Five years, WOW! And More Indian Market

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It was exactly five years ago today that we picked up our new motorhome, which we named Cholula Red.

It seems like so long ago and yet it seems just like yesterday.

How this one thing has changed our life, it is absolutely the very best decision we ever made.

I just spent a bit of time looking at my website where I first began writing about our adventures. One thing I can say for sure is that I'm a much better photographer than I was when we started this journey!

Okay, enough reminiscing, on to

Indian Market Part 2

I was in awe of this tiny little piece, I really should have included something to show the scale. Made from the lining of a walrus stomach, this parka is no more than four inches tall.

It's a truly beautiful piece of work.

I love the architecture of Santa Fe.
There's something about the way
the angular adobe shapes fit together.
It pleases my senses.

This skirt also pleases me,
but not the price tag ($120).
I've found several
of these tiered fiesta skirts
at the local thrift shops.
While not as fanciful as this one,
they were a lot more affordable.

Still, if I was rolling in cash,
I'd buy this in a second.

Saint Michael's in the background,
Indian Market in the foreground.

The end of the Santa Fe Trail,
right in the middle of the plaza.

Another shot of the shapes of adobe.

I think it's the timeless quality
that appeals to me.
(Remember that you can click
for a larger version of any photo).

Many of the old buildings
are topped with bricks.

More adobe shapes.

Santa Fe is also blessed
with an abundance of outdoor art.

I love this face.

We found this astounding piece
in one of the gallery courtyards.
That's one of the joys of Santa Fe,
discovering artifacts like this
in hidden places.

One final "adobe" shot.
This is the famed La Fonda Hotel.

I still have more photos from Indian Market. I'll try to get them up in the next day or two.

Till then

Indian Market 2010, Part 1

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We spent most of today wandering in and around the Santa Fe Plaza, perusing the incredible artwork and soaking up the unique atmosphere of Santa Few during Indian Market.

What a great day.

Needless to say, I have lots of pictures to share.

I guess I'll call this first entry

the Faces of Indian Market.

I'm endlessly fascinated by the people I see here, and Indian Market seems to offer a veritable cornucopia of memorable visages.

I love the Native Americans
who show up in their tribal attire

This gent's hairpieces
is made from porcupine hair.

Then there's the cowboys.

We spent quite a while
talking with this young man.
Fascinating!
He's what they call a Fancy Dancer.
Currently majoring in theater in college,
a few years ago,
he decided to carry on.

the family tradition.

He made his costume himself
with the help of his Father

All ages come to Santa Fe
for Indian Market

Including Mountain Men

I love the hat!

The back of the hat
is even better than the front.

This vest is completely beaded.
It'll be a while before we're up
to this level of beading!

I was taken
with this beautiful woman's face.

I'll close with this one.
The picture really doesn't
do this costume justice.
You can't see all the fake flowers
in the brim of the hat,
or the tiny hats and dolls
sewed to the legs of his jacket and pants.
But you get the idea.

I love going to Indian Market!
More pictures to come in the days ahead.

Los Alamos

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So there we were in Los Alamos, home of so many amazing people over the years. We've wanted to come here ever since we visited the Trinity site years ago, and finally we made it.

We visited the Bradbury Science Museum, a fine place to spend an afternoon. We came out of the Museum to find that the usual afternoon monsoon had arrived, giving everything a gentle bath and making the air smell clean and sweet.

The monsoons
are something to experience.
They come,
it rains, often pours for a while,
then the skies look like this.

After the museum,
we visited Fuller Lodge,
a lovely old structure
that once housed a boys school.

They say all the logs were hand picked
by the builders.
The patina of the wood
gives the interior a lovely glow.

They also have various
artifacts on display.

I really liked this concho belt.

Usually, they're made of shell or silver.
This is the first one
I've seen made of ceramic.
It was quite beautiful.

There's also a small history museum.
I don't know
what fascinated me so much
about this shot,
but I like it a lot.

As always, you can click to enlarge.

In back of the museum,
there's a rose garden.

Other flowers are scattered
around the grounds.

But I loved the roses
with just a touch of rain
the very best.

If you come to the area,
I would definitely
put a day in Los Alamos
on your to do list.

A Drive Through New Mexico

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I'm aware that I ramble on and on about the beauty of New Mexico, but I just can't seem to help myself.

It is that astounding.

Today we decided to take a drive
to Los Alamos

It was one of those days,
brilliantly blue skies.

White puffy clouds
that seem to go on forever,
with vistas to match.

Then there's the red rocks.

And the sweeping Rio Grand Valley.

I guess it's the lure of the road
that gets me.

And the way the clouds and sun
paint pictures on the earth.

The rock formations
are a constant surprise.
This looks like a group of Romans
clothed in togas.
What do you see?

One final shot,
I love this old Kodachrome look.

Remember,
you can click on any image
to see a larger version.

Tomorrow, pictures of Los Alamos.

the Girl in the Hat

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Regular readers are aware that I haven't been taking a lot of pictures lately (too busy with the jewelry . . .).

But today we went to the flea market to look around and fortunately Terry had his camera with him. I saw this beautiful little girl. We watched her for a while, enjoying her obvious pride in her new cowboy hat.

Or should that be her new cowgirl hat?

Whatever, I took this shot.

I don't know why I like it so much,
but I do,
so I started playing with it in Photoshop.

A bit of enhanced saturation.

a dreamy old Western look

A vintage photo look.

And my favorite,
a softened sepia toned shot

That's it for today!