Canyon Road

This afternoon we walked along Canyon Road - art galleries down the whole length of the street. Santa Fe is the third largest art sales market in the United States, surpassed only by Los Angeles and New York.

I am in heaven

The thermometer shows the temperature at only 69 degrees but I dragged my rocking chair out to one of the courtyards at this wonderful home.
Sitting in the sun with my pantlegs rolled up I am baking. There is no breeze in this sheltered corner just wonderful, wonderful warm sun and I have to  retreat to shade to cool off from time to time. Mexican music drifts out the front door which I've propped open with a broom. Some mesquite incense burning in the kitchen wafts out and makes me feel like I'm near a wonderful wood-burning kiva fireplace.
The mountains are distant but the air is so clear you can pick out individual trees on the ridgelines. The occasional car or truck drives by but the road is far enough away that no sound of engines reaches me.
Sitting still, watching and listening, I only hear the occasional dog barking far off and a snap, snap, snap.  It could be the resiny, tiny pine cones of the pinon trees all around the property drying in the heat of the sun. It could be the seed heads of the numerous grasses around the courtyard drying and snapping open. It could be the sound of unseen birds cracking something open for lunch. It's nice to not know, just to wonder. The only thing that would make this better is if Kevin was here to share it.
Here's what I see from my rocking chair.

It's been quiet in Santa Fe

It's been a quiet few days. Other than grocery shopping I haven't gone out much. Oh yes, and walking Caine the dog. Today the sun is out and the sky is studded with clouds. The clouds here are just so beautiful. There was a flock of about 30 robins following Caine and I on our walk today. Are they migrating somewhere? Haven't seen them here before in these numbers.
Tomorrow Kevin is due to fly in to join me for the rest of the housesit/vacation.
I spent today using up my museum pass. I headed to downtown Santa Fe to see the New Mexico History Museum (I'd give it a pass. Lots of signage, not many artifacts/exhibits) and the Museum of Art which has some fantastic pieces. The original seat of government, the Palace of the Governors was my next stop. Each day 63 Native Americans get to ply their trade under the porch of the palace. Who gets to sit each day is a matter of lottery. They are accredited artisans with documentation from the government vouching for the authenticity of the goods they have made. OK now I'll give you something to look at before talking any more.

The plaza is a rectangle and the perimeter is shops, shops, shops and restaurants. Didn't see tacky t-shirt shops. Most of the places were galleries and selling locally produced art, leather goods and jewellery. There were lots of people but fewer than you'd find in St. Jacobs on a Saturday in the summer. You could actually mosey down the sidewalk! There's a historic hotel called La Fonda and a famous Basilica of St. Francis, a gazebo hosting a breakdancing competition and people picnicking in the square. Very friendly, nice music - an afternoon well spent.

1. 

These boots have my name all over them.

 A cooking school!

 Kevin,, guess where we're going for dinner one evening?

 Stone fish in a sand and gravel sea.

 The Day of the Dead will be here soon.

I wish I could get one of these things on the plane.
To all my Canadian friends and family, Happy Thanksgiving. Eat some turkey and cranberry for me.
For my American friends and family, Happy Columbus Day. Eat a Columbian.

Mostly pics today

The dog I'm taking care of is a very picky eater. I bought him some beef jerky and he like it so I'm smooshing it up in his kibble and putting beef broth on it in the hopes that he'll eat. He's a Burnese Mountain dog but he's eating like a sparrow. Guess he misses his 'dad'.

It's very windy today so I think some indoor activity would be good. Santa Fe has a great deal - a museum pass for $20 that lets you in to 5 museums over the course of 4 days. Since each museum is around $10 it's a deal. The fact that they are clustered in the same area doesn't hurt either. Here are some pictures from the Museum of International Folk Art. I could spend a week in that place.

Hey, Hey, I'm in Santa Fe

Made it here safe and sound but had a few bumps on the way. Somehow between home and Chicago my phone got bumped around and put itself on keypad lock. Had no idea how to unlock it. Paid $6.95 to get wifi access in the airport and contacted hubby who contacted Telus who told me what to do. First problem fixed.
Landed in Denver and had to walk the length of the terminal to my gate for the flight to Albuquerque. The board in the holding gate said 'final boarding call'. Never heard the first boarding call. Told me I was the last passenger and I ran across the tarmac to the plane. It was just a little one that held about 30 people and we flew lower than the big jets. The mountains in southern colorado/northern new mexico are gorgeous. All the cottonwood trees have turned a deep golden colour and it looks as though somehow has sprinkled pollen all over the hillsides.
Landed in Albuquerque during a heavy rainstorm. Got the van, programmed the GPS and headed for Santa Fe about an hour away.
My host is a charming artist, formerly from Maine (that's where he is travelling now). He has a lovely house and a large studio where he makes his sculputures and an awesome Burnese Mountain Dog. He is very friendly and very calm and is big enough to handle coyotes.
Looking out the windows at lots of clouds, beautiful sunshine. Can smell rosemary and sage all around outdoors and there are very interesting birds. There are so many windows and beautiful views all around.
Highways have lots of gorgeous, beautifully maintained old pickup trucks. People here drive and walk the same way - not really paying attention to what's around them. Just doing what they need to do and hoping you'll steer clear.
Drove into Santa Fe today to trade the van for a car and hit a few grocery stores, Walmart and the battery store to get my Hello Kitty watch up and running again.

Radio announcer says more rain for tomorrow which is messing up the International Balloon Festival but not much can be done about that.

Here's some pics to enjoy.