I HAVE COME HOME.....

And now the very difficult job of finding our next home. We have been spending long hours with our realtor looking at houses. Finally today we found one that we like! We will continue to look, however, to make sure. I don't have any photos for you but I promise some soon! I have invited everyone to have Thanksgiving with us, in a home we don't have and a kitchen I don't know. No worries......we will have one! Stay tuned!

TECHNICAL NOTICE...

Just a brief note to my readers: my computer is being boxed up and is ready to go on the moving van. This means more sporadic posts as I will be using Roy's laptop during and after our move, until our stuff is delivered. Do not despair, I will return with wonderful stories of our new adventure and even some artwork! Be right back!

BEING AWARE OF ALL WE ARE LEAVING BEHIND...

As we were out driving today (to get more packing boxes) I was aware of New Mexico delights we don't see all that often. It seemed as though this place was providing us with a visual send off of all the things that are "this place". We saw an antelope eating not far off the road. She was not as thin as most of them so perhaps she is carrying a baby. A roadrunner shot across the road in front of us, as they are wont to do. They always make me laugh as I remember the cartoons. And then there was this: The garden hoe being closer than the gun, Roy made sure this guy would not be around any more to enjoy the heat from the rocks in our driveway. We will have movers here next weekend with lots of people out and about. A rattlesnake appearance would not be a welcomed event. You can see from the photo that his head is severed and lying at the other end of his body, his mouth wide open and fangs exposed. Some things I won't miss...

YOU KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR ONE OF THESE...RIGHT?

TYING UP LOOSE ENDS...

On Saturday morning ( after that party) we took our fuzzy brained selves north of Albuquerque, past Santa Fe and Taos to the village of Arroyo Seco to pick up my remaining artworks and to buy a pair of incredible and very colorful wine goblets from Scott Carlson, the potter who created that beautiful bowl we bought awhile ago for our friend Vanessa. His hand crafted glazes and use of bright colors is just amazing. Enjoy!

BON VOYAGE ON FRIDAY NIGHT...

On Friday night we had a bon voyage party in Albuquerque with my aunt and uncle. Bill and Nancy have been our best friends during our years here and are very accomplished artists in water color and weaving. They have good hearts and generous souls and we will miss them a lot.

We went to a fabulous restaurant located at the base of the Sandia Tramway, the longest tramway in North America. The restaurant is high up into the base of the Sandia Mountains and the view west over the city was breathtaking! We had lots of fine wine and truly gourmet meals. Who knew you could get the perfect seafood meal in the desert? Then, back to their home for more wine and champagne. We talked and laughed and told stories and it was a sweet/sad time for us all. Roy and I have on our "happy and ready for the next adventure" smiles!

"Sandiago’s Mexican Grill is a must visit destination located at the base of Sandia Peak Tram. The unique Mexican cuisine, along with traditional Mexican dishes complement the spectacular views of Albuquerque sunsets and shimmering city lights. Over sized hand crafted Margaritas are the house specialties; try a Sandia Sunset or a Blood Orange Margarita. " (copied from their website)

This is a website photograph of the tramway. Check out that view!

OY. MY POOR STUDIO.......

Moving is not for the faint of heart. Boxes and boxes and more boxes. However, I have maintained a small work area on the drafting table with assorted painting and stitching projects. These will travel with me to our new home and provide the necessary stitching moments along the way. Of course, there will be beads involved also.

THE WATER WITCH, THE DRILLER AND A GIFT FROM THE PAST....

It was October 14, 1998 and it was unbelievably hot. This was The Most Important Day! We had purchased 41 acres in the center of New Mexico at an elevation of almost 7000 feet. The ground was a beautiful red dirt and it was covered with cactus, pinion and juniper trees. The locals told us often, "this is good dirt and will grow anything, but only if you have water". Water is the liquid gold here and the big gamble is buying land with the hope that there is water under it. If not, you have only a dry piece of land and a very difficult place to live. This was the day to find out and we were so excited! In this area and probably much of the southwest, no self-respecting well driller would consider pointing that drill at the ground without the guidance of the water witch. The water witch came and wandered the ground with his divining rod and promptly selected the "right place". At that very spot sits our well today. It has never failed us and produces the most wonderful and sweet water. The drilling process is a long and noisy one. We sat on the tailgate of the truck and watched with fascination as the drill did its work. Each piece of well casing is 20 feet long and as more and more pieces were added on, I couldn't help but do the math. Well drilling is expensive and is calculated by the foot. As the casing pieces kept disappearing down that hole I became anxious. It was entirely possible that there might not be water; or that there might be water not fit to drink. Finally, the stress getting to me, I suggested to Roy that we go for a walk and stretch our legs. Several hours on the tailgate was getting a bit uncomfortable! We wandered silently across the land we had put all our hopes in, each absorbed in our own worried thoughts. Suddenly, as my eyes traveled aimlessly across the ground I saw it. The most beautiful, most perfect arrowhead. It was not half buried, it had no dirt on it. It looked as though it had just appeared, glowing in the bright sunlight. As I reached down to pick it up, the driller blew his air horn, signaling that he had found water! I felt a cold shiver....... I believe the spirits of this land were welcoming us, as the newest caretakers of their heritage. It was a special moment I will never forget. In the years since that day I have spent hours and hours walking our land, always searching for more. I have never, since that day, found another arrowhead. It is now time for us to move on to our next adventure. The arrowhead, which I had wrapped in silver, will pass on to the new owners of the land. Gifts from the past and wishes from the spirits who remain here must remain here. To remove them would be to disrespect all they remind us of.

THE HARDEST PART ABOUT MOVING....

...is not the endless details to take care of, or the endless boxes to pack..It is saying good-bye to friends. Last evening we had a 'porch party' organized by our friend Kristine. She took care of everything which included wonderful taste treats and a pitcher of something I can't even describe. We chatted and laughed and looked at books. Oh my lordy the books! We had several hundred books of every kind and type which needed new homes as they could not go with us. After everyone went through boxes and selected their books, Kristine generously offered (she did offer didn't she?) to take all of the rest home with her. She has a Very Big Van. Bless Kristine! These are the people we will miss the most. And, our very best friend, Vanessa.....