Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

David and I have made a lot of friends because of our little kitty, Luna Blue. We have enjoyed getting to know people because of a Facebook group we have discovered and have "met" people from all across the world. Late this summer,  we will have a meet-up with a couple coming to Santa Fe from Florida. We are looking forward to spending a bit of time with them and hope they enjoy our City Different. It's definitely an interesting place to visit so with that in mind,  I thought I'd put together a post of things to in Santa Fe and the area.

First off, they will be arriving when the city will be in the midst of the annual Fiesta Celebration. Fiesta de Santa Fe is a long standing tradition and has both religious and secular events, while it commemorates the Spanish return to New Mexico after the Pueblo Revolt. Without going into the historical, political and  other touchy aspects of the celebration, I'm going to talk about it briefly. It's been a continuous celebration reaching back about 300 years. You can read about it here and I'll touch on some of the highlights. 

On Friday the 4th is the big unofficial and definitely secular kick off of the Fiesta with the burning of Zozobra, also known Old Man Gloom, a 50 foot marionette who serves as the official scapegoat for all the gloom, sadness and anxiety and is burned away after a big ritual of dance, music and fire. It precedes Burning Man by at least 70 years and reminds me of the tradition of burning effigies such as Guy Fawkes or The Fallas in Valencia Spain. This year is the 91st official burning. In recent years, the folks involved with putting the program together, in conjunction with the city, have made it become a more family-friendly event. There is entertainment, food and a rock-concert energy as folks gather in the baseball field waiting for the big show. A spectacular fireworks show ends the night as the skeleton of Old Man Gloom burns.   Huffington Post just did a nice write up of Zozobra. 

Throughout the weekend, there are food booths lining the plaza, you can get fry bread, an ear of corn, frito pies or handheld burritos and other food and drinks. Some healthy, most not so much. There are arts and crafts stand booths as well, not to mention music and entertainment at the bandstand also keep up the festive spirit. 

There are a few events that are enjoyable. A couple of parades. The best one is the Children's Pet Parade. The other is the Historical/Hysterical Parade, but it's way too long now a days. Too many politicians participate, fewer and fewer fun floats and less and less historical entries make it a bit of a drag. But the Candlelight Procession from the Cathedral to the Cross of the Martyrs is truly a wonderful way to end the Fiesta. 

Of course, a trip to Santa Fe would not be complete without a visit to Canyon Road. Galleries, restaurants and shops line a good portion of the street.  There are quite a few galleries dotting the street that is famous for its arts and crafts. There are also large estates, with lush gardens and with trees. There are still artist colonies and there are residences like ours. We are probably one of the few families on lower Canyon Road who have continuously held onto ownership of the family property. We may be one of the very last families to own such a historic property. Many of the old families have sold their properties. Reasons vary, but often it was pure and simple economics that prompted them to sell. The homes are aging, need a lot of maintenance and property taxes are high and older, retired folks on fixed incomes cannot afford to keep them. Often when they pass away, their heirs want the money and they sell the properties. We are fortunate we have been able to hold onto and maintain our old family home. I hope one day we can pass it down to a new generation.

The museums in Santa Fe are exquisite. Museum Hill boasts four top-notch museums,  a nice cafe,  plus a lovely botanical garden. 

• Museum of International Folk Art
• Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
• Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
• Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
• Santa Fe Botanical Garden

All around the city you will find events celebrating the "Summer of Color" with lectures, exhibitions and activities focused on that theme. 

There are several museums downtown that are definitely worth visiting. The New Mexico History Museum is the newest museum and its main focus is on New Mexico's 400+ year history. The Palace of the Governors is the oldest used public building in the US. The New Mexico Museum of Art is in the area and houses fine arts from a diverse group of artists and has a very lovely gift shop. On Friday nights, the museums are open in the evenings and host activities and are free between 5-8 p.m.

If you like Georgia O'Keeffe, there is a museum devoted to her art work, there are gallery talks, lectures and activities going on throughout the summer. Take a drive up to Abiquiu, roughly 40 miles north, you'll find her home, studio and more. 

There is a great Farmer's Market on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings in the Railyard District. There you will find galleries, the depot where the Rail Runner arrives and departs, a movie theatre, outdoor events, a park and some eateries. 

Speaking of food, here you can find New Mexican, Mexican, Indian, lots of Italian and French bistros,  a few Spanish eateries, with Flamenco dinner shows, and a lot of fine dining. Most places offer Vegetarian dishes, Gluten Free and a lot of organic foods. 

Relaxation abounds here in Santa Fe. There is Ten Thousand Waves is a Japanese Spa where you can be treated to a massage, a dip in public or private spas and a feast. Many of the hotels in town offer spa services and treatments. An hour away is Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Spa, where you can get the luxury spa treatment as well. 

There are ghost tours, downtown walking tours, the Audubon center and numerous hiking, biking and outdoor activities. There are old churches and other historical places to visit. Day trip possibilities include Taos, which has lovely art galleries, historic stops, the Taos Pueblo, skiing in winter and the Taos Gorge bridge is another fun stop. It's a steel, deck arch bridge that spans the Rio Grande. It's the 7th highest bridge in the country. 

The Valles Caldera and the Town of Jemez Springs is another nice stop. Chimayo is also another day trip.

This is getting dense and lengthy, but hopefully it serves as a good primer to Santa Fe in the Fall. Check out the Santa Fe Blog for current information. 

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A few things to note. Drink lots of water, always wear sunscreen and bring a light jacket. Nights can get chilly, especially if we've had a rainy day. The humidity is generally low, even after it's rained, so it's not a humid cold, but it is chilly if you're not used to a desert climate.  Visitors from lower elevations often feel effects from the altitude so by staying hydrated and nourished, they may alleviate these effects.  I've noticed when people don't drink enough water-- replenish electrolytes is a must-- they feel dizzy or lethargic. 

#santafe #canyonroad 

Life on the Eastside

The Christmas season ended and 2015 came in with barely a whisper. It was a pleasant winter, with mild temperatures followed by snow. Slowly we were settling into our home on the Eastside. In Santa Fe, the Eastside holds a certain cache and we were now learning what life on busy Canyon Road was like. It was winter time and while there were tourists walking up and down the street, it seemed really quiet. Neighbors and passersby were interested in our story and thought it was really cool we were moving back. Regulars stopped to ask about the previous tenants. We had people try to march into the house thinking this was still a gallery. For 26 years, this place had been a gallery and the expectation it's a shop or place of business. There are homes on this street but most are not quite as visible on the street. Our home sits right on the street and it surprises people it's a home. 

Santa Feans know the house well. Our friends and colleagues are amazed we live here and others are even more amazed that this home has been part of my family for at least 150 years. Our return to the neighborhood is an amazing story and I'm exciting to be telling that story. 

Our Russian Blue Cat, Luna Blue, quite often can be seen watching the tourists go by from any of the front windows or the door on the west side, where she has a cat tree and can look at the flowers, see the birds and smell the cat mint. People stop to take her picture and sometimes she obliges, but usually runs away long before they get their cameras. 

Iggy, our Labradoodle, has made the transition from the the Southside of town to the Eastside quite easily. He's happy wherever we are and loves to walk the neighborhood.

One last winter shot. The snow was so magical this past winter. I am looking forward to this winter and the hope that it will bring for a wonderful new year, in our new home. 

Our House is a Very Fine House

A little over a year ago a huge decision was made and it changed life as we know it. I don't think we really knew what to expect or how it would work out, but once the decision was made we couldn't and didn't turn back.















I'll start with the history. I honestly don't know how many generations my family goes back in New Mexico. On my dad's side, my ancestors arrived with Onate and on my mom's they arrive shortly after the reconquest of Santa Fe in 1692. I am not going to debate the politics or the defend the history of my ancestors in this post. It is what it is and so, given the 16 generations or so my family has been here, it's pretty clear I'm part of this place and its history. Santa Fe and much of New Mexico is known for its Tri-Cultural heritage where Native American, Spanish and Anglos have lived side by side for generations.


However, Santa Fe in the last 60-70 years has been changing. When my mom was a kid, it was still very much a small town, filled with local people and a lot of newcomers as well. As the years have gone by, property in the area where she grew up became very expensive and many of the local families have sold out to wealthier people coming in from out of state. Property taxes are at a premium and many of the local families who have been in their homes for generations or on their lands for 100s of years have sold out because they cannot afford to pay them. It is a huge loss for some of these old neighborhoods where you don't see any of the old faces, the stories are lost and you lose a sense of the history of the neighborhood. Now you see newly renovated historic homes often owned by part-time residents and newcomers and the old-time residents move elsewhere. I don't begrudge these new residents. Often they fix up old, decaying homes and bring them back to life, they contribute to the economy of this town by opening up businesses and employing locals, but sometimes they just don't fit it. That's not really part of this story either, however, this story fits into that part of Santa Fe.

We have an old home on Canyon Road. It's been in my mother's family for at least 150 years, if not more. The home is at least 200 years old, maybe more. It's shown on the "King's Map of 1912" which is kind of like the social registry of property in town, though, I suspect it's on older more historic maps of when New Mexico was part of Spain, then Mexico and finally a US territory and then state in 1912.

This home is highly valued on this street. It's part of my legacy and I'm very blessed that my father and mother have been excellent caretakers of this historic property. I'm fortunate that they have maintained ownership and it will one day be passed down to me.

This home, in which my mother was raised, later became apartments when my mom and the aunt who raised her moved into a brand-new house on Cerrillos Road. (It's next to Varela Real Estate.)

She moved back into the Canyon Road after she married my dad. I grew up there until I was 5. We had three apartment rentals here till 1988, when my dad retired and accepted an offer to lease out the whole house and turn it into a gallery.

 At the time, Canyon Road was booming, it was an art mecca, it still is, but I see signs that things are different as a result of the new economy,  new thriving art communities in the City and new ways of doing business. It's still a huge art community and many galleries are still thriving, opening and making a good living. Others have closed and are struggling to survive. That is what happened here. We had a tenant that was struggling, despite having amazing inventory, a beautiful and ideal location, it was getting harder and harder for him to stay afloat.


 A year ago, we made a decision that we felt was best for us. My mom, now a widow and struggling with a new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and continuing Age-Related Macular Degeneration, couldn't live alone, so we met with our tenants and after a contentious few meetings, we decided to terminate the lease so that we could occupy the house as a residence again.

We contacted a local contractor to see about renovating the house and by Thanksgiving the house was vacant and we now were starting a new chapter in our lives.

It took the tenants a while to close up and move. We had hoped to start work in the fall and be done by Christmas. Well, that didn't happen. The tenants vacated in November and we didn't want to go through renovations through the holidays or the winter so we decided to wait. But, we didn't want to have the house sit empty.






Meanwhile, with our pets, Iggy and Luna, David and I started hanging out in the empty house more and more. We'd bring furnishings that would make it comfortable for us for the short term, and little-by little we felt like this was home and made just about every excuse to check on it. We knew that we would be here as much as possible.

The energy felt right. Our cat, Luna Blue, ran from one end of the house to the other enjoying ever minute she was there. She felt at home right away. For a cat to settle into a new space like this was amazing. Our dog, Iggy, is happy no matter where he is if his people and his kitty are there. He, too, felt like this was home.

We purchased a bed and spent our first night here over Thanksgiving Weekend. Naturally, that got us excited for the holidays.

Christmastime in Santa Fe is always lovely; Christmastime on Canyon Road is gorgeous. We got to enjoy our first Christmas here.

We thought we would spend weekends here, as we only had a bed and a few pieces of furniture, but I think December 19th, 2014 was the last night we slept in our townhouse in Park Plazas.










We knew that we wanted to spend Christmas here and we started making plans to host a Christmas Eve open house for our friends and family who were participating in the Farolito Walk. We set up our tree here, instead of the other house, which still was our home, but in time, we knew it wouldn't be our "home." We had a lovely time, despite a blackout and the sea of people walking up and down our street. It was truly a sight to see.





And we've never looked back. Little by little we moved into the house. We applied for a loan to do the renovations and moved my mom in at the end of February.





And that is just the first chapter of this story. More to come. 

So Much to Say, So Much to Say.

Watch this spot. I shall be chronicling our renovation of our home on Canyon Road. I'll sum up with the story of how we got here and where we are going. But in the mean time, here's a photo.

Mammo Day...

Guh... a long over-due one.

I was explaining to a friend about why I was freaking out about today's boobie smash. I'm start to come to terms with the fact that I haven't dealt with any of it. I'm still stuck in Limbo and I'm still feeling lost.

This is what I told her, I hope she doesn't mind.


Thanks. I can use the prayers. I'm not going to fret about it or try to. I mean, if there is something there, we'll just deal with it. I'm just ready to move forward. I feel like I've been living in Limbo. As I was finishing up treatment, my dad got sick and died later that year. So, even though I got through that, the last year and a half since he died, I've completely just shut down. I mean, I'm ok.... but I've not dealt with any of it, my illness, his and his death. I need to let it go, so I hope and pray I don't have to deal with it again. It would really suck. Ack. I don't want to unload on you. But I'll be ok.

So,  that's where I am right now. I'm trying to keep my mind off the day and I hope it all goes well. I really want to put it behind me. I need to find someone to talk to as well. I have all things worries, fears and feelings that I need to express and I should find someone who has been there and can help me.

I'd like to be able to dream again. I want to find a way to have a family with David. I want to find our dream home, life a lifetime together and not live my life so anxious, so scared, so worried. I want to find my faith again. It's time to find my way back again to who I was before the Breast Cancer. I want to be more than the sum of my fears, worries and anxieties. I want to travel, be healthy, happy and live a long life.

And I pray that will be what comes next for me. So, if you read this, please do the same.

Introducing, Luna Blue...

Gosh, it's been quite some time since I've made a blog post. I go back and forth with deciding what blogs I'm going to keep up with, what I'm going to write about and if I can find some actual motivation to write again. I miss writing.

So... a lot has happened since my last post and not a lot at the same time. Don't quite feel like putting it all into words just yet, so in the meantime here's the latest news. We have a new furbaby.
David needs a cat. I'm allergic. We've been pondering a solution. We settled on a Russian Blue kitten, based upon some speculation that they are good for people with mild-to-moderate allergies. I don't know where my cat allergies fall onto the allergy spectrum. I've never had a cat and there have been cats that I've been ok around and others I can't be around. Luna seems to be one I'm ok with, but I worry too much. We're in the midst of Fall Allergy Hell and my allergies are flaring as it is, so bringing in a cat right now is huge wait and see.

However, I am in love with her. And she isn't going anywhere.

She is afraid of the dogs and they are curious about her. I hope we have a happy interspecies family soon though. I have high hopes it will all work out.

She is the smartest cat I've ever encountered. She's more beautiful than I ever expected and she's just really cool. Very smart, curious and fearless. She is a ball of energy and just precious.

UPDATE:

Luna Blue is amazing. She's best friends with Iggy. Since I posted this, we've lost Pepper to the Rainbow Bridge but they became friends as well. She loved jumping at his tail and he seemed to like her. They even snuggled together in bed. These are her kitten photos up through the most recent picture of her in her walking dress on the sofa. She travels with us, goes for walks, hangs out in the yard and fits well into our little family.

I Am Loved

I didn't link to the band's version , while it was cool, the imagery was a bit disturbing. 

I was sitting here tonight trying to journal, an upset stomach and a mild bit of anxiety about it, woke me. As I sat here at my desk listening to music, "Someday You Will Be Loved" played on iTunes and I had to write this entry. I hadn't heard it in a long time, but yes, it truly happened to me. I am loved.

This song came out at a time when my heart was broken and aching for someone I thought was meant to be more to me than he was. Now, of course, I realize that my heart was meant to be broken then, that I had to let go of a man not meant to be in my life so that I could be open and ready for the man who would be there for me wholly, fully and freely. Someone who could love me unconditionally. Of course, I did not know what "plans" lay ahead for me. I have all sorts of feelings about how we came to be together, but as I struggle with faith and belief, I'm not going to say more about that now.

When I felt my world had ended, that my heart would never heal the pain of being rejected, unwanted and unloved, I remember hearing this song and feeling some kind of peace wash over me. It was perfect and the lyrics paraphrased some of what was said to me as that relationship came to its end. I think it took about three years till the right man came into my life and I knew why I had to live through that heartache and pain, so that I could be ready for my heart to be full and loved by David.

David and I celebrated our second anniversary a few weeks ago. We didn't tell anyone where we went. We were at an "Undisclosed Location" so that we could have a quiet time, all alone. We hid out in Albuquerque. We stayed three nights at the Hotel Andaluz and it was a lovely getaway. We ate at Scalo on our anniversary and another night at Sadie's. I love the salsa, but the chile not so much. It reminds me of Tomasita's chile. We played tourist on the 13th. It was the 3rd month anniversary of my dad's death and we found ourselves at the San Felipe Church on Old Town Plaza. Our first morning we at breakfast at the Frontier, and then we drove around UNM. We couldn't help but be surprised by all the changes. The memories of Greek Life are still strong within us-- we never hung out in college-- even though we lived on the same street at the same time. But Greek Row has changed. So many houses torn down. We were looking to find the Kappa Sigma house, if there is one. The empty space that once was the Zeta house was sad.

We drove around a few neighborhoods we loved when we were in school. We shopped at ABQ Uptown and talked about maybe living in Albuquerque one day. We have so many balls in the air, so many hopes and dreams and plans.

We've gone through a lot in the first two years of marriage. I certainly don't want to have to look back and face what we've faced together already.  I really pray that it is far behind us. I pray we find a bit of peace this year and that our second year of marriage brings us some joy. Despite all that we've faced, we have always found a bit of sunshine peeking through the darkness. While some days the sun is dim, it is still there managing to shine for us. I hope no matter what roads we travel together in the future, we continue to be as strong as we are right now, that we love as deeply, if not more and that we travel the roads no matter how rocky or smooth together.