spring visit

Some of our favorite Kansans came to visit us last week, nine of them in all. The visit meant two big dinners at our house (which was very fun), several walks around our valley, trips to favorite sites and even a birthday party for the now six-year old (a reason to bake a chocolate cake, and decorate it in sprinkles).

I still find it surreal, showing my people from "home" what is "home" now. It reminds me of just how much I don't live in Kansas anymore. But it also gives opportunity for me to visit new places, and re-visit favorites. I never tire of the silhouette of the San Francisco de Asis, or a walk through a museum or two...and this time I finally saw the Martinez Hacienda (a sort of living history museum) and we had a chance to walk the Little Arsenic trail at Wild Rivers (and we encountered a herd of llamas on the way down). 

We are back to our day-to-day. A search for a new truck and a new job. And this weekend, plans to plant some greens in the cold frame. And maybe a long walk in the Spring weather.

visitas

two of our favorite people came to visit from Kansas. they were excited to see our home, the land and the town. we did a lot of laughing, played some cards, took our backyard hike, went to some of our favorite places.  and all around enjoyed having them visit. the laughter of friends is good for the soul. 

less than two weeks until the art show. I feel like I have a lot done, but that I still have much to do. 

ceremony under the aspens

this past weekend was a wedding of friends.
being a couple that love the mountains, they of course wanted to marry with the mountains all around them. so we all traveled up to an old forest service cabin.

it was cold enough that we needed to wear our long underwear.
and we, including the bride, were wearing boots instead of fancy shoes.

a few of us arrived early. to start a warm fire near the old cabin, and set up the chairs in a field surrounded by yellowing aspens and perennially green trees.

one of my new favorite photos. d in his tweed, doing the duty of groomsmen. cutting down aspen boughs in which to decorate the chuppah. the groom had built it with fallen aspen trees. and his friends covered it in a canopy of white branches & yellow leaves. 

the chuppah became almost invisible in the landscape.

little snowflakes began to fall just before the ceremony. a beautiful representation of the season.

and the guests sat with blankets. or warmed by the fire.
and it seemed every one knew it was the perfect kind of place for a wedding.

mazel tov.

baking for flowers

on a lovely evening we had special guests over for dinner. we grilled burgers, made pasta salad with fresh corn, cucumbers, basil and salty pepitas.
I baked hamburger buns. and though oddly shaped, they came out well. helped I'm sure by the glaze of melted butter.

to continue the adventure in baking, I also made a lemon cake. it came out dense, moist and not too sweet. served with sliced freshly picked very sweet peaches.

in return I received a huge bouquet of wonderful kansas-inspired flowers.

I got to bake for people I care about. and spend a evening of happy chatting, laughing and warm friendships. all while sitting outside in the summer air, as the sun went down.

tonight rain & lightning are in the air.

the People

I woke up yesterday feeling the tears.
it was just the sadness of not holding their little hands as we walk to lunch.
or the effortless act of meeting a friend for a drink.
of not having to try so hard to make someplace feel familiar.

and then after I cried, I felt better.

as a part of the Taos Indian emergence myth, it is believed that Pueblo community began after many different groups of people finally gathered together from places far away. The groups that came together were the Feather people, Shell people, Water people, Big-Earring people, Knife people, Sun people, Old Axe people, Big Parrot Feather people, Lightning people and the Day people.

So, I'm just another people...A Kansas people, a Wheat-field people, a Great Plains people, or just a To-The-Stars-With-Difficulty people... that has come here to find a community. And if I can just be patient, I will find it too.

easter morning in taos

first the easter egg hunt, for the 6-yr old who is visiting.

and soon a walk along the Rio Grande Gorge, since we think enjoying an incredible view of natural may be a proper way to celebrate the morning.

yard sale

yard sale.
a month of collecting things to sell, a morning in which they are all sold.

surprisingly easy to see so many things which have been a part of my home for years, just leave in other people's hands. I guess I'm learning to separate the important from the just-like-a-lot.
and, fortunately, some of the things left in the hands of friends. 

and at the end of the day, it was just one load of stuff to goodwill.
...which is the place where I'd actually bought some of the stuff.

the more I'm getting closer to moving my stuff from this house to a house in new mexico, the more I'm surprised that I'm not more anxious than I am.

it was a good saturday. and I couldn't have done it without my two friends who sold, organized, laughed and drank cocktails right along with me. 

...noticed this morning that the faded petals of my tulips have all blown away, but the spirea is starting to bloom its fluffy white flowers.

one summer weekend

evening on the deck with friends. children & a sprinkler.

the sun set on the way home to pack for a quick trip north.

a morning drive to k.c., after a night of soft rains.

with family at a very sweet wedding.

and an early drive back home. for our 4th annual garden tour.
more fun with friends.

the lovely weekend...

waiting for company to arrive. with my house clean & lots of little plans.

made blueberry muffins. drank coffee on the porch.

there was a sunny bicycle ride around town. which ended when the old Flyer got a flat. and then it was a sunny walk back home for me.

a couple of meals in the backyard. this one with shandy made with Ad Astra Ale. mmm.
then baked lemon butter cupcakes, it was my birthday after all.

then with a couple few cucumber lime margaritas, some late night Dutch Blitz.
in which best friends are driven to start cursing, yelling & laughing at each other.

on my own again, I'd reserved the day for sunshine.
but the wind & clouds came instead. so some sewing. and I have
a little napper as company.

party, since fall is falling

a Fall party in my backyard. with a fire, string lights, torches & candles.

we ate chili with cornbread & biscuits. lots of cookies. & drank beer or irish whiskey.
it was super to have so many friends with me.

the night was cool enough that we all needed our jackets.
and the fire was just big enough to keep our feet warm.

it was so lovely, that I think I'll do it again next year.

soon

late night strolls in a smoky campground.

large circles of friends.

calling tent city in the walnut valley, home for awhile.

and enjoyment with friends. family. bourbon. and bluegrass.

activities

this weekend, a 4-hr float trip down Cedar Creek with beer & innertubes. and then our 3rd annual bicycling tour of gardens. with this year, many new friends attending.

all very fun. and a sign that summer's end is near.

picked

my first tomato. picked & eaten. another taste of summertime.

last night, happy visiting with friends in town to see family. tonight, birthday party fun for a bourbon-drinking friend I couldn't live in this town without.

in the hills

had a very fun time in missouri. with friends & family. took some blurry photos. ate good food. cooled off in a swimmin' hole. helped bake mulberry pies. then ate them for breakfast. slept in a tent, with nature buzzing outside. visited with people I've known forever and for only a few years.

doll in the cake

I was reminded this year, by the attentions of my friends & family,

of how lucky I am, to have them help me to celebrate my birthday. even when I'm not all that thrilled by another birthday.

(above, a birthday past. two chubby-cheeked, sun-tanned children. with a special cake made by a great-aunt, which only had the top half of the doll (no legs). I remember being disappointed, when realizing the doll wasn't really a doll, but just a cake decoration.)

thank you.

resolving, renewing, 2010

in 2009:
-I watched my niece & nephew grow, learning new words and new stories.
-I followed my new president with admiration.
-I began to pull clutter from my cupboards & shelves.
-I found someone to take care of my lawn, so well that I never even have to think about it. (now for someone to shovel snow...)


















-I began to appreciate listening to Jazz & the Blues, as much as Country & Bluegrass.
-I began to seriously consider attending Grad School, again.
-I started riding a bike again. And even collected a new one.

-I lost my Ladybug.
-I was often surrounded by friendship. (and music)

-The bad days in 2009 seemed to take forever out of me. The good ones, I think I overlooked too often.
-I learned I need to wear proper footwear if stomping in tent stakes when camping.
-Attended a wedding that reminded me that love and friendship can go arm-in-arm.

-I wished someone would discover new Ray Carver stories.
-My poppies bloomed beautifully.

-I didn't travel much at all.
-I had warm evenings with friends over Christmas. And then enjoyed my New Year's in a place that reminded me of the past, but didn't prevent me from thinking about the future.

I've been forming my resolution. Mulling it over in my head. Trying to put it together in words that make sense. I sat in awe of another's resolution on the morning of 2010, and felt inspired to write my own down. For the past few months, I've been trying to push away from my tendency to hesitate. I'm going to continue with that path. Trying to let go of the hesitation that strikes me, when asked about change, about the future or about my own emotions. Be less afraid, trust myself more, calm my sarcastic defenses and try asking for happiness, rather than hope it will come if I sit and wait for it.

Also, I ought to travel a little. And remember to return my library books more often. Call my friends more. Collect new possibilities. And plant more poppies. And carry my camera with more.

A new year, a new decade...It feels like time to open a new chapter.