Our first 30ish miles from Crested Butte, CO, featured stunning landscapes....rivers, mountains, and green, green, green....
One of several ranches in the area....beautiful, spacious homes which looked like something from HGTV, hardly a "ranch". They were very contemporary in design.
Green, green, green.....beautiful!
We have descended some 1,000 feet in approximately 2 hours....Antonito sits right on the Colorado/New Mexico border.
Designated a National HIstorical Landmark in 2012, this railroad traverses 64 miles from Antonito, CO, through the Rocky Mountains.
Since our first time traveling through New Mexico 8 yrs ago, it remains one of my favorite states: desert in the south, mountains in the north....any climate you wish within hours from one another....perhaps the bluest sky in the nation....and very friendly residents!
A part of New Mexico yet undiscovered by ourselves....vast plains rimmed with mountains.
The vagrant rain storms are haunting at this time of year....and so very visible!!!
The entry to our "nest" in Santa Fe is identical to every other house here....a wooden gate/passage to a "courtyard", patio area and then another door!
The interior decor and floorplan of our rental was well designed....beautifully decorated and plenty of common area to relax and be together!!!!! We are meeting my eldest daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Chris, who have lived in San Antonio, TX, for 20 years. They just sold their home in the city to move to Fredericksburg, TX, the hill country. They have spent LOTS of time in Santa Fe so Kelly was in charge of finding our lodging through her friend, Todd, who owns a large management company.
Kelly and I capture the outside space for some "catch up" time together....the sun is still high in the sky, and we are enjoying the lst hour or so of "warmth"
As sun lowers, we move to the "next" outdoor space, reluctant to go inside.....the "kiva" is the fireplace. I hadn't even noticed that on any of our five trips to Santa Fe....all the fireplaces ARE in the corner!
It takes two to start a fire....Chris and Tom make a great team!
Not mentioning how long it took to get that fire burning, but I think the sun has set!
One of Kelly and Chris' favorite restaurants, The Compound.....ours, too, based on their recommendation. It is located on Canyon Rd, the street famous for its many, many art galleries. The Compound sits way back off the street, very quiet.......and VERY good food.
Normally, I would GAG on pea soup, but this was delicious!
It is so special to share our favorite with each other!!! We have discussed meeting here in years past and it is finally happening!
Kelly, you are hiding!
These guys could almost be twins!
My hands are flapping as I try to describe to Kelly how Lucy acts!!! Looks cuter and "normal" on a 7 month old.....I'm looking mildly retarded!
Gotta love the robes!!! They have a way of adding to the relaxation.....and yet stimulating the conversation....perhaps the wine helps with both!
Another fire......goes down in the 40's and 50's here, even in the summer. Our house had FOUR fireplaces: outside, the living room and each bedroom! Real wood fireplaces, by the way, no gas here!!!
Apparently Chris didn't get the memo that BLACK socks are NOT appropriate for white robes!
The next morning, a beautiful one, we walked to Downtown Subscription, a favorite spot for sun and java. Located next door to a book store, this is a perfect spot to "hang out".
If you strain, squint and look VERY closely, you will see a very colorful bird...a Western Tanger....which both men researched to find the proper name. He was so colorful and unique, we thought perhaps he had escaped from a home "cage".
A yummy chocolate croissant....ordered by Christ, but which I tasted by "faingers" and therefore, Christ did not finish! The chocolate was "fainger" lickin' good!
Note the wood doors which lead to more wood doors within the courtyard....the following pictures are a very small taste of the sculpture art on Canyon Road.
I am partial to the sculptures on Canyon Road. For me, it is not necessary to go IN to the galleries....just enjoy their gardens and artwork placed outside. Santa Fe is filled with creative energy!!!! Jewelry, clothing, art of every medium.....Sedona is said to be a vortex of energy.....Sedona, in my opinion, pales in comparison!
Kelly and I stop here for lunch....she is looking for a piano bar which begins with a "V". Fredericksburg friends told her to be sure to go there. Great restaurant, but it is not a piano bar....the search will continue later!
We have "split" from the guys. They are going on a hike. Kelly and I are browsing, having lunch and going for a new experience......at least it is for Mom.....
Kelly and I spent our afternoon in here.....I told her I was "too chicken" to get "fake" eyelashes, particularly since I hardly have any lashes to begin with.....We all learn from our kids, don't we? I did it!!!!
Chris and Tom took an approximately 1 hour drive out to the Bandelier National Monument for a hike. The Monument contains ruins of common areas and dwellings of Ancestral Pueblo People (APP). These dwellings were built around 1150 CE (Common Era or AD to some of you).
Frijoles Canyon is the home for these sites. Not sure whether the original inhabitants had ladders like these or made hand and foot holds in the rock. The ladders now help the tourists to peer into the ancient living quarters.
Pretty small rooms by today's standards but we guessed that they provided some creature comfort to the people when the snow was deep.
The APP's were artists too.
Can you imagine this path to fetch the morning water from Frijole Creek far below.
The kiva (above) is a room used by more modern Puebloans to practice rituals of the kachina belief system. Kachinas are spirits or personifications of things in the real world. Most kivas were built under ground. But later on they moved them higher. This one is well up the canyon side in a long house.
These sites were well protected if not actually convenient.
In August 2011 the small stream became a raging river in a flash flood and destroyed many of the bridges and trails in Bandelier. The small white sign is indicating the high water mark of that day.
We did an extension to the hike to the Upper Falls. At the end of Frijoles Canyon, the stream dumps into the Rio Grande River -- yes, the same one that is part of the Texas/Mexico border.
The geological history is seen in the walls of the Canyon.
The Canyon narrows before meeting the Rio Grande.
The Falls are behind us. Unfortunately, they are hidden in the shadows. It is a beautiful place and well worth the hike.
The sun worshipers are at it again.....those gorgeous, sexy new lashes hidden behind the sun glasses!
We play "follow the leader" to find La Boca, Kelly's favorite restaurant
La Boca is a tapas restaurant.....we enjoyed curried hummus, beet salad, smoked trout, roasted artichokes, steak with sea salt caramel sauce.....and paella!!!!
The ladies take off the "shades" and reveal their new eyes! Fun!!! Had to remove my glasses to show off! Thanks, Kelly, for urging me to "buck up" and do it!
Out on the streets, we are all looking forward to a walk to find the piano bar which begins with a "V". The problem is....no one is quite certain where it is! Our search took us in several different directions....frustrating AND very funny!
AHA!!!! It is Vanessie's......the "V" piano bar!
Even has a piano player! After a few songs, Kelly and Chris decided it wasn't worth the walk....we left!
Back to our robes....
to watch the hometown team, San Antonio Spurs...WIN!!!!!
The next morning, we ventured out of town a few miles to the
Tesuque Village Market. It is renowned for its good food, but mostly for its location, in the middle of a rural area, and its ambience, country, native American, laid back....one would say in our "neck" of the woods..."redneck"
The Tesuque Village Market is a restaurant, bar, deli, grocery
We started our morning with the usual stop at Downtown Subscription for coffee in the sun. Now we are chowin'.....huevos rancheros, potatoes, refried beans, red and green chile sauce, french toast, pork tamales, etc, etc, etc.....we could hardly walk back to the car!
The bathroom at Tesuque has its own brand of local color!
This one is for Kristin and Jamie, The Doodles!
"Eternity".....a new shop to Kelly and the one where we spent the most time....and money. Shopkeeper is Italian.....very animated, loquacious, persuasive, flirtatious....in short, very Italian. It must have worked cuz we both walked out with merchandise!
The park which is surrounded by the Plaza, the heart and soul of Santa Fe.
Speaks for itself
All the homes, stores....most every building in Santa Fe.....is adobe. Flat on top. Blends in with the landscape and creates a very homogenous look.
Lucy got to say "hi" to Aunt Kelly and Uncle Chris!
HoHum.....it's tiring being 7 months old!
Regretfully, Kelly and Chris had to leave early.......it is an 11 hr drive to Santa Fe from Fredericksburg!! Thanks to both of you for making the long drive each way to come play with us!!! We appreciate it and had a GREAT time!!! After their departure, I dragged Tom, figuratively and literally, back to Canyon Road for more vitamin D and more sculptures.
We went to El Farol 6 years ago on the advice of a neighbor. Time for a return visit. We decided on the tapas again: pear salad, salmon and lamb chops!! Delicious way to spend an hour or two....we missed Kelly and Chris!
Pretty reminders of Spring as we walk back down Canyon Rd.....and more sculptures!
Can only imagine how our Architectural Review Board would freak out at any of these submissions for yard art!
All of the above are for our daughter in law, McKenzie, who is studying art/ furniture design in London!
More doors opening to more doors
We are home again to our Santa Fe "nest"....the sun is still up, so no sunset picture tonight. We are tired, gotta pack and get ready to load up again for an 8 hr drive tomorrow!
