Close Encounters of the Amaya Kind

Bring me my lucky dragon

2012-02-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

I've fallen a bit behind on the interwebs of late. This portion at least. I've had BIG plans for the year of the Dragon. The last time the Year of the Dragon came around, my world was pretty much rock and altered and shocked into another world completely. And in all honestly, I thought my world had ended at first. But of course it just took me a little while to realize, it was just forever changed.

Of course that was the year that Lola was born. Yes that means that she'll be twelve this year. Crikey!

So I'm not sure my world could ever be rocked again like the birth of my first babe, but I'm totally looking for some good change right now. As our nice President might say, Change we can Believe in. Yeah, but change that might happen a little quicker than ending wars and fixing the financial crisis.

So Elmer has started a new job, and I am starting my new sewing business. And our house is still for sale, (and I'm secretly, though not anymore) glad it hasn't sold yet. And we are starting down a new road in this year of the dragon. Trying to figure out what happens next.

But one thing, I'm not going to be as passive as I've been. I'm going to make these things happen. Or at least try.

But first thing. I've got to get all these stinking germs, viruses, bacteria, bugs, colds and stupid stuff out of our lives for now. So we can get moving for reals. For reals.

Some people decorate a tree

2012-01-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

yes

2011-12-13T06:00:00.004-07:00

The best way to predict the future...

2011-12-12T21:54:00.001-07:00

...is to invent it. - Alan Keys

I so love a to take advantage of a bargain. Or maybe it's having grown up by DC where I could hope on the metro and go see some of the best museums in the world for free. Either way the first Sunday of the month at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History has free admission to New Mexico residents. So... that's where we were on the first Sunday of the month. At least Tigo, Azalea and I were there. We've been there a bunch of times but somehow missed the technology room stuck back in the corner, just past the Space Exploration room.

Turns out, Bill Gates and friends spent a good amount of time hanging out in Albuquerque while he was typing away to become a the richest of the rich.

Well, I'm not sure that the first computer game was invented here, but we still got to play it. Tigo and Azalea attempted to blow each other up with out being sucked into the sun's gravitational pull.
Um. That happens everyday, with out the video game...

He's definitely a future programer.

Order pizza. Pick it up. Go to party.

She was good.

I 'm not as smart as I look.

It's being invented right now. Right here.

Must keep remembering this.

I was always thinking about the future as a kid. When you are a kid, you think anything is possible.

-Paul Allen.

True dat. I gotta keep thinking like a kid.

Anderson Fields

2011-12-05T06:00:00.002-07:00

If you could hear this blog post instead of see it, your experience would be much different.

Rather if you could just be there with your eyes closed and hear the crazy sounds of the Creeky Door Cranes. That is what I would name them if it were me. You can hear them with out seeing them. It seems as if the birds could be miles away and the faint sound of creeking noises. It's an eerie sound actually. But beautiful at the same time.

Ok, so you can hear a little bit of what they sound like.

Yes, the sky really is that blue.

Really rather majestic creatures. The way they land. Their communication with each other. One sets off a cue, the others look around and decide if they should act. There definitely seems to be a leader in each pack of birds. They come and they go.

Winter in our neighborhood means that the Sandhill Cranes are here again. They love to stop over and feed at Anderson fields.

There has been a lot of effort put into keeping them here. A lot.

The fields are tended to and grown and kept in a widely water unwise way to keep the birds migrating through Anderson Fields.

People are ridiculously protective of the birds and don't mess around about letting anything happen to them. If someone sees you with out your dog on a leash, you might think the end is near with their reactions.

On the other hand, there are coyotes in the fields that have had more than one for a nice meal.

And they are off again.... Can you hear them coming your way?

Fire and Ice

2011-12-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

So we do our best to keep our promises around here. Unfortunately sometimes we forget, so we have to improvise. On Thursday night the power went out during a crazy 90mph wind storm. Even though it wasn't out long, Elmer went ahead and made our first fire of the season. Azalea was dying to roast marshmellow, s'mores style. All we had were the mini mellows, so we promised we re-do the fire on Friday and roast the real deal.

And we forgot to get the marshmellows.... Oops.

So we make the best of what's around.

Girlfriend doesn't mind the mini.

Before

During

After.... slightly charred.

And we woke in the morning to our first snow.

Not much, but we'll take what we can get.

And it was melted by noon.

Rag Rug with Love

2011-11-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, anybody who has known me for a while, knows that I HATE (yes strong word) to get rid of things. I don't like to think of myself as a packrat. I do hate clutter. But I don't like throwing anything away if I think that it has another life somewhere else.

A beginning pile of fabric cut into 2 inch wide strips before being sewn together end to end.

This was the very beginning. Before I knew what I was getting myself into.

Handme downs are awesome. But now that my child-bearing days are over I have a bunch of clothes that I can't necessarily give to other people.

Before the braids got a chance to make to the rug,the kids got a hold of them and wrapped up my head.
Braided rug. Braid head.

It's one thing to give your own child the older siblings old shirt with the stains, but another family's stains don't work as good when you are passing along clothes. Nor do soccer jersey t-shirts.

Here are some of the many rolls that I have created to braid, braid braid.

And it's pretty easy to fold right up and put away when I'm not doing it.
(Though I really like seeing it out.)

Sooooooo, in the spirit of reusing, I've been working on a braided rag rug made entirely out of old clothes that might not have had another life, except as well... a rag. Stains are hidden. Holes are avoided and Floors are covered.

You can see the braided strap that has yet to be attached.The fabric was connected in No order. Everything was completely random.

It's still growing. And growing. It has definitely been a labor of love.
I could tell you a story about each one of the materials in here. Who wore it. Where it came from. How long it's been there. What stains where on the shirt. How soft it was.

"Our" farm

2011-11-12T18:34:00.001-07:00

It's not really our farm. But I still like to call it that. Less than two miles from our home, even shorter as the bird flies is the farm that we go to, to pick up our CSA allotment. The site that we go to is a small portion of the larger farmer that rests a few more miles south in Albuquerque's South Valley. I'm not as versed with it other than when Tigo and I went to the bee keeping class last year.

The drive into the farm is really quite picturesque. There is all an Inn. What I am told is a nice, high end Inn for travelers and conferences. But small enough and quaint enough, to house and comfort weary travelers.

The view is to die for.

The charm is complete.

Yes we came just in time for a gigantic 16lb baby goat to be born!

Can you say, Ouch.

Just ignore my Ghostbuster comment I made to Azalea as we watched...

And here is Christine, who I absolutely adore. She is a kick-ass homeschooling mama that raises all these sweet animals on the farm. Started out as a little 4H project with her kids and she has really run with it. Knows just about all related to goats, chickens, pigs, and the such.

And can I say that her older son graduated from home high school at 14 this spring and is now enrolled in the local college. Son 2 is on the same track.

How can you not love baby goats. Fresh out of the oven. So sweet.

Not gonna kick the bucket any time soon...

2011-11-11T11:06:00.003-07:00

Recently, a friend's mother in law passed away after a short (few months) battle with cancer. I asked how her husband was doing and she seemed to think he was fine. He processes things internally, goes through an inner dialogue and moves on and is fine. I hope he is, but almost 15 years after my mother's early death, I'm still not over it. But I am glad I am not over. I hope I'm never over the fact that my mom is gone and that her death has left me forever changed.

Partially checked off the bucket list. Still need to come back in 5 years to raft the Colorado with the kids!

There are a lot of things about my life and the way I act that I state as a product of her death. Somethings I'm working on, like courage to take opportunities and the ability to know when they are handed to me and when I have to create them on my own. Regardless of whether or not her death is the reason, I constantly use it as a reminder to myself that we are all mortal and I have to make the best of what's around. Some days are bettter than others.

If I am to pass along into the next life at the same timing, (which I'm not planning) that means that I have 10 years to go. And I have a bucket list of things that I want to accomplish before. This is always changing in priority, but mostly just growing as there is so much out there.

Of course there are on going goals, like raise my kids to be mindful, caring citizens of the planet. That will never be checked off the list. It will be ongoing until the end of time. Only their great great grand children and their actions will account for that. There are things though, that I can check off and completed and here are some of them....

Painted desert. Amazing.

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.

1. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
2. Spend a year in El Salvador on Elmer's family's farm
3.Create and live in a completely sustainable, affordable, off the grid home in an urban area
4.Start my own sewing business
5.Learn to cook healthier meals that my kids will eat (should this really be a bucket list item? geez, I'm that bad!)
6.Write a book
7.Be at least tri-lingual enough to be able to communicate in both Spanish and French with native speakers that don't speak English.
8. Hike the Appalachian trail in one shot.
9. Travel to Tibet
10. Be a foster parent
11. Be able to grow 75% of my food (meat included)
12. Watch my grandchildren get married
13.Travel through India
14. Create art everyday
15.Learn to surf

I think I could go on. It's such a good motivator to put the ideas down. First steps in getting them accomplished!

So as I look back over this. I think about the "check". I wanted to say that I checked the Painted Desert off my list. But, I didn't like the thought of that. Made me feel like I didn't need to go back. Kind of want to go back. But at least I've been. Totally worth it.

Skirting the issue

2011-11-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so sorry to do it this way, but I'm looking for some feed back on the skirts I've been making.

I've been sewing off and on since high school, and have just been making gifts and things for my kids. I'm ready to move on and make more, but need it to be the right thing.

Please be brutally honest, I'd really rather have honest feedback and do the right thing than to have nice comments and do the wrong thing.

Please let me know if your daughter would wear these. How old is she?
Would you ever purchase something like this? (I'm not asking you to buy it, just whether or not you would.) How much would you pay for it? Honestly. (overpricing is no good, nor is underpricing for that matter) How much do you think it should sell for, if anything?Is there something that you see that you like, or DON'T like? Also, do you shop on etsy.com ever?

These particular skirts are made from up-cylced materials with appliqued designs. There is a two inch elastic waist band.

I've got lots of other stuff, but depending on feedback I'd like to start here.
(also, I'm just learning to take pictures of this stuff, so it doesn't come out so good)
I've put the measurements of the waist and length down. The waist measurement is when it is Not stretched out. These babies give quite a bit. Allowing a lot of years of wear and growth.

Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance!!

18" waist, 12" length
Upcycled from a thin cotton sweater

Waist is 19", length 11"
So I said they are appliqued, but this one isn't. The center stripes are sewn in seperating the skirt.

The purple material is a polyester breathable material.

19" waist, 10"length
Cotton blend with heart applique

20"waist, 13" length
More of a spring summer look than fall. But it's a cotton blend with lemon applique.

Closer view of the waist band

21"waist, 14.5"length
Tried a little different technique with the top. Only the very top red blend portion contains the 2" elastic

El Malpais

2011-11-05T09:07:00.000-06:00

Sometimes things work out so smoothly. It just takes a little while for it to fall into place.

Oh, if only I were refering to our house being sold. Not so lucky on that front. On the other hand traveling 90 miles out of town into the desert can be quite refreshing.

Can you believe how blue that sky is? Geez

Lisa asked last minute if Tigo and I wanted to go camping with her and Attie, and the stars aligned just right that I could get away. With just one child and spend some nice time with nothing to look at but beautifulness and sweet boy exploring the desert.

It's hard to tell from this picture just how big it is, but that is a Massive arch carved out in the rock. It is pretty incredible. I had no idea they were there like that. Not nearby at least.

So after checking out the arch we head over to the bluffs to play around. Do a little boulder hopping and check out the eternal view of vast unoccupied desert.

Interestingly enough, there was water on top of the bluffs. I think it had rained the day before, but because the temperature has been so cool it hadn't evaporated yet.

But it was pretty cool for the boys to play in and check out while they discovered the different rock formations.

The boys found a USGS marker that let us know that we were above sea leve. Good thing, as we weren't sure. But of course, at one time this area was below sea level. That time was before the USGS was created though. Later at the BLM visitor center, we did find out that it was located at 6666ft. Albuquerque is at 5000ft.

The black rock below was from the now extinct Mt. Johnson volcano that blew it's top thousands of years ago. These are some of the lava fields that have been left behind New Mexico is filled with crazy lava fields like these. White sands and black rocks. Crazy.

That is Mt. Johnson behind the boys on the horizon.

El Malpais. The bad country. The bad lands.

There is a lot of that here. Land carved by wind and sand. Only a little water.

Small creveses left behind. Breaking rock and water left hidden for the smallest creatures to survive.

We found a nice litte spot between the the brush at the bottom of a nice hill. A hill the boys went up and down.

While they did that, Lisa and I cracked open a bottle of wine and went to watch the sun set.

After the sun was gone, we had a little fire. Roasted some dogs, had some s'mores and relaxed under a milllion gazillion stars.

The sliver of moon set orange on the horizon and allowed us to peer into the darkest abyss. The milky way looked like a cloud in the sky it was filled to it's peak with more stars that you could imagine. It was almost difficult to pick out constillations, there were so many stars in between them all.

We watched satelites drift through the stars. And watched probably 15 shooting stars. Or more.

And it got cold. Our sleeping bags were nice and cozy, but any exposed skin froze.

And it's not a great shot, but we saw a tarantula crawling along as we cleaned up our site in the morning.

Tigo and I went for a little hike, just the two of us. Saw coyote scat and deer tracks. Wonder who got to eat and who got away.

Great way to spend a very relaxing, but not quite long enough 24hrs!

Baby loving

2011-11-03T13:07:00.000-06:00

So here are some baby gifts that I sent out earlier this fall. Pretty much the same idea. With a spruced up burp cloth/ travel changing pad with a personalized shirt with an original applique and super awesome reversible pants.

I have to say that I absolutely love each of these.

Sock monkeys are one of the mama's fav things.

Shirt pant set. with cute little side pocket matching the reversed side.

Banana applique. Yum.

Can't tell from these bad pictures but the pants are reversible with the banana fabric. The pants can also be worn for a long time as the babe grows since the pant cuff can be folded up and the waist is stretchy elastic.

Skull & cross bone applique for the tough little newborn.
Actually this set was made large so it could be worn as the babe got a little older.

Matching burp cloth.

Shirt and cloth combo.

Totally my favorite pants ever. Wish I could get away with wearing soft blue velour pants with reversible skull and crossbones. I'm afraid as that the only adult who could or would get away with this might be a pirate. (or Hugh Heffner)

Unknown gender of the newborn. Forget pink or blue, lets go with Red and Orange.

Parents met and made baby in California. But moved to home sweet Virginia to have and raise babe.
Love having the two states there.

A little closer view.

Again reversible pants. Super duper soft fuzzy brown cotton and smooth batik interior.

so darn purty

2011-10-20T01:02:00.000-06:00

Mesa Verde

2011-10-19T20:50:00.000-06:00

So somehow I miss Mesa Verde on here from our trip to Colorado way back when. So we'll go back in time a little. Not just Mesa Verde back in time, but for us as well. This day Elmer went to play golf, as he did/does on most days and the kids and I went out for an adventure. I've forgotten all my facts and statistics, but since we started at 6512 for Durango's elevation, we trekked up a couple thousand more feet in addition to that. So we were really up on the high Colorado plateau. Pretty awesome.

Little outlook on the way up to the plateau

Here the kids are at their first overlook before we head down there to check it all out.

Getting a little closer to the dwellings after scaling some rock ledges. But really not too bad, and I get pretty nervous about my kids and ledges.

I think our guide said something like 1000 people lived here at one point. Crazy.

You know what else is crazy? Me taking a picture of Lola, and thinking she might smile for it.

Can't you see how much fun they are having! True joy.

Climbing between "houses"

Desert cactus in bloom

Hair the color of the sky. Oh yeah, and snow capped peaks in the background.

Underground rooms

Take a look

There is nothing delicate about my flower, Azalea

2011-10-18T18:39:00.000-06:00

With only 15 minutes until it's time to leave for Lola's MRI appointment, I decided to hop in the shower. Every mother knows that this time of bathing is sacred and usually scarred by screams from the beyond. Requests for food, or complaints about brothers who wont leave sisters alone. Or so and so called on the phone and even though I'm not supposed to answer your phone, I did, because I knew you wanted to talk to them, (even though you are in the shower and CAN'T).
Aparantly it's a lot to ask to be alone for a mere 5 minutes of cleansing. Especially when there is my babies' daddy working in the kitchen. Thankfully he was this time around.
Before I ran off to my room and my shower for my time, Azalea, hops past me on the broomstick saying "I'm a witch, I'm a witch!!" Fly on, little witch, I've got a deadline to meet. I carried on and let her go about her pre-Halloween routine.

My bathroom is is an interesting little addition off the back of our house. So is our bedroom. But the bathroom is even further tucked away, as it should be. But the combination of acoustics and duct work make it so that I can still hear most everything that goes on in the rest of the house, but no one can hear me or my responses to their many requests while I should be alone. Hmmm. Is that really just my bathroom, or simply the life of a mother. We hear and see all, but seem to go completely unnoticed by all others, especially those who need or want us.

So, I heard the screams, but I ignored them. This is my time I told myself. My time. Only five minutes. But the cry, though muffled I could still hear it. Elmer was there, if it was anything serious, he could address the issue. I need to be out the door in 10 minutes to Lola's appointment, which they mistakenly scheduled us for 715PM, as opposed to the 715AM we were told at least 5 times, including in the reminder phone call. We had already showed up 12 hours prior to wait for said appointment, only to be sent home.

But then the screams sort of stopped. Or I zoned out washing the conditioner out of my hair. And Lola walks into the bathroom, "Mom, Azalea knocked out another tooth."

Of course she freaking did. Of course she knocked out another tooth, because that is what happens around here. But I confirmed that Elmer was on it and I shortened my 5 minute shower to 3 minutes and got out, just as Azalea walks in. Her face covered in blood and holding a bloodstained rag to her mouth. Tears streaming down her face and deep gasping breaths to regain composure but only the signs of the cries remain. Not the actual noises.
"What happened, baby?" I ask her in my wet, towel covered body trying not to flash and then further scar my children.
"I wost ma woowf" Of course Azalea is at the age of loosing teeth, but none were currently loose.
As it turns out the magical witch riding her broomstick, can't actually fly. She can fall though, and did. She plummotted from her Nimbus 2000 onto the couch and the stick got caught between her face and the couch.

Her brother, Tigo, walks in to the bathroom. Slightly more phased than the others by my almost nudity and drops the bloody tooth onto the counter. Except this doesn't look like the type of tooth you normally see kids stick under their pillow for the tooth fairy. This one, while small, as it came from a small childs mouth, was extremely long. Not only did she knock the tooth out, but the ENTIRE ROOT came with it. The root that is twice as long as the tooth that we see outside the gums. There was no break in the tooth. I don't know if this accounts for strong bones, weak gums, or a crazy fall from a crazy girl. There is nothing delicate about my flower, Azalea.

Elmer now comes into the bathroom and we are all there with moments until we are supposedly needing to be out the door for Lola's MRI that they won't reschedule for us for another 3 weeks and this broken foot won't wait that long. Elmer gives her the look over. He checks to see if the bleeding has stopped, and the gushing has. Only a relative small amount of blood continues to flow from the gum. But wait, there's more.

Finally now with less blood we are able to see that there is a deep gash on the inside of her lip. She has a pretty significant cut, but mostly just on the inside, but large and painful, none the less. Here we come doctors office.
"Ok, Elmer. Are you taking Lola or Azalea?" Lola is easier, so....

I call our pediatrician's office who have stitched Azalea's chin up during late hours before. But this time they say they won't take anything on the lip. In case she needs a surgeon, she has to go to the ER. Heck, no, I'm not going to the ER. So with 15 minutes to 7pm, Elmer drives off to take Lola to her MRI and Tigo and I race Azalea to the Urgent Care, which you guessed it, closes at 7pm. And we get there by 6:59pm. But they won't take her either.

"Sorry, ma'am. We are filled to capacity and aren't taking anymore patients."

So off to the next pediatric urgent care. As we check in there, I tell them how it's her second tooth knocked out, and it happened while we were about to take her older sister to get an MRI for her broken foot.

She looked up at me for a minute, I think questioning if this was time to call child services. And said "What's going on in your house?" Tigo, oblivious to the intent of the question, pipes up and tells her that Lola had broken her foot in gymnastics. And then Azalea tells her that the first tooth happened when she got pushed by another kid when she was 3. For a moment I was having visions of not just medical bills but things I don't want to know about.

After weighing the different options of glueing her lip vs stitches in a very awkard location, we go for stitches after numbing her lip, cheek, gum with a nice vaso-constrictor. She sits through the first stitch nicely, but screams when she finds out there will be more.

Eventually, we are done. Child services are not called. Azalea is bandaged, and Lola has her MRI done. Apparently incorrectly. Stupid UNM. But that's another story.

And now I'm exhausted. But at least we can move forward from this one.

Rare morning

2011-10-17T11:52:00.000-06:00

It's a rare opportunity these days that Elmer and I get a morning together. Alone that is.

I suppose it could happen more often, but planning doesn't always allow or I'm just not gifted enough in that department.

Bringing the dogs along, still counts as alone.

When a hummingbird lands on your finger

2011-10-16T09:42:00.000-06:00

So, it's really not as magical as it sounds. At least not in the setting that we were in. It just seemed staged because it happened so easily. Still pretty darn cool.

On top of Sandia Crest, more than 10,000 feet about sea level, 5,000 about Albuquerque things might come a little bit easier. Some things except getting there.

And catching your breathe from the views and altitude.

The sky is a little different color up here. A little bluer. A little cleaner.

Even though it's so much colder at the top of the mountain, the hummingbirds like to hang here before the weather turns. (btw, the weather has turned and these pics are from the end of august, not this week)

At the "station" at the top, where Mustang drivers meet to show of their engines, and Harley riders go to check out the view, and youth groups go to experience nature and families go to savour the last days of summer the hummingbirds gather by the hundreds and enjoy the sugary food to savour their small souls. And if you are patient. Which is hard for a young child. But if you wait and don't scream with joy when it is about to happen... you might be lucky enough for a fast little hummingbird to land on your finger and push your heart to the next level.

TinkerTown

2011-10-15T01:10:00.000-06:00

A lifetime of tinkering can lead to some interesting things. On the east side of the Sandias, just off the Turquoise Trail is this quirky little place that has been created by a lifetime.

Walls built with used bottles.

Jerry Garcia esque reinvention.

a place to ponder with one of your best buds.

Sometimes I feel guilty walking through here quickly. Even if it can be a little creepy at times. But there is so much detail and wonder that when you press the button to "make it go" you never know what will go.

The old school fortune teller told her that the next stop we'd take was up to the Sandia Crest to check on the hummingbirds before the migrated for the cooler weather.

My favorite

But not with out giving us a last mantra to feel good and carry on.

2011 Balloon Fiesta

2011-10-14T10:37:00.000-06:00

The view heading down to the field

I promised the kids that I would take them to the balloon fiesta this year. I feel like I had told them that we would do a bunch of things and hadn't lived up to my end of the deal, so the Balloon Fiesta was a must.

It's kind of cold, but they aren't complaining

Though I don't think my kids have the concept down just now of how friggin' lucky they are to be able to do all the awesome stuff they do. Even doing awesome stuff when they aren't doing awesome stuff. That's how awesome it is. So a couple things could be going on here with this. I could really just like saying the word awesome. Or I could be trying to make myself think that it's awesome when it's really not. Or it really may be just plain awesome. I'll go with the first and last statement of awesomeness.

She's got the whole world waiting for her.

So we went on the last day of the fiesta. I realized I left my IPhone at home. Which I suppose it's normal to forget things when you have to wake up at 5am. And I did. I also forgot to charge the camera battery. But memories are in your heart, right? Whatever, I want mobile uploads and pictures. Anyhow, slightly limited, but you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

Balloon babes

Elmer reluctantly got bribed with Azalea's snuggles to come with us.

Darth Vader balloon, if you didn't notice

The inside of the balloon before it went upright.

Spyder Pig about to launch

What a trooper on the crutches

Arizona trying to represent with their saguaro cactus balloons

At last the balloon bees kiss

Apparently not limited on pictures. Seems I took close to one million.

Also, I tried "adjusting" my blog format, and now it's stinky. I'll work on it more when I have patience. (could be a while before that happens)

Volcanos on the Edge of Town

2011-08-31T13:57:00.000-06:00

Just before school started for Azalea and Tigo, we when went just past the edge of Albuquerque to that place on the horizon you watch when the sun goes down.

Literally. The dormant volcanos that make their home in a place the government calls the Petroglyphs National Monument. This part is further away, but really not far at all.

Far enough that you feel removed and remote with a beautiful vista.

An easy little hike that can make even the smallest of hikers and the biggest of complainers feel like they conquered a feat.

A nice place for 5-8 year olds to have intellectual discussions about the creation of the mountains.

(Tigo has so good nerdy friends on his brainiac wavelength)

Poor little lizards get chased by dogs. Some are luckier than others.

A small little cave to hide from the sun and pretend the dinosaurs lived their. While my science needs to be checked I believe these volcanos may be post dinosaur time. It's still fun to believe like Sting sings. "Walking in their footsteps"

And a nice way to call it a day.

Jemez Again

2011-08-31T13:05:00.000-06:00

When it is important to get out of the house for the day and bring all children and canines alike along, the Jemez is a good place to go.

I always think that it is closer than it really is. Either way, it is worth the journey. The colors and the landscape are truly amazing. It's a canyon in New Mexico that I really love. The landscape is not like many others. The rocks are as red as you might see them at Red Rocks, Colorado. But the glory and the glamour are hidden in the trees.

I was telling a friend about something I admired about Albuquerque. She joked that "oh, there's something you like about new mexico". I find I'm too critical in conversation. It's so easy to point out the troubles rather to embrace the beauties. At least in conversation.

When I commit to writing, I try to be more positive. Unfortunately though, I noticed my spoken word has been less than soothing.

Deeper into the mountains, there is more water than in most places here in New Mexico and a little magic thrown in. Sometimes it takes a little more searching to find the treasures. But they are out there waiting to be discovered.

Sadly, the waters ran dark. The kids joked that it looked like Willy Wonka's Chocolate River.

It really did. But not quite so tasty. The rivers ran muddy from the aftermath of the fires this summer.

This river flows from Los Alamos where a large fire forced evacuation of the entire town and caused so much damage. Sadness. People were saved. But the land was ruined. Altered from natures original intention. These waters usually run crystal clear. Clean and deliciousness.

There is so much debate about fire supression. Let it burn for rejuvenation or supress and enjoy. But eventually it will catch up and the "big one" will come too close.

I love the look on Azalea's face. She had just fallen in the water and we went back to the car to dry off. The dogs are watching to eagerly for their cue to jump out of the car and go play the others.

Only moments before the thunder which claimed the end to this part of the adventure.

One final stop for Indian fry bread on the way home at the roadside stand.

Don't forget the honey!

Active Art in Albuquerque

2011-08-26T14:05:00.000-06:00

I was waiting for my yoga class to begin and had some weird in between time that I didn't want to waste, but I wanted to fill and wanted to use it. I brought my computer and pulled up to see if I could get some Wifi. Probably should have been able to, but I can't get my stupid settings to work. Anyhow, I had driven past a wooden picket fence.

But it wasn't an ordinary wooden picket fence. Each piece was painted a different color.

And then I looked up and I saw a mural that I had noticed before and I spun my head around.

There, surrounding me, noticed yet very unappreciated was active art in my city.

Not active in that it was in motion, but active in that it was displayed in broad public places for all to see. You did not have to go into a museum or a studio to view.

I decided to quickly circle the 2 city blocks near downtown albuquerque that encompass my yoga class.

I was quite amazed at the murals.

And the tile work on the sides of buildings.

There was detail on shops.

There was even a sad billboard in the mix. (I feel I have to put it in for truth's sake)

I had my Iphone with me, so as you noticed, I started snapping pictures.

I couldn't get to all of the murals.

Then there was this blank brick wall. It was an old wall no doubt. But it began to look oddly artistic in it's non-painted way.

Even in alley ways. (This one is harder to see. But it is of two ravens, the one on the far side is upside down.)

There were so many. I was truly impressed with the art and the positive messages that were being displayed throught the artwork on the sides of buildings.

All before my first vinyasa of the day.

Purgatory

2011-07-30T10:03:00.000-06:00

10,000 feet and change

close to the sky's ceiling

skinned elbows, fiberglass burns

marmots dancing

sun shining

bouncing high

flipping low

wildflowers, wildlife, wildlove

Skunked

2011-07-29T10:11:00.000-06:00

Its amazing how something that happens is such a brief little moment of time can have such a huge effect on the hours that follow. Always unplanned things. The planned events seem to often have much less of an impact.
Two nights ago. Rather, one very early morning ago, roughly 2:47am bedroom sleeping time, I was awakened. But even before that time I had awoken up to an odd noise in the house. Or so I thought it was in the house. I thought I heard a weird non-dog barking noise coming from down the hall. Almost as though something had happened to one of our dogs. So I got up and ran out of our room tripping over myself to check on our dogs. They were quielty sleeping under my bed, but proceeded to trip over me also, we all stumbled and I realized the only noises I was hearing were in my head. Elmer mumbled for me to go to sleep. Which I eventually did.

I joke sometimes that I haven't really had a good nights sleep in now 12 years. Many mamas might say the same thing. Different time span. Its not that my babes aren't finally sleeping through the night, (well usually, but not always) it's that I have these sleep instincts that keep me up or rather wake me up at the littlest sound. Always wondering if someone woke up. Someone crying, someone lost in the new house. Someone sleep walking. Someone hungry. Someone thirsty. Someone barking at the neighbor's cat. Someone going to the bathroom and walked into a wall. Someone not having a good dream. Someone not being able to sleep at a friends house and needing to be picked up. Someone sleeping at our house and not being able to sleep and needing to go home. Someone recovering from knee surgery and can't get comfortable. Someone nervous about a golf tournament and waking up at 4am to watch reruns and do push-ups. Someone getting sprayed by a skunk. I'm acutely aware of these sounds. Only rarely will I not wake up until the said someone is leaning over my wanting to be REM sleeping body and see the out line or hear the voice in need.
But I'm pretty used to not sleeping all the way through. So I think that is why I typically allow for myself to have more than 8 hours in my said bed. Because not all of it is sleeping. And I'm ok with that.
But not this time.
At 2:47am early this past Thursday, someone woke me up in one of my most middle of the wake ups. Our mischievious dog, Zepp, came running into the house after slipping out at some previously unknown time, bolting through the doggie door, crying. Crying. CRYING! Our other less mischievious dog, Coyo, who is slightly less likely to wander off and get into trouble dog began barking at him and it only took me about 5 seconds, maybe less to start barking my own orders for both of these dogs to get out of the house, through the french doors in our bedroom that lead to the back yard. Zepp had been sprayed by a skunk, in his face and quarantine had begun a little too late. 20 seconds or less in the house and we were completely infested and the skunk might as well have come into our house himself and sprayed our whole existance. Or so it seemed.
Between the moment he got sprayed and the moment he got kicked out of the house, he managed to trail that stink with him stopping on our Oriental rug that I received from my mom upon her passing (Emphasis for drama purposes) located in the sunroom. Rolled on it to stink it up. First stop through doggie door. Second stop he passed through the family room, red room, Elmer's room (all the same place but with more than one name) and managed to roll and or release his stink on our oversized handmade Russian floor rug. Zepp then proceeded to go into our bedroom, under our bed and attempt to rub all his stink on our already sub-par carpet. He rubbed for all of 10 seconds or less. But the rancid, putrid remained.
I proceeded to pace the house trying to find a spot that didn't stick. Closed the kids bedrooms to lock of the smell. Saw Lola walking from her side of the house to the bathroom. Moaning about why it smelled so bad. Covering her mouth and nose. Watching Zepp roll miserably in the yard. Shoving his head and face into the ground. Crying moaning, sticking to high heaven. He can't understand the awfulness of the smell. Coyo, looking at him, as if shaking his head in doggie wonder. How could he do something like that? His brother from another mother. Now they are both quarantined. Coyo by default of being a dog. Sent to sleep outside, as if he were a dog.
As Elmer and I tried to go back to bed, we had to breathe through the sheets and only barely able to take any air into our lungs with out the burn of skunk through every open pore on our body.
Elmer had to leave the house that morning at 5:45 for work. He showered and put on clean clothes from the closet and left. The folks at the golf course could smell him. Him. That skunk. That trouble ass skunk.
So home he came later. To find me cursing and pacing the house. Trying to figure out the best way to deal with this. Send Azalea to a friends house and Lola and Tigo to read on the trampoline out back.
Oh did I mention that we had an appointment with a Realtor to come look at our house to put it for sale? Miserable. I canceled. Postponed rather. I've been trying to be more mindful of signs. Is this a sign? Am I not good at reading the subtle signs? Did this mean replace the carpet, we were on the edge about, or don't sell the house? Must sell house, sadly. Or not.
So the day spent cleaning. Scrubbing. Surfing the interwebs for info on how to rid skunk smell. But there isn't a lot of talk about removing it from your house. Skunks don't typically go into people's homes. It's all about the dog smell. Yeah, I need to deal with that also.
But finally Baking Soda. Then carpet deodorizer Baking Soda. Oh and using the worst vacuum in the world that breaks and overheats every minutes. Then baths for both the dogs. Apparently Coyo didn't mind wrestling with his brother dog that smelled like skunk, so that he could smell like skunk too. So they both need a Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, Dish detergent combination removal. Ugg.
The smell in the house is better. One dog smells better. Zepp doesn't reek odor when you walk past him. But I'm not into giving him the usual ear rubs and kisses on the head. He still has the stink. Poor guy has his sense of smell messed up too. He can't smell right.
We've been skunked.
Could be worse.

6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast

2011-07-29T08:21:00.000-06:00

1. Hike Mount Kilimanjaro and visit Africa with in the next 12 months
2 Sell our house with in the first week.
3. Hear how the country's leaders might be able to put differences aside and get things done.
4. Balance my own budget
5 Sell 10 hand made things in the next 2 weeks.
6 Make 10 hand made things in the next 2 weeks

Too little time

2011-07-13T17:00:00.000-06:00

Last month we traveled to Durango for a little visit. Elmer had some golfing to take care of and I had some adventure steam to blow off. I forgot how much I love Colorado.

And in my general practice of trying to fit too much activities into too short a time period, we ended up doing a lot. Besides, I haven't been to Durango (nor had any of my clan) and I don't know when we will be back. So best to do as much as you can.

There is the cliche' to live like your dying. I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but I really like to take advantage of opportunity and really kick myself when I don't. Last summer when we were visiting VA I was talking with a friend at our swimming pool there who had spent a year in New Zealand with her family. She told me that in the course of 12 months their family had 10 sets of visitors from the states. She told me this in response to my complaining that we hadn't had many visitors here in New Mexico. I told her we might move back, and she suggested that I tell people that. So that there is more of a sense of urgency for someone who might consider coming but who would otherwise put it off or wait and wait.

I told my brother this story. And his response was that I was under the impression that New Mexico was as cool and New Zealand, and well, it probably wasn't, according to him. Phooey! But I told him that we were planning on moving back. Lo and behold he came to visit 2 months later. HA!

Anyhow. We may move.And we might not. But there are a ton of REALLY cool things that are within a days, or half days drive that we can visit. And it's a hecka lot easier than plopping a family of 5 on a plane and renting a car. So I'm trying to get in what we can in the coming months of living it to the fullest (but not necessarily the most expensive version of the fullest).

So that is the long version of me saying I really packed us in doing a lot when we went to visit Durango. So was good, some not so good.

The stories will come.

Summer

2011-07-12T09:26:00.000-06:00

A little slow on documenting summer. But that doesn't mean it hasn't be going in full strength.

On Lola's last day of 5th grade, she and 3 of her closest friends walked home from school.

Strutted home.

To come celebrate at our house the end of elementary school.

The beginning of summer. Celebrate some friendship. And be a tween. YIKES!

Oak Creek Crazy

2011-04-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

Isn't that just Grand

2011-04-08T12:42:00.000-06:00

The inside of a tree

2011-04-06T12:03:00.000-06:00

When Tigo was in Kindergarten, I would go help out in his classroom on a regular basis during work groups. The class divided into small groups and each would go to a table and work on a different assignment. One day when I was there, the class was learning about the seasons of the year. The assignment that I was to help the kids with, began with a piece of paper divided into 4 sections. Each section with a silhouette of a deciduous apple tree and its empty branches. Simple enough, the kids were to each write the name of the season below and then proceed to color the tree in to what it might look like during that season.

Now, Tigo is my son. I believe that we are all biased about our own children in one way or another. And if we, as parents are not, we should be or something is wrong. I am totally biased about my kids and think they are brilliant and creative and they continually surprise me. And frustrate me. And confuse me.

When Tigo came to the table that I was stationed at, I told his group what the assignment was. Some of the kids needed help spelling the names of the seasons. I prompted them for ideas on what the trees might look like during those seasons. But we were in Virginia then, and it's pretty darn hard for anyone, even a kindergartner to not know the seasons of the year. Virginia is case book scenario for 4 seasons.

But Tigo was different.

At first, I thought it was because of me being there. I was his mom, so he had to act a little different with me around. But as he proceeded, I knew it wasn't just him being difficult with me. He was really seeing something, in his own mind that was really hard for me to stiffle, but it also didn't follow the norm for the assignment.

Tigo began to draw the what the tree looked like on the inside during each season. As he colored away the interior of each tree, he describe out loud what it was he was coloring and why. "In winter when the tree gets cold and loses it's leaves. The sap inside the tree works hard to stay warm. It turns yellow and brown." "In the summer there are so many colors, it's so excited to be alive."

I don't remember all of what he was saying. I do remember a lot of confusion on my part. That back and forth in my mind of trying to figure out if he was just trying to change the assignment or was he really believing what he was saying. Or did he know something that I didn't. Could he feel something that I couldn't.

We block so much out as adults. There are rules to follow and things that need to be addressed. Bills to be paid, society desires to be filled. Wanting to fit in. Does this education really have room for variance like this? Can a large classroom function with deviation from the norm? But if everything is a deviation from the norm is anything really even taught at all? We stray away as we get older from the truthful thoughts and the purity we are born with.

Heck, maybe he was pulling it out of his ass to be difficult with his mom. But I'd like to believe that not just my amazing son, but all the amazing children out there have something to share with us that we have forgotten. I remember a camp counselor that I had growing up. He would always say "Now that's a good kid." And he would say that about almost, if not every, child that he met.

So where does that insight go? How does it slip away? With my three kids ages 5, 8, & 10, they are all at different levels of innocence and self awareness. I love watching them grow and change. Unfortunately, as this happens something slips away and it is harder and harder to hold onto what it looks like on the inside of a tree. Or the inside of a child.

So anyhow, for Spring Break this year, which came earlier than we are accustomed, we roadtripped it from our current haunts in central New Mexico through Northern Arizona. The road travel is a lot easier to stomach in the wide open west, than it is on the East Coast. We made our first destination to the Petrified National Forest, just across the state line and did a little exploring. The scenery was amazing. Truly, truly a painted desert landscape. The layers of geology which I do not know but can, anyone can, with out a doubt know that magic was working, to create it. Or created by the hand of God.

The Petrified Forest has a main road that travels about 20-some miles through the landscape with pull offs and small trails for exploring. The deeper into the park you get, one wonders where the forest actually is as it's not obvious for some time. Slowly fragments of the trees that once grew on the now barren landscape begin to appear. Upon closer investigation these scattered tree stumps, as they seem show an amazing beauty.

Through the petrification process a rainbow of colors is preserved in the wood that once grew tall. My dingy camera does no service to beauty and the colors found. But right away when I saw the rainbow with in the tree I thought of the morning I spent in Kinder with Tigo, three years ago.

That's what he saw, I thought. That is what he meant. He saw the colors in the trees that were growing.

I reminded him of that day and the pictures he drew. He only vaguely remember and kind of laughed. I still don't know. Did he make it up or did he know. I want to believe that he knew and felt the trees. But that also means that he may be forgeting. How do we hold onto the innocence and sixth sense of knowledge that we may all have and may slowly hide under our layers and layers of bark?

Yes, of course I saved the picture.

(though seeing the real picture holds my memory better than the scan of it)

Petrified Forest

2011-04-06T11:37:00.000-06:00

Yoga Bag Baby

2011-03-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Oh I'm so happy to be back sewing again. It's mostly just stress, but it works.

Made this little bag yesterday and finished it this morning. It's a birthday present for one of my yogi friends. I hope she likes it and gives me good feed back on how to make it better.

Those are little pockects on the outside of the bag.

I kind of love it.

Carefree

2011-02-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

We went to Carefree, Arizona a few weeks ago for a "business trip". It was a great excuse to get out of town and see a little different area of Arizona. A bit different than deeper into Scottsdale and Phoenix. Some friends gave us their home to stay in during our visit. Sooo kind.

We got to see some wildlife that we don't get in the high desert.

Yes those are Javalinas. (Don't say the "J")

We also say lots of quail and even a bobcat! Yes a stinking bobcat. Apparently wild cats are pretty common in the Sonoran desert. The kids and I saw one strolling past the house and Elmer saw one on the golf course waiting to pounce on some quail. Which also means that we saw lots of quail.

Swimming, outdoors, in January. Another anomally.

Gorgeous sunset. Picture does not justice. And I took it while driving. Probably another initiative that should be taken on. Instead of no texting and driving, it should be no photographing and driving.

Dancing in the waterfalls.

Yes, this was too good, to pass up. Carefree, no shooting.

Namesake

2011-01-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

Last night at the dinner table Tigo was clapping out syllables to all our names. He is learning a little grammar in school and parts of words so that, that is probably what gave the rythmic inspiration. As he went around the table saying everyone's names, he used their legal, official, names. I think he did this, mostly because we almost all have a nick-name that we go by and our birth certificate names have more syllables.

By the time he got to Lola, she cut him off.

"don't call me that"
"but it's your name"
"don't call me that"
"but it's your name"
"Lola is my name, I am not in pain."

When I was growing up, I had numerous conversations like this with my brother. Or on the first day of school with a new teacher, or when there was a substitute. I swore up, down, left, right that I would never ever name my kids one thing and call them another. As I've gotten older, I have discovered that best way to end up doing something is by swearing under sacred oath that you will never do it.

So anyhow, her name is Dolores. Which means pain in Spanish. Or quite literally more than one pain. Multiple pains. I didn't quite put it together before it became official on her birth certificate. Or maybe I did, and just ignored it. It's definitely a practice that needs to occur with every pregnant family when deciding on name options for their unborn child. The practice of determining the side effects or potential name-calling tactics by school mates on certain chosen names.

How can the name be changed to be made fun or to become annoying.

Lola was named after her grandmothers. First name Dolores after her paternal grandmother and Lynne, the middle name, after her maternal grandmother. Lynne was a middle name and I wanted to keep it that way. I also never ever had intented (though never publicly denounce or stated that I wouldn't) use Dolores, that she would always be Lola. Lola Lynne. Maybe a country music star one day. Probably not if she has my singing genes, at least.

Dolores is also the name of Elmer's hometown. Grandmother, hometown, old school classic name. No doubt it had meaning and it was meant to be. Now she states she wants to change her name. The same way that I wanted to change my name from legal name of 4 generations of legacy to something different than what it was, is. Something known.

Now, I can often look back and determine how well I know a person, by what they know of my name. If they know my full name, they likely have known me for a long time, or they are a cold caller trying to sell me something.

It seems when you know the history behind how things, or a person, got their name, how they came to be you know them much better. A secret, that is not really a secret, just something that doesn't necessarily need to be talk about.

When I finally turned 18, I had no intention of changing my name. I still regularly struggle with trying to figure out the best name to use at the doctor's office or signing papers for my kids. Quite honestly it took me a long time and a bit of emotional turmoil to change my name after I got married.

Only time will tell whether Lola will still want to change her name when she is 18. Whether the importance of history is more important or the ease of removing some pain overrides.

She will always be Lola to me though.

My camera broke but that's ok. Sort of.

2010-12-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

Between my camera breaking yesterday and looking through all the years pictures I'm getting a bit nostalgic for the recently past and all the events of my life.

There are so many things that I love about the holidays and December. Of course there are plenty of things I don't like too, but right now let's focus on the good. Like I said, there are so many things that I love about the holidays. It's a time of year when I force myself to look back on the year. I am mostly doing that because I am trying to find just the right photo of my kids. Of course one of the kids often has a silly smirk or is poking her brother and pinching his sister, but that's all in love right? But honestly, I stop for a little while and reflect of the year as a whole and realize just as the cold winter blues are starting to set in, just how blessed I am, and just how amazing our life is.

Of course there are the ups and downs and struggles, etc... but I like to take pictures. Probably too many pictures sometimes. But I was trained through grueling post-Thanksgiving photo taking sessions before the age of digital cameras when photos could be viewed, shared and instantly emailed to the person sitting next to you. The photo sessions involved all of us lined up. With the matriarch and patriarch in the middle. The youngest ones sitting closest to the oldest and the middle generations stuck on the edge. Mostly the then middle generation, was on the edge as they were the ones running back and forth to the cameras that are now thought to be from the middle ages. (Remember when you had to advance the camera's film manually to the next frame for the camera to work.) But ahh yes, the memories, even with out actually seeing the photos from the different Thanksgiving. Every year the pictures look the same. Altering the living room depending on which aunt hosted and sometimes a special showing by one of my mom's boyfriends or a cousin that lived across the country. We were all so close then generally. It was an anomally for one someone not to show. Now, I think of all my cousins and we cover every US time zone, and then include that Canadian one that comes before EST way out there in the Atlantic.

But I regress...

Christmas also forces me to look through all my photos from the year and see all the great things I have experienced with my kids. Trust me, there aren't smiles in all these pictures. Of course it's always more fun to take pictures when there is a happy crowd, but we have plenty of healthy fits documented on my digital memory. Some get erased, others are used for blackmail. That's what family is about right? Forgive, forget, or blackmail... oh I'm not sure.

But this year also leads me to be nostalgic of the Christmas's past and the traditions I had, the ones I am desperately trying to recreate for my kids, the ones I can't ignore, the ones I must have ignored because I just can't recall them (what happened in 1990, the slate is blank...) and the one I'm living right now. Of course when you pick up your life and move across the country to what might as well be another country one gets nostalgic for things not here. That happens.

Again, I regress.

I am grateful. I am blessed. I am crazy, but I'm happy. I am struggling but I am living. I have the most amazing kids and fabulous husband. We are not perfect, but I love them and the life we are living. Day to day I may lose my mind, but on the whole, I wouldn't have it any other way.

And then of course we have all the moments in between that no camera is ever present. How is it I don't stop to take a picture of Tigo building his Legos. I'm not documenting the event that occurs as ritual every morning noon and night. Finished products sometimes, but Legos are such a work in progress we don't have finished products much. There is a lot of "look at what it is now" and "what do you think it needs more?"

There's not a camera at the school drop off in the morning where I kiss the kids good by and secretly want to hold them a few more minutes everyday even as I fight to tell them how important it is to be on time to school.

There's not a camera when I tuck them into bed at night or sit on the floor reading Harry Potter to them as they beg for one more chapter even though it's an hour past their bedtime.

And there is certainly not a camera when Azalea screams when she sees a cockroach, but I know it's a memory she will remember.

I guess there are the events and the traditions or just daily rituals and they are all wonderful and all sacred.

And I am so blessed to have it all.

Rio Grand Gorge

2010-08-20T10:36:00.000-06:00

It's not the destination...

2010-08-20T10:29:00.000-06:00

Though our destination was pretty awesome also...

Huh?

2010-08-19T10:07:00.000-06:00

Drive slow. Wasted cows eating mushrooms may be found being beamed up by UFOs in the middle of the road in Northern New Mexico.

Crazy lady say what?

Multiple signs like this outside of Taos. Not just one graffitti-ed on. Rural New Mexicans have real concerns off two lane roads.

96 degrees in the shade

2010-08-17T06:12:00.000-06:00

Maybe it would have been, but I'm not sure there was any shade.

So was more than that on this day.

It's funny. I thought it would be a good a idea to go hiking in the desert on a 100 degree day. The kids thought it would be a better idea to go swimming at the pool.

We did both.

The kids were right.

I was wrong. It takes a lot for me to say that. A lot of evaporated sweat. My goodness it was hot! Even the dogs were too crazy hot. To be in the sun.

There was supposed to be a creek on the hike. But like I said, it was 100 degrees in the open desert. There's no water to be seen or heard of.

The dogs founds a little shade to collapse into, but by that time, we were ready to go swimming somewhere else.

But it was kinda pretty.

Flip

2010-08-16T06:12:00.000-06:00

My little sunflower

2010-08-15T11:42:00.000-06:00

"They just grow up so fast "

2010-08-14T11:39:00.000-06:00

"I'm so proud of them, they do so well on their own."

"I've done all I can and now it's time for them to be free on their own"

"It's really amazing how much they've changed in such a short time"

No. I'm not talking about my little people that grew in my womb about to go to school. All of these words were uttered from the mouths of two of my little people.

For about two weeks Azalea started doing her own little science project sort of by accident. She of course would never say it was science. But we sure had a full on hands down life cycle learning experience here. And it was awesome.

After one of our afternoon Monsoon rains, Azalea and I went for a little walk. We only made it two houses down. There is a big puddle that collects in front of our neighbors yard. We are in an old neighborhood with a poor gutter/ sewer/ drainage system, so in many areas there are puddles that simply collect. And then usually evaporate a day or so later.

This particular puddle gets larger than the others though. And when you looked at it from afar it appears that there is rain gently dripping on it. Thing is, the skies are clear and the monsoon has past and there's no more rain, but the drops are still there.

So after further investigation there were literally thousands of tadpoles swimming around the puddle.

Thousands.

So we stopped and Azalea caught tadpoles and released them.

And then we left as it's in the blaring sun. And then came back later.

Hours and hours sitting watching my little lady get her clothes soaked in the puddle while she picks up the tiny little guys and then quickly puts them back because they can't yet breathe out of water.

So the next day we are sitting around. Neighbors come and visit with us. Some other kids pick some of their own tadpoles up. Some just stop to chat. Others just get to have their dogs loved on by Azalea. We find out they are toads, not frogs.

Azalea collected a few (as in 25) and keeps them in a tub on our front porch. I won't let her bring them in the house (too messy). And I won't let her bring them in the back yard. I tell her it's because of the dogs, but really, if they cross over into the backyard there's a commitment to keep them. (as in forever).

So they stayed on our front porch.

Everyday, about 25 times a day, Azalea checks on the creatures, picks them up. Plays with them. Sees how they are growing. Scrapes some algae up to put in the water to make sure they have something to eat. (Just guessing that's what they want, they came from a street puddle after all.) Everytime we come or go from the house, she will stop to see them and check on them. See how they are getting bigger and growing.

Eventually they start to grow legs. LEGS! How creepy.

Or cool.

Mostly Cool.

But then as I'm putting the trash out the other night. I notice the little guys have jumped onto the rock and one of them is breathing. This means that the little critters are breathing air and not just their oxygen from the water.

This also means that if we don't get a "real" pond situation going these little hoppers aren't going to make it much longer on our porch.

Azalea also comes out and sees one of them floating in the water. He looks dead. She screams. But then we figure out that he's not dead. Only sleeping. (We nudge him and he moves).

Catch and Release.

It's time for our slimy friends to make their way over to the Biopark where we have caught other tadpoles before. Azalea agrees. After all she is worried about the crawdads at the ditch eating them. Good point.

Tigo, Azalea and I drive our friends over to the pond at the botanical gardens.

With a proud little tear in her eye...."They just grow up so fast."

Then they swim over to a sheltered little area of the pond behind a rock.

"I did a good job raising them. But now it's time for them to go out on their own. I'm really proud of the toads they are becoming."

Does this make me a grandma to toads. Oh geeezzzzz.

Afternoon Delight

2010-08-14T07:49:00.000-06:00

It's monsoon season here in Albuquerque. At least that's what everyone keeps telling me. Basically it occasionally rains here in the afternoon. As opposed to never raining ever, I suppose it could be noticable. But not really that much.

About a week ago after the rains I took the dogs over to the fields for a walk in the afternoon/evening. I guess folks around here don't know what to do when it rains, so everyone stayed away. It was kind of nice not seeing anyone else on the usually frequented open space. This was especially nice because I let the dogs off leash, which can be a major faux paus for half the population over there. The other half are advocates for free dogs off leash. Forget about the Democrat/Republican divide the on leash/ off leash controversy is the big debate in the north valley.

I usually, reluctantly, keep the dogs in tow on leash, even though they are very well behaved when given the chance to run free. But with no one around.....

I often feel more free when I see the dogs running free. Especially when there is no worry of others around. But running free with beautiful skys, golden fields and huge sunflowers.

Maybe just showing me what Pancho's dog field in the sky is like.

With of course some good mud to get messy in.

Rock and Roll

2010-07-16T13:44:00.001-06:00

chaos in the house

True

2010-06-20T09:09:00.000-06:00

Snow in June

2010-06-20T08:40:00.000-06:00

Memories of the first European New Mexicans

2010-06-16T09:21:00.000-06:00

(can't rotate)

What goes on outside Art Class

2010-06-15T08:54:00.000-06:00

This past week Tigo and Lola took a sweet little Art Class at the Albuquerque Museum. While they were nice and cool indoors creating their masterpieces, Azalea and I went to discover what was blooming around the grounds.

Perhaps the coolest thing we saw each morning I wasn't able to capture on my little Iphone camera. A nice little roadrunner who fought for her life while being attacked by two robins. Following the attack the roadrunner captured a lizard and then ran across the museum grounds, perhaps to it's nest to have it's morning brunch. So amazing that it seemed the museum could have staged the birds and lizards to have such a spectacle. But so fast and only for our eyes to see. No cameras and no other witnesses. But just ask Azalea, she'll tell you all about it.

"Pretend I'm holding a Chihuahua"

2010-06-14T08:46:00.000-06:00

So Cold it Burns

2010-06-13T08:14:00.000-06:00

That's not something you think to say very often when the air temps up around 103 degrees.

There have been record breaking temps here in New Mexico this past week. Of course we wouldn't know the difference since it's our first go around. So all these "oddities" we are told, we take for the norm. At least for now. This past week it's been crazy hot. Well over a 100 degrees. Wasn't that the reason we decided against Arizona? Well one of them at least. I regress. It's been over a 100 degrees, so last weekend we decided to drive to the North end of the Sandia Mountains, just past Placitas and up to a little swimming hole so the kids could cool off and have some fun. The dogs would be able to come along, run free and have fun too.

So we pack some water bags and some snacks and headed for the mountains.

The crazy thing about the Rocky Mountains, or any big mountain, especially in an dry climate, the temps can change drastically. While we didn't go very high into the mountains, the water that we went to visit was snow melt. And well, it still felt like you were swimming in liquid snow.

Before I got to the water, Lola runs up to me and says "It's so cold it BURNS!" She was right. The water was heart stopping, take your breath away, freeze your limbs in an instant cold.

Of course I think Tigo is a future member of one of those Polar Plunge swimming groups, so the cold water had no effect on him as he scaled the waterfalls.

He would have kept going, if he could have. Well, he could have, but I wouldn't let him.

The roar of the water for even a creek this size was really unbelievable. Sound barely traveled and was muffled and taken away. All your secrets are swallowed up into the water.

And then later lapped up by passing canines. Canines, who are in absolute heaven in this here water.

These growing feet were frozen in time and held onto just outside of Placitas.

Content Zepp all the way home.

Saturday Morning

2010-06-12T07:51:00.000-06:00

There have been some things since we moved to New Mexico that absolutely drive me crazy. As relaxed as I like to think that I am, there are some things that I just can't get my east coast head wrapped around. But a nice Saturday morning bike ride with the family to the grower's market at Los Ranchos. Different Story.

My bike had a popped tire, so I hopped on my mom's old bike from when she was a kid. I'm guessing this was circa the late 1950s?? They don't make them like this anymore. And by that I mean, weighing 500lbs.

And along the ditch we passed a mama duck and her baby ducklings. So stinking sweet. Mama D was being very protective, and I don't blame her. Azalea was with us and she is known to try to kidnap small creatures that are irresistibly cute. She doesn't have a lot of success. But she sure tries.

I could love this over and over again.

While I could mention the actual market. This time was more about the journey than the destination.

Lake Cochiti

2010-06-11T07:48:00.000-06:00

We packed up the cooler and hit the beach for Memorial Day!

Ok, not really the beach. But a man-made lake in the middle of the desert.

Still nice and refreshing on a great hot day.

And Tigo, he always seems to be the first one in and the last one out.

Beekeeper in training

2010-06-02T14:42:00.000-06:00

Through very little persuasion Tigo and I convinced each other to go take a bee keeping class last weekend.

After having studied bees this past year at school, Tigo was officially the bee nerd in the class. I was so proud.

Whenever there was a question, Tigo was the first to raise his hand to answer the questions and the last person to stay at the end to continue asking his own questions.

Tigo almost convinced me to get our own bees. I would actually very interested in us keeping bees.

Unfortunately due to our current unstable nature, it's probably best not to take in any more living creatures.

We also learned about the amazing properties of pollen to build up your body's immunity to allergies. So Lola and Elmer will have their new "Claritin" found in this form.

A couple of grains of this little by little will keep those sniffling noses and foggy heads away forever.

Uh-oh, we might be getting bees next spring. We'll have to do the follow up extended class.

Entourage

2010-06-02T14:25:00.000-06:00

For the next three months.

Cutest Outhouse I've Ever Seen

2010-05-22T13:00:00.000-06:00

What can you do with an old tire?

2010-05-21T13:00:00.000-06:00

Perfect Spring Afternoon

2010-05-20T17:20:00.000-06:00

Dixon

2010-05-20T17:06:00.000-06:00

Snuggled up in the north Jemez Mountains, just beyond the Tent Rocks turn off is a magical apple farm.

Dixon Apple Farm is past the valley and before the canyon and right on the edge of paradise. Surrounded by steep cliffs, grown with volcanic soil and left for the cottonwood breeze, we spent a most amazing afternoon here.

Megan,

Maddy,

and Luke (on the left) had an amazing birthday celebration!

Yes, triplets!

How luck are they!

The tractors were waiting for us to load up and ride down into the valley and play in the orchard.

The kids could barely contain themselves on the ride out!

Loaded up and ready to go.

Spring in New Mexico.

Becky is a third generation apple grower. Her grandparents bought this land and started the orchard. Her father was raised here and then left for a life in engineering in Minnesota. When Becky turned 18 her grandmother died and she went to live on this very rural farm with only her gramps for 8 years learning the trade. She and her husband are now living there with their 3 kids, the 4th generation. They grow the best apples in New Mexico, live an amazing, beautiful life and homeschool their kids who are now 8, 10 & 12.

I asked her oldest son (who drove this Amish horse & carriage) what he liked best about living on the farm. "Everything". He told me it was the best place he could imagine. Loved everything around him. Some people might like living in town, but this is the place for me, he said. (Btw, town- has about 300 people).

Poor Lola wasn't feeling so good.

The cotton floating through the sky from the trees. Gave the feel that you were in an absolute dream.

Unfortunately it also gave Lola an absolute migraine from the allergies.

She managed to pull herself together to ride a horse.

(and then she rode again, and again, and again, and....)

Here is Tigo's team in a crazy barnyard pick-up-peanuts game.

Oink! Oink!

I think it is safe to say that all the kids, and parents too, had an amazing time celebrating this birthday!

Then it was time to go back home again.

Sigh.

Cinco de Amaya

2010-05-13T17:42:00.000-06:00

These pictures were taken last week at the Cinco de Mayo fiesta given by the bilingual classes at Lola and Tigo's school. Only Lola is in the bilingual program this year.

The kids are preparing for their dance.

I have to say that this was SOOOOO cute! Not just Lola's class. But all the kids were ridiculously adorable.

Other than this picture, I only felt right really taking pictures of Lola's class. Didn't want to seem like a stalker mom.

Almost all the outfits were handmade by one of the teachers and her mother. The others were handmade by someone else. All the outfits were gorgeous and adorable.

And of course Lola, her teacher and two of her friends are all gorgeous and adorable too!

She's not supposed to be looking and acting so grown up.

And look at this Mariachi, eying my girl.... hmmm.

Even though we are Salvadoran around these parts, not Mexican, it's pretty hard to tell the difference in these fancy dresses. Azalea did not want to miss out on all the fun. The girl likes to perform, even if she's not the one on stage.

Azalea also wanted to act traditional. So she carried our dessert on her head. Unfortunately, I used an old plastic berry container that had holes on the bottom. I knew we weren't getting it back so I wanted to use something I didn't care about. I wasn't counting on her carrying the peanut butter bars on her head. Afterward it looked as it she had been in a peanut butter pit. (The dogs helped clean her up later!)

If we stay at Alvarado next year... which is in a big question right now, Tigo gets to join the fun. For now, he has no problem enjoying the after-party.

Jemez Springs

2010-05-10T17:02:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was another beautiful day in New Mexico.

I had wanted to go to Tent Rocks for Mother's Day. But relying too much on modern technology instead of the old fashion way of asking for directions, our GPS had other plans for us.

Just as well. The Jemez mountains are gorgeous.

I almost think they should call them the Christmas Mountains. They are covered with bright red rock and lush evergreen trees growing abundantly.

The river was flowing rapidly from all the snow melt. And we thoroughly played in the forest and at her banks.

It was a great day.

Perfecto.

I am loved

2010-05-09T19:55:00.000-06:00

Not that I question it. But it's nice to be reminded.

And I love.

I went shopping...

2010-05-05T06:51:00.000-06:00

Sort of, anyhow.

I am not a fan of shopping. But helping out at Azalea's preschool plant sale fundraiser is another story.

This is what the little lady picked out. It's headed to our blank slate back yard this afternoon.

Scene of the Crime

2010-05-04T11:27:00.000-06:00

The following program will not be televised

2010-05-02T11:30:00.000-06:00

Way back for Easter, the kids were upset that there was not a parade on TV that they could watch. I'm not sure where the big desire to see one came from. We had seen Thanksgiving day Parades and New Years Day parades, and probably the Rose Bowl. But honestly they never really paid attention for more than a couple minutes. Maybe it was seeing the real life parade at Disney. Yeah Disney is good at making impressions. Anyhow... the kids made their own Easter parade.

It was stinking cute how they worked on it.

Mini-sized.

I know, I know. It's really just a bunch of pictures of Littlest Pet Shops. But it reminds me how cute the kids are when they get their own idea, work together, and create something in a loving, collaborative way. I didn't help. Nor did I take these photos. But I was requested to post them.

Happy Belated Easter folks.

Sometimes plans change

2010-04-15T12:26:00.000-06:00

I had plans to work in the yard today.

This was before I had the fear of the land put into me.

Way back when I was an environmental consultant for the DOD. I went to a conference that included a section on Herpetology. All the folks in the audience took a survey answering questions relative to their feelings towards snakes. They tallied the results and told us that there was only one person in the audience that was "very scared" of snakes (as phrased on the questionnaire). That was me.

When we were selling our house in VA we had lots of snake encounters. Even a baby snake turned up in our kitchen one morning. Snake skin in the utility room, probably from it's mama. And our old awesome neighbor Mark became my go-to snake handler when Elmer wasn't home.

I had to call him on more than one occasion.

Some other neighbors told me that snakes show up when you are going through a period of transition.

This was certainly the case last year. I'm not sure if this is still the case.

Or it just means that it's spring, and snakes are coming out again. And, oh yeah. I moved to the desert.

A day at the Petroglyphs

2010-04-13T10:44:00.000-06:00

Monkeyland

2010-04-13T10:32:00.000-06:00

Back when we went to southern California, the real thing that brought us up to the LA area during our trip was my nice cuz, Trip.

Tigo had been dying to see him again even though he vaguely remembered him from the times they met before. But Tigo is no dummy. With one family in Hollywood, you gotta work on your connections at an early age.

His sound studio was really cool, and the kids were in awe. But mostly cool as they had never seen anything like that before.

Trip also showed them a sneak peak at a new kids movie coming out later in the year.

Hanging out with Monkeys.

What could be cooler than that?

Bandelier Bandits

2010-04-08T22:53:00.000-06:00

National Parks are good for many things.

They were created to give the public easy access to the bold and the beautiful that nature has to offer.

A quick and easy treat for those who don't like to venture too far from the car, even if you have to drive a while to get to the trail head.

Stunning beauty.

But don't expect to find much solitude at those parks.

As you will often run into families like these.

And kids like this.

Sometimes kids like this aren't so bad.

But these... might be another story...

National Parks are also a good way to teach your kids about the history of the land around you.

But sometimes they just tune you out.

Other times, they simply fall asleep while you are talking.

So always remind yourself why you are there.

There is beauty all around you.

Yep. Pretty much everywhere.

Everywhere.

Places like this can make you feel like you are sitting on top of the world.

And the simple pleasures like walking down the path, are so much more than that.

Our National Parks allow us to see amazing artifacts up close, from those who came before us.

Crazy connections between humans and land.

Crazy connections between human and human.

The land helps us see a window to another world.

Looking at the rocks up close,

Or when you take in the big picture,

It's always important to keep it all in perspective.

So get out there and explore your National Parks!

(This advertisement was brought to you by the Amaya Light Foundation. Serving crazy youth in Northern Virginia, New Mexico and beyond.)

Born at the right time

2010-04-06T23:02:00.000-06:00

I am happy to announce that my amazing older brother welcomed his third child, second son into the world this morning.

Talmage Cedar Brock

There is just something about a baby fresh out of the oven. So little so sweet.

I couldn't be more honored with his name choice. I can't take all the credit, as it's not my name alone. But I feel very blessed to be able to pass it along to him.

The whole world is waiting. He was born at the right time.

Star Struck

2010-04-05T07:37:00.000-06:00

You didn't know that Elmer was crazy famous did you?

He is.

That's why he wears cool glasses like these.

And his daughter has money coming out of her eyes.

That is what happens when you battle pirates you meet on the street.

You have to hang out with all the important people you pass.

This this is really about as close as we got... but if you look closely you can see the sign.

I drank the Kool-Aid

2010-04-04T10:08:00.000-06:00

I really felt like I had become part of the cult for the day. And as much hesitation as I had before we left. I actually really liked it. As in, I'm not afraid to go back again. (Not yet, though.)

Elmer convinced me to go. I didn't want to venture to the LA area and do the Disney thing. But he said the kids really wanted it, and who knows when we'd be back to California. True.

Who knows when we'll be back. But we made it there and were in stunned at what the Land had to offer.

It did not make the world feel small though. The world felt very, very large!

The park really is amazing. (Like I said, I drank the Kool-Aid). I was told that it was a good thing that we were saving Disney for last. For the last of the amusement parks for us to see.

And really it is above and beyond what we could have imagined. What the kids could have dreamed of.

There is such amazing to attention to detail. From inside Mickey's house, to all the rides. Of course the way the kids and I looked at the park was completely different. They saw it as complete fun. Moving along and having fun.

Even when we were waiting, there was something different to look at. And even when lines were long, they were always moving to give you the sense that you are getting closer and closer. The park was crowded too. It's not like we were there on a slow day. Not at all!

But there was always a way to keep moving and keep having fun.

Oh yes, and keep spending money!

It is a business and the Disney corporation is so well organized, that it is not a mystery that they are as wealthy and popular as they are.

I imagine going through the Disney work force would be great training for any person. Not as a life long career, but as training to see the inner workings of a business world. For better or worse.

I was amazed at the way the whole organization was run. The business was unbelievable.

But all in all, it was awesome!

The kids were happy.

Elmer and I were happy.

And when the time came to leave and we were all so tired. But I still didn't want to leave.

I drank the Kool-Aid, and I'd do it again.

Yes, the Killer Whale show is back on.

2010-03-29T07:51:00.000-06:00

The first question we get asked...

And I have to say, it's a pretty cool show.

I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. But I guess that is why we paid the big bucks to get into Sea World.

But it wasn't the only thing that made a splash with the kids.

Interestingly enough, many parts of Sea World is much like a petting zoo for underwater creatures.

The Sting Rays were among the favorites for the kids. But you could buy food for Sting Rays, Dolphins, Sea Lions. And feed these amazing creatures. I was pretty disgusted at the farm petting zoo in Virginia that we had been to a couple times. Even though the kids loved it, I stopped bringing them to it, as I didn't like the way the animals appeared to be.

Sea World does a much better job at not letting you recognize that it's a petting zoo, rather you are getting a "hands on experience with the sea creatures."

As much as I realize it is what it is. It was also an educational experience for us.

And the shows were really amazing.

The Sea Lion and Otter show, was silly cute.

And of course the kids loved the pet show.

Fun rides and good times.

Azalea found that she and a peacock had become one. This deeper insight into other living creatures gave insight through her third eye. At least for the day.

It seemed that both the girls were channeling other spirits this day.

And the take home message there was approved by at least one of the kids!

Holland Time

2010-03-24T21:53:00.000-06:00

Kites by the sea

The Kite Runner strikes again.

Seats in the sand.

Build

Colin and Micah

Karen and Noah

Guy Time.

More guy time.

So you steal my camera an think I won't use the pictures, eh?

Because I will.

But really, I just like the cousin love the most. Very sweet.

Even if it doesn't happen very often, it is great that it happens.

Every 7 Year Old Boy's Dream

2010-03-24T21:26:00.000-06:00

And apparently his sisters' also.

Lego Land was amazing. Total awe of the creations that were there. I was really not prepared for the scope of the things created.

Elmer wasn't quite sure what he was getting into.

"You mean we are where?"

I didn't know we were coming to the Taj Mahal? (Yes, made out of Legos)

Sue and Azalea were trying to blend in with the Lego tourists.

Lola realized she could have fun at LegoLand!

Lots of Fun!

Sue and Lola became ride buddies!

Azalea pranced around town.

Tigo and Mario became one on paper.

Even the Mariachis played. Again, all Legos.

New York City. Really?

Azalea didn't feel it was necessary to wait around for the Princess meet and greet. After all, she was the Princess.

The Old man and the camel showed us the way.

And then the wolves chased us away.