It is typical for me to shoot a number of different subjects, day to day and week to week.  During the spring through summer months, flowers loom large on the horizon, along with assorted other things in nature.  Because of that, there are photographs that "wait in the wings" for their role in my blogs.  There are some that you may never see, except possibly in a book or on a greeting card.  This week, a katydid that I did not see at first blush but was practically in front of my face, became a subject.  Although they are extremely common and live almost all over the world, I can count the number I have seen in my life on one hand.  They are in the Tettigoniidae family, which also includes bush crickets.  And many species are nocturnal.  Their wings are amazingly like the leaves on which they sit and dine, but those images are in the "waiting in the wings" category.  I prefer to offer something today that is a little more tasty to many humans.  Hamburgers.

In New Mexico (in my opinion) one must have green chile on top of a hamburger.  In medieval times, such as the 1950s and 1960s in the burgeoning town of Albuquerque, there was one location that offered a green chile cheeseburger.  Peter Pan Drive-In on Wyoming and Northeastern near Indian School was "the" place to get green chile as a hamburger topping.  Blake's Lotaburger opened in 1952 in a different part of the city, and had not yet branched out to other locations when it became known for green chile cheeseburgers.   Summer holidays are just not the same without a green chile cheeseburger.  Thanks to friends, we got one of the all-time best on the 4th of July. 

Food - hamburgers toppers 2026

In addition to New Mexico chopped green chile, another wonderful vegetable for a summer meal is the shishito pepper.  They grill quickly and with a very  tender skin, can be eaten straight from the grill.  Yes, kale is packed with vitamins, but give me shishitos and green chile any day.  Full of vitamins A and C, and other goodies that make your body smile.  

Food - hamburger and shishito peppers 1 2026

Food- hamburger 1 2026

Food - hamburger 2 2026

The 2026 green chile crop is coming in now, and we can all look forward to the divine smell of it roasting in Farmers Markets, family farms, and grocery store parking lots statewide.  

Sometimes, I do not get around to writing those of you who comment on the blog site and in separate emails, but please know that your words are greatly appreciated.  Kudos to Ingrid and Robert for their culinary skills, and to Lawrence, Tim, Terry T., Jean & Sam, Marillyn G., Rebecca, Ann A., Diane D., Gustavo, Catherine, Marilyn R., and Christina who wrote her title for last week's blog "Carrots in love."  

Enjoy this first week in August with cameras in hand!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image©