I just got back from a day trip to northern New Mexico and boy,
did I need it after Balloon Fiesta.
The Fiesta was fantastic - I sold lots of work and met people from all over the world.
I saw Dawn Patrol, Mass Ascensions, Shapes Rodeos, glows, and fireworks. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I loved it all. Except for getting up at 3:30am every morning. Seriously, people who love ballooning are some of the best people I've ever met.
The photo above is from our favorite little general store in Tesuque.
It's a little smoky because they had a pinon fire burning - the smell was heavenly.
This was someone's property in Tesuque.
They had huge grounds, I don't know how many acres and it was all covered in trees like this.
This is red chile ristras in Chimayo.
I bought my favorite dried red chile there.
They have oven-dried and sun-dried. Sun-dried is definitely better.
I also bought some powdered chipotle.
They said the best way to prepare it is to mix it with orange juice and honey. Hmm.
I also bought the Chimayo dried heirloom chile, which is hot and a bright bright orange.
I said I might mix it with another milder one and the guy told me, "No, don't do that, it's like mixing a fine wine with the cheap stuff."
I also bought some of the seeds to plant next year. They supposedly go way way back.
Gotta have that chile fix.
Santuario de Chimayo was beautiful. They have it lined with luminarias.
It's on my bucket list to go to midnight Mass there one Christmas Eve.
Here is San Idelfonso at Black Mesa.
The last time I photographed and painted this church,
the golden trees were a lovely purplish-grey.
Beautiful either way.
We stopped to eat at the Abiquiu Inn.
I noticed my friend Michelle Chrisman's paintings on the wall.
All of her paintings are plein air and painted with a knife.
She does an awesome workshop up in Ghost Ranch every year.
Homemade salsa and guacamole...yummy.
Huevos Rancheros.
I don't care for eggs on my Huevos, so I asked them to bring me a side of their homemade papas (potatoes) instead.
The Huevos are made with blue corn tortillas. So good!
The morada near Georgia O'Keefe's house.
I wish you could see the valley beyond.
The view from her bedroom is gorgeous.
Tours of her house and grounds are available for $30.
On the way to Ghost Ranch.
Those beautiful hills.
These are orange at the top and mauve and grey at the base.
Fall color at Ghost Ranch.
Beautiful!
Pedernal and fall colors.
Along the road to the monastery.
Pictures don't do justice to how pretty is was.
This pile of "something" was at apull of camping area next to the Chama river.
Can someone tell me if this is bear scat?
We didn't stick around long.
Another view of the Rio Chama.
What you don't see if that I'm driving up high on a one lane dirt road filled with ruts.
A little scary...
Candy-coated formations along the monastery road.
The famous hoodoos seen from the back.
Side trip to the little village of Canones, nearAbiquiu Lake.
Colors were vivid here too.
Three little cows, leery of us for invading their privacy.
Another view of Pedernal from Canones.
Beautiful fall colors - perfect for making a painting.
So, now that I've had a few days to recuperate, it's on to preparation
for Weems Artfest, which is happening November 9, 10, 11th.
I'm not sending out postcards because it is too close to Balloon Fiesta,
but I'm hoping that you will all come down to visit and see my new work.
Lots of 5x5, 6x6, 8x8, and 8x10 pieces, along with a few larger works too.
This will be my last show until 2014.
