October 19 - About Taos

It's a community of 6,000 people - artists, bohemians, hippies, cowboys, Native Americans who live on and off the Taos Pueblo, business owners, college students and professors. The U of New Mexico, Taos is here. We're at 7200 feet, 9500 feet at Taos Ski Resort on Taos Mountain. The mesa is clay and when it's wet, it's like driving on ice. The natural vegetation here is sagebrush, juniper pines as well as other greenery that I don't know about yet. However, with the sage and juniper, I can make my own sage sticks for "smudging", a Native American ceremony of clearing people and houses of anything you don't want hanging on and/or around. Taos is spread out over 12 miles in length, along the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, part of the Rocky Mountains. Taos Mountain and Wheeler Peak are the two most prominent mountains seen from Taos. The legend is that Taos Mountain and the Rio Grande Gorge either draw you to Taos, or send you away. Oh yes, and Julia Roberts has a ranch here on the mesa, and Donald Rumsfield owns A LOT of land here, too, in addition to his ranch. That's kinda scary!

Tuesday, Oct 24 - Pagosa Springs, CO

Yesterday, my friend Lillian suggested that Deborah and I drive to Pagosa Springs to visit John Hornecker - a great idea, and when I contacted him, he just happened to have Tuesday open for us to visit.

It's about a 3 hour drive from Taos to Pagosa Springs - and a lovely 3 hour drive it was!

John, Deborah and I had lunch and while we came prepared to go to the mineral springs for a dip, we decided to stay and visit with John, then stopped by Christa's apartment to see her. Christa is a jewelry maker and a wonderful human being who met Deborah when she lived in Taos several years ago. The top photo is Wheeler Peak and Taos Mountain, and the bottom one is the sunset over the Rocky Mountains as we were driving a south ridge out of Colorado back to New Mexico.

Monday, Oct 23 - Hiking South Boundary

Deborah took me to South Boundary today to hike - edge of town on the south side, about a 2 mile hike up to the top of the mountain. You can see the apex of the moutain, the end of the trail, so to speak. What a view!

We are at 7200 feet here in Taos, so it was breathtaking to be on top of this mountain, looking at the Taos valley. She also set quite a pace going up the switchbacks, so it was a great workout, too.

Sunday, Oct 22

Robin departed Taos today, returning home to Austin. Deborah, Gail and I went to Angel Fire to hike and while driving, drove through my favorite aspen grove. I call it the Wedding Cathedral.

Sat Oct 21 - What an eventful day!

Went to and experienced my first ever "Healing Circle" with a man named "Sean of God", who recently returned from Brazil, having worked with "John of God", a well known healer.

Pretty incredible experience , this Healing Circle. This man whom I've never met offered some information that really made me re-examine some of my life issues. I walked home after and discussed what happened with Deborah, Robin, Gail, and Deborah Curtis, who had just finished breakfast. Fortunately for me, Deborah Curtis was able to take the information I received from Sean and use it during our energy session later that afternoon. What a great massage she gives! And the guidance that came through really helped with the issues I was re-examining. I drove back to Deborah's to a hot bath in her fabulous tub, then out for a night of fun at Joseph's Table at the La Fonda Hotel in Taos. Joseph is from Cincinnati, and has a wonderful restaurant that I just love.

Friday, Oct 20

Deborah, Robin and I visited Abby & Dean's studio today. Abby makes incredible dinner ware, tea and coffee pots. You can see for yourselves at www.butterpieproductions.com.

Dean, Abby's husband, is a custom furniture designer / maker who made much of the furniture in the home Deborah lives in, next to Casa Cubana. He's off to Philly for his first gallery show.

We also stopped by Deborah Curtis' home, a local Taos resident who does amazing massage and energy work. I will see her Saturday afternoon for a much needed massage!

Friday night, Deborah hosted a "Hawaii reunion" for the 4 women who recently vacationed in Kuwaii together, pictured here - Robin, Terri, Gail and Deborah.

Great meal and company! Terrie is from KY and lived in Cincinnati for many years. She's an internationally known quilter. You can see her work at http://www.terriestudio.com

Thursday, Oct 19 - Welcome to Taos!

Tuesday, Oct 17: I leave my cell phone in the car when Max drops me at the Louisville airport. No phone, no phone card, no internet service! The 4 hour layover in St. Louis gave me the quiet opportunity to read the entire current issue of Vanity Fair! Arrived at the ABQ Airport, Deborah was there to meet me, and we headed straight for the Wild Oats to stock up while waiting for Robin Nelson to arrive at ABQ from Austin. We arrived in Taos at about midnight, chatted around the kitchen table for a while, then I retired to Casa Cubana for my first night in Taos. The next day was lovely so I took advantage and took photos of Casa Cubana after my morning run. Today Deborah and I hiked the Italianette trail on Taos Mountain to the Aspen Grove. And my cell phone arrived via Fed Ex, thanks to Max!