season and brought home about 20 lb of fruit.  We knew from last year to harvest the fruits using tongs to avoid touching he small spines.  This year I implemented the added improvement of using a steam juicer so I didn’t have to peel or strain anything.  Prickly pear maragarita, anyone?  Prickly pear sorbet?  So many possibilities…