Monday, Nov 27 - A Taos Post Office Box!

Wow, today was a milestone. I now have a Taos Post Office Box! Tomorrow I'll open a bank account! Makes sense, since I'll now be here through March.

It's really the small things that are so big these days. Like this dusk photo of Taos Mountain from the front porch - and the sunset photo with Pater Knoll highlighted in burning orange.....

I am totally in awe of the spectacle Mother Nature offers here every day!

Sunday, Nov 26 - No Hiking Today

Ok, I admit it, I could not hike today! There, I said it. But Deborah and I did walk Taos - did a little shopping - but generally took it easy.

Oh, and did I mention that in addition to the hiking, I've also been doing a "Kundalini" yoga workout every morning???

I found a vendor who can supply me with blank notecards and envelopes, so I'll be able to create my own holiday cards this year!!!

Saturday, Nov 25 - Fog over Taos

Ok, I know I'm obsessed with the clouds and sky and sunsets here - so here's a new one. Look at what I saw when I walked out into the great room Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. - I rubbed my eyes 3 times before I realized what I was seeing - the entire mesa and valley was fogged in.

To really see this wall of fog, click on either photo and what you may think are clouds is the roll of fog...... it was an amazing sight!

Saturday, Nov 25 - La Junta Trail at Rio Grande Gorge

Today this trail just kicked my butt! We hiked into the Gorge via La Junta, a beautiful and dangerous .8 mile trail down the gorge with a beautiful view of the Red River and Rio Grande confluence, shown in the photo here.

I've also included a photo taken about 1/3 of the way down the trail - the snow caps and top of the Red River section of the gorge.

It's .8 of a mile down to the bottom of the gorge, and then another hike to the river confluence. Deborah, Georgia and I crossed the Red River via the bridge shown in the photo. Georgia splashed in the rivers, while Deborah and I stayed warm and dry. Georgia belongs to Kim Goodyear, Deborah's neighbor, and is a perfect hiking dog. She made sure we were on the trail and safe.

I've included a photo of the "La Junta Twin Peaks" as well as a photo of Deborah and Georgia with the trailhead shown in the background, the top of that high point in the photo - that's where we started!

For Georgia's sake, we returned to our car via the Little Arsenic trail, a beautiful meandering trail along the Rio Grande river bank. Georgia is 14 years old - you do the dog math conversion - and know that she still had the energy upon our return to the car to hop into the back, with only a boost - which is more than I can say for me.

I hit the hot tub twice that night, trying to heat out the ache in my knees and hips. You go, Georgia!

Friday, Nov 24 - Valle Vidal

Deborah and I drove east on Rt 64, through Angel Fire, to Cimarron Canyon. We were heading for the Valle Vidal. Max, wait till you see the ski/snow board runs at Angel Fire - they are spectacular!

Cimarron Canyon is a magical place. My first time through this canyon was in December, 2003, the first time I visited Taos with Deborah and Ginto. During the drive back to Ohio, as we traveled through Cimarron Canyon en route to Colorado, I "heard" the name 'Spirited Journey' and that was the beginning of my new business life.

We stopped in Cimarron and visited the St. James Hotel - a vital outpost of the "Santa Fe Trail". Bat Masterson stayed here, as did many other "famous" persons of the "old west": Buffalo Bill Cody and his cohort, Annie Oakley, Kit Carson, Frank and Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid!

See this beautiful landmark hotel that is still in operation:

www.stjamescimarron.com

Valle Vidal is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern NM between Cimarron and Costilla. It's a 100, 000 acre parcel in the Carson National Forest, managed by the Carson National Forest. It's an important part of NM's ranching heritage and is still a productive grazing area today, as shown in several of the photos here.

Ted Turner also owns much of the land surrounding Valle Vidal, used for his buffalo ranching business, as well as his natural gas operations.

Deborah and I drove the 21 miles of gravel washboard road into the Valle Vidal, and stopped at the McCrystal Creek campground to take a hike. We sort of created our own trail and our reward was "tatanka" - buffalo! Look closely for the buffalo in the photo beneath the warning sign that buffalo are wild animals, posted at the McCrystal Campground entrance. Deborah assured me that buffalo, and indeed, all wild animals, only chase humans if they are startled or scared. The photo shows the buffalo after we stood very still and allowed him time to meander further away, so as not to "startle" him. I wasn't interested in trying to outrun a startled buffalo!

Check out Valle Vidal at:
www.vallevidal.org

During this hike, we also saw elk. On the ride continuing through the Valle Vidal, we also had a bobcat run in front of the car.

The canyon area driving out of Valle Vidal toward Costilla is overwhelmingly gorgeous. Another perfect adventure!

Thursday, Nov 23 - New Moon for Thanksgiving

This is the new moon over Taos, taken either Tuesday or Wednesday night. Isn't it a glorious sight? It never fails to move me. I know, I know, I am obsessed with the sunsets here --- and I am sure you would be, too! They are just so beautiful, don't you agree??

Today is Gratitude Day - otherwise known as Thanksgiving. It's also the FIRST DAY OF THE SKI SEASON in Taos!!! Check out the various ski resorts:
www.skitaos.org
www.angelfireresort.com
www.sipapunm.com


I hope all of you had a joyful holiday with friends and family. My Thanksgiving celebration was initially going to be spent driving to Bryce Canyon in Utah with Deborah and Gail, but the Bryce trip will be another time. We opted to stay in Taos and take day hikes over the holiday weekend. So, my Thanksgiving in Taos began with a breakfast at Deborah's. She made her "famous" crepe pancakes - they were YUMMY! And I am NOT a big pancake fan.

I stopped into Joseph's Mainstreet Bakery to get a cup of coffee - they were packed! And roasting turkeys in the big oven for those who had purchased their Thanksgiving dinner package. Kat, the chef, had also roasted an extra turkey for the bakery to have in celebration once they closed the restaurant that afternoon.

From there, I went back to the big house and sat on the deck, in the sun, and began to make the first of many bracelets. I actually have made pieces of jewelry! My creative juices are just flowing here. Writing, jewelry making, baking -- what's next???

My day was complete after speaking with my mom, my sisters, and Max. Mom was going to join my Grandma at my uncle Dan's home, and my sister Emmie and her husband, Kevin, hosted Kim, Bobby, Meghan, Max, and his dad, Spank.

Happy birthday to my cousin, Jeff - I won't tell his age - and Happy 28th wedding anniversary to my friends Nora & Guy Wesselkamper. Nora, you are a SAINT!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends!

Wednesday, Nov 15 - Sites to see while walking Kit Carson Road

Here's a beautiful shot of Taos Mountain and El Salto, the day after those amazing black clouds rolled through!




I decided to walk into town - along Kit Carson Road - and saw up close the interesting, unusual, and quirky sights that I've provided here.


The bare trees, that shimmer white in the sunlight against the blue sky, are, to my eye, just spectacular.

The Gaspard House is a private residence, and the sign claims that the famous Russian - American artist built this home. It appears that he was once a guest at the Mabel Dodge Luhan Home, based on the info on the website.















The El Monte Sagrado is a famous spa that opened in 2003, brainchild of Tom Worrell. They grow much of their own food in the greenhouse, as well as recycle most of the non-drinking water used.



There is a street across from the El Monte Sagrado that has a home with a beautiful entrace wall, featuring the lovely lady pictured. This is a one of a kind, so far!









The El Monte Sagrado greenhouse can be seen through the trees, from the quirky wall entrance located across the street.






The Canon Road Gallery and an "Adobe Duplex" line Kit Carson, leading into town.









fx/18 is an award winning store, based on popular vote.





Look at the turquoise bells above the store.




And do you see the single bell above Gallery A?



Love the rainbows and light orbs that showed up in the La Dona Luz Inn photograph.

Beautiful rugs are on display, too.



And the Zane Wheeler Gallery, located on Taos Plaza, named for Thom Wheeler's daughter. Thom is a famous artist whose gallery/studio is on the corner of Piedmont and Kit Carson Roads, the turn off to the big house I'm in now.

Friday, Nov 17 - A visit to the Taos Pueblo & Mable Dodge Luhan House

I've been photographing what I consider the quirky, unusual landmarks that I pass when walking along Kit Carson Road into town this week. So I thought I'd post them for you to view, too.

We've got the mermaids and angel on the wall on Morado Road, which leads back and stops at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House.

The Buffalo is the entrance centerpiece at the Adobe Wall Inn on Kit Carson Road. And the bell tower in the home on the corner of Morado and Kit Carson Road.

Today I was drawn to the Mable Dodge Luhan House & the Taos Pueblo - no camera, just wanted to BE at the Pueblo with the residents. Paid my admission fee, spoke to Carpio, the first Indian I met, who showed me the walking stick he had carved - an eagle's head was at the top - he was just completing the finishing touches. Beautiful!

I sat by the stream that comes from Blue Lake, the lake on Wheeler Peak held sacred by the Tewa tribe who inhabit the Taos Pueblo. This is the Pueblo's only source of fresh water. The energy here is powerful and the Pueblo structures are just beautiful. Amazing to think that the structures, or portions of them, have been there for 1000 years, at the foot of Taos Mountain. The photo shows a Historic Marker that features the Taos Pueblo at the bottom, for those who have not seen photos, drawings, or paintings of this historic Taos landmark. Or you can see the pueblo at www.taospueblo.com

I've been reading a fascinating book, "Edge of Taos Desert, An Escape to Reality" by Mabel Dodge Luhan, a woman who relocated to Taos from New York City in 1917, met and married Tony Luhan, a Taos Pueblo Indian. So I guess her "memoirs" of her first 9 months in Taos have stirred something in me, creating a desire to BE both on the land that Tony lived on at the Pueblo, as well as the property just east of the Pueblo that he suggested she purchase, and on which they built the home that stands today and serves as a bed and breakfast/conference center. You can see photos of this beautiful home at www.mabeldodgeluhan.com

Tuesday, Nov 14 - Clouds Over Taos

Happy Birthday wishes to my nephew, Bobby, who is 21 today!

I started shooting the snow clouds at 7 a.m. when I noticed that Taos Mountain had "disappeared" and resumed again at noon, as I drove east into Taos on Hwy 68.











I hope you enjoy these amazing cloud photos.

I recognize that I am somewhat obsessed by the sunsets here, but do hope you enjoy seeing what I saw today.

There are lots more photos on the Kodak album, available at http://www.kodakgallery.com

Look closely at the cloud shots from the highway - they are photos of the Rio Grande Gorge.

At 3 p.m. the black snow clouds appeared, and the sunlight peeking through turned all aspen trees a shimmering white, stunning against the dark cloud background.
hope you enjoy these amazing cloud photos.




















Pink clouds and cloud mists appeared, followed by dark clouds moving across the mountains and valley.

We were gifted with a spectacular, layered cloud sunset.


After shooting this spectacular sunset, I saw another interesting and fascinating movie, of the human kind.

Tonight was the final showing of the movie, "The U.S. vs John Lennon" at the Taos Center for the Arts (we don't have a movie theatre devoted to independant films).

If you haven't seen this movie, it's worth the 90 minutes. It was an amazing sight to once again see the hundreds of thousands of people who cared enough to go to our nation's capital and question our government's actions and decisions. To stand there with candles and chant, "give peace a chance". It was interesting to see, from this 2006 perspective, that the administration at that time was threatened by John Lennon and his message of "all you need is love" and his plea to "give peace a chance". John Lennon was indeed a man of peace and love, and while at the time he was portrayed in the media as a nutcase, after watching the footage of his interviews in the early 70's, it's clear that he was a messenger of peace, using his fame, his music, and the press to communicate his hope and desire to just "give peace a chance".

And to compare what was happening then to what is happening now......