Of Roasted Peppers and Founding Fathers

It's one of those mornings when I reflect on Thomas Jefferson's ability to multitask.  The cold, gorgeous weather in Albuquerque means we had a harvest weekend, pulling in the peppers and the herbs and the argula in anticipation of a frost.  Chris made a quiche with pimentos, poblanos and serranos that I roasted.  So fabulous was this quiche, that it won first prize in the savory category at the annual Conservation Voters of New Mexico Pie Contest!  Hats off to the Pie Man.

Meanwhile, THE WOMEN JEFFERSON LOVED went on sale yesterday.  I had the great blessing of a wonderful book talk and signing at Bookworks in Albuquerque.  Thanks to the Yale Club, especially Dora Wang and Alex Hanna, and Flying Star for the reception before, to all the friends, family, colleagues, Jefferson lovers and students (!) who turned out.  Of course, before the book was even released, my friend Carolyn Gonzales, UNM Public Affairs officer, had an angry email responding to her "tweet" of the event, denouncing my "inaccurate book," and its lies about the Wayles-Hemings-Jefferson family (no family at all, this person contends).   I'll soon have a link to the podcast of my talk:  you be the judge.

And it turns out that New Mexico is a perfect place to reflect on the life and legacy of Thomas Jefferson.  Is there any place in the country that more fully embraces the complicated, mixed, and carefully nurtured family life that Jefferson and his kin lived?   Looking out at everyone last night, I saw the progeny of a Founding Father worthy of us all.