Long Way to Santa Fe

We were driving the regular route to Sante Fe from Shiprock--four lane highway; more less in good shape, but if you know New Mexico roadways, you know that they aren't always in the greatest shape at anytime. We spied a sign to Ponderosa Winery, which up route 4--about 8 miles off the beaten path. Okay--here we go! We travel through the Jemez reservation, down another small road to the winery. Here is Mary, the owner. She is holding down the fort as her hubby is off fishing in Alaska.
Mary is a delightful lady--her smiles bring out the dimples in her cheeks. She has great stories to tell. And she can pour a mean glass of wine too!
The grapes are small, round and ripening for more fermentation in the barrel come this fall.
We had to laugh at the flower planter--an old fertilizer wagon--what a good use for a long forgotten and neglected implement. Mary learns that we are heading into Santa Fe and suggests we go the back way--up route 4 and through Jemez mountains--we are game. Besides, she recommends three cafes in Jemez Springs--one she prefers over the others because they use cloth napkins. Why not? The countryside is awesome!
We pull into Laughing Lizard Cafe, find a table on the screened in porch in order to catch a slight breeze during this hot summer day. This area contains apricot orchards but due to a bad spring, the crops didn't fare too well, but in the window sill are three small apricots just waiting to turn that lovely ripe color. Around one of the many curves we come upon a congested area sign and pull off to observe soda dam
A natural wonder and sight! Another wonder is the Bandelier National Monument --just short drive off the route. Good thing for that senior pass! A two mile hike around the loop takes you to see a huge pueblo and kiva that dates back to 12th century. Back on the road after that brief stop we are headed into LA.
Mary has told us about a distillery located in Los Alamos and we set our GPS for the location, which is in a neighborhood--interesting--maybe, we have the wrong address--nope, GPS got us to the driveway of Don Quixote Distillery & Winery Home of the World Famous Blue Corn Vodka. You can taste but you can't buy! They also make flavored vanillas--delicious! In order to purchase the vodka you must buy from liquor store. Okay, that's on the to do list for Santa Fe.

Leaving Colorado and heading into New Mexico

The land in SW Colorado is rich with pueblos--land of the ancients it is called. Visiting the Anasazi Heritage Center outside of Delores, CO brings you close to these people who once roamed and lived on the sage plain. Most of these pueblo ruins have just recently been discovered. Everyone is familiar with Mesa Verde and if you love learning about the people of the plains, there is a vast region to explore. The Canyons of the Ancients, a national park is located a short drive from the heritage center, which is the museum for the 3,000,000 + artifacts that have been collected from these old towns.
These ruins are located outside the heritage center.

Leaving Colorado and heading into New Mexico one gets the sense that the ancients walked the same route to find a decent location for their homestead. One can wonder why they built on the flat plains where there is no visual sign of water. How did they live on this sparse land? The Heritage center contains many small pieces of pottery that were found--animal bones that were used as needles, awls, weapons. Rocks and stones that are shaped into arrow heads. The New Mexico land also offers up more of these pueblo ruins--just to think that if you walked through the sage you might stumble upon another pueblo or small town that was once occupied. And the biggest question--how did they build these massive impressive lodgings without major tools?

Telluride & Surrounding Area Sights

As we drove through some of the forest access roads, we came across this 'ghost' town of Alta, CO--a silver mining town from late 1800's and early 1900's. This small town is set at 11,000 ft and was on the rail line from Ophir. It is always interesting to walk through these ghost towns and amazing that some of the buildings are still standing. Mine shaft gone down.
Another view of mine shaft at the entrance of the town.
This is a view of one of the mining sites.
Log cabins of years gone by.
The town of Telluride boasts lovely state flowers, Columbine, in their small town parks.
This is the view between buildings of bridal view falls.
You have to want to go to Telluride! There are no direct routes, just state highways. There is an airport in Telluride but who can afford to fly into that area? Doesn't matter though, people from all walks of life come to this quaint village located in the valley in SW Colorado. As we took the walking tour we came across an open house--curiosity won out and we walked up the stairs, took off our shoes at the main door and toured this $4.2 million house! What a price! continuing on our historical walking tour, we came across this wonderful bird house--didn't see any occupants though.
Before heading out of town we drove down the end of main street (Colorado) to view this fabulous sight--a close-up of Bridal View falls with mining house at the top of the ridge. The road up was definitely 4 wheel drive or hiking trail.

Road Trip!!!!

Off we go for a summer wedding to take place in Telluride, Colorado. We are staying north of Telluride, at the top of mountain at 9300 feet! We drove through a long canyon and then break into high meadow where the house sits. This is the view of the front of the house looking south. The view is Wilson Peak, one of the fourteeners in Colorado. You couldn't ask for a better view that's for sure. Early morning deer and elk come out of the aspens to graze on the meadow and yesterday a black bear was spotted running into the trees. The first evening there we saw a herd of 200+ elk descend from the aspens into the meadow behind the house. What a sight! Before arriving at this awesome view and the sod covered house, we drove through some wonderful landscapes--several pull outs to take in the view was a priority. At one stop we viewed 20 million years in the making--lake outside of Gunnison and the mesa. At another turn we drove into Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park--being seniors and having a senior pass is the best bargain!
Meet Jim, our host for Rancho Deluxe. If you ever want to stay in the Telluride area, this is the place to stay. Jim offers a horse ride into the mountains, trout fishing from one of his ponds and BBQ elk dinner. Besides that, Jim is an interesting man! Meet Jim's horses.
All saddled and ready for a ride. This fence borders a natural spring which runs along the forest access road.
Wonderful spring water bubbles along and over rocks--what a great sound!
Our stay at Rancho Deluxe was five nights for the price of four--what a bargain. Another day we ventured into Telluride--next post will offer some photos from that day.

We're Baking!

Not often do we bake or even cook in the kitchen, so when the 'mood' hits--everyone is happy! We've made zucchini bread! You would think that isn't a hard chore but when you are at higher altitude, baking takes on a whole new world of thought. We finally found a recipe that makes a delicious zucchini bread. On Saturdays during the summer months, we take a trip to our local farmer's market. On some Saturdays, one farmer will offer a special price--'fill a bag for $15'--her bag or ours. Now, that includes vegetables that are in the bins--the dirty ones not the pretty clean ones on the table. We are ready to fill our bag so hand her $15 and stuff we do! We have a knitted mesh bag that looks like it holds nothing, but once we begin to fill--it expands and expands till the bag drags the ground. We call it the 'crappy handle bag' as the handles aren't long enough to do much with. The knit pattern either came from Knitty or Ravelry--can't remember. But, it's knit from Sugar/Cream or Peaches/ Cream--one of those cotton yarns. Anyway, back to the farmer's market. We fill our bag with vegetables and lots of zucchini, thinking we'll make some bread, muffins, chocolate cake or maybe one of those zplle pies.
We bake in small loaf pans to freeze for later tasting or gift giving.
First batch was a disaster but the next batch was perfectly delicious! We are happy!
We also make crockpot tapioca during the summer--not much baking involved here; just a crockpot, little sugar, vanilla, pearl tapioca (not instant),milk and little cream for richness. We bought the tapioca on a trip to Amish country at a bulk store. We found this recipe on Foodnetwork
Soak in water for several hours, drain and add ingredients to the crockpot.
Cook on low heat--finished and cooled--ready to eat. For one batch, chocolate chips were added without the sugar--yummy!
We are also baking cupcakes--this week it was Key Lime cupcakes! Small mouthful of wonder!
Okay, this means we have to walk an extra mile but it's worth the baking until the mood wears off!

Christmas Cards??

What?!! Are we thinking about Christmas in July? Of course! Especially if you make your own cards to send to those special friends. What will it be this year--stitchery, origami, drawing, painting, etching, stamped, woven or whatever the brain can exceed with creating. In years past, several of these techniques have been used. But, by far, the favorite are those that are woven. Those cards received from friends far and near.
This card came from dear friend Bertie--it's a wonderful paper crafted card. Bertie used a cookie mold to press paper pulp into.
Rosemary gives you the weaving pattern on the back of her cards. She designed these elegant cards with glittery threads in the weft.

Snowflakes indeed!!

Here are two from Charlotte, who weaves tartan fabrics (on the left) and on the right is a ribbon woven card from the time she was weaving yardage for Saks 5th Avenue.

This card comes from pen pal Mary, who used inlay technique to weave a simple but truly wonderful fabric.

How about an overshot threading? A cut out card with fabric insert--perfect colors for the season.
An off loom piece added to cardstock. This was one received in a card exchange for our weavers group.
Believe it or not, this card was woven by a new weaver--she went all out for her card.
This card above and below are just a few of the many cards that have been saved. These are woven in Dukagang fashion (inlay technique) and created by a dear friend, Alpha, who is now teaching the angels to weave. We learned so much from Alpha.
Alpha loved to weave in this fashion and at one time, our warp was tied to this threading and threadling--but, no one could weave like Alpha!
Simply hand drawn and cut out--above and below.

Add those leftover fabric pieces to the back side. Or how about this one?
Felt tree on front cover.

And dancing sheep--8 Harness weave on rosepath--nothing could be better. These are just a small sample of the many cards that have been received over the years--what fun it is to receive a wonderful handmade card. And these cards give inspiration and fond memories of those friends that created them. So, what will these hands make this year? We're thinking on it.

Let Freedom Ring!

Let Freedom Ring! Quiet weekend on the home front--grilling ribs, brats and beer is on ice--what could be a better way to celebrate our day of freedom. We give our thanks to all those who have braved the fighting front to give us that peace and quiet! Yes, there will be fireworks during the dark hours-- lighting up the sky with our happiness of being free!