Welcome to Raton Pass in deep fog.

Wagon Mound

Las Vegas, New Mexico

Short people worshipped here.

Pecos National Historic Park

Texas Horned Lizard is my best guess.

Glorieta Mesa

wild flower bouquet

Frankie’s – get the red chile.

Are you eating?

view from bed

It’s a loop.

It’s also mutual.

Three sunrises, one river: the Pecos. Our original plan included Michael and Mary, but their puppers got worryingly ill, so they had to stay home.

We made the best of our solitude and kept in the same vein of less is more, gazing for hours at the view, listening to the river and chirp of birds, cooking very little.

Our first day, the skies opened, and the arroyo came alive, thundering melted chocolate milkshake, flowing wildly, only to flame out in this glorious riot of sensual texture and delicate pools.

We did much snacking and kombucha drinking, paired with puzzling and music listening, late into the evening, hoping for a glimpse of brilliant stars, but being outshined by the moon, in the end.

We arose before the sun and took jaunts: about the property, to Frankie’s in Pecos for wonderful food, to Santa Fe, for yet more.

The highlight, discovering the Pecos Historical Park on foot to kill time before check-in. We wandered without any expectation, rounding the corner with literal gasps at the wonder of the structure, standing for hundreds of years. Marvel at what LASTS!

Not Taos, as the Cow would proclaim, nor San Cristobal, but Arroyo Seco here. We had a New Mexico itch in need of scratching, planned ages ago because we are prescient like that. Goodness, I do not believe we could have timed it better, either. The weekend prior was a wild tumult of wind, more wind, and snow, but for our brief sojourn, the weather was positively glorious. Sun and more sun, nary a breeze, and during the daylight hours, that earthly quiet my heart craves. Splendid dear friends, splendid.

We did go into town, buying a bracelet at MoMo (such a fine selection!) and devouring rellenos and chimichangas at Orlando’s.

Back to the Taos Cow, may I recommend a Cherry Ristra cone. For those not in the know, a ristra is a string of chiles, hung as you would a wreath in warm welcome. This particular welcome was, surprise, cherry, no chile, but delicious nuggets of dark chocolate and pinon nuts. Muy bien!

Here now is San Cristobal. We have zoomed past countless times, coming and going from Taos, this time deciding to stop at the Taos Goji Eco Lodge. It’s a delightful spot, with charming owners and care takers, cabins old enough to have hosted D.H. Lawrence, and Aldous Huxley. The rather fetching D.H. Lawrence cabin had all that we could ask for, but most cherished was the outdoor setting. So beautiful, and the stars, the stars! I cannot wait to have those skies availed to me on the daily.

The Lodge has forty acres, made for a wander, and is adjacent to beautiful trails. There are animals galore – sheep, alpacas, chickens, goats, and a sweet and very protective donkey named Doris Day. What fun we had making their acquaintance!

Our sweet girl had an equally good time, awake and asleep.

The road home. I never tire of these views!

Hello from a week a little over a week ago, on the road south to Albuquerque. It seems a bit sacrilege not to include a dazzler of the Spanish Peaks any time we are in the neighborhood, so here we are. It was a gorgeous day for a drive!

Happy New Mexican Black Dog meets University of New Mexico Lobo. Juniper gave it a curious sniff before realizing it wasn’t going to make a move on her.

All the above photos were taken on the UNM campus. Like most colleges I have visited in my life, the grounds were quite unexpectedly beautiful. You’d think I would be prepared for it, at this point, but alas, I am an occasional slow learner. I can’t imagine a more perfect sampling of New Mexico arhitecture, either. Sweet sigh.

Also, for a fun bit of history, Grandpa Marv attended school here before enlisting in the Navy. What a wonderful picture I conjured of his handsome young self, long legs carrying him across campus.

San Felipe de Neri

We stayed in a great airbnb, owned by a very talented artist (Lezle Williams and bought a few prints!), and just a short walk to Old Town.

Historic Route 66 continues to be a big influence in Albuquerque. We got some kicks at this delicious diner, sharing a burger and milkshake, of course!

The Kimo Theater was built in 1927, and is quite the stunner. It is another place I like to imagine Grandpa when he was little, with his family, or maybe even on a date with Grandma.

I was keen on getting the neon in full regalia, so we made a beeline here after our Route 66 Diner treats. Little did we know that Saturday nights are for cruising, and were treated to a sort of American Graffiti moment of stunning low riders along Central Avenue. I am super psyched to get in on this when we are New Mexico State residents. Yes, ma’am.

Our Albuquerque abode…

Crazy to think how old this city is – 317 years!!

Get ready for Arizona…