New Year's

Not pictured: dog.

Happy one, everybody.

The Tree, Christmas

For years, I resisted getting a tree in our little apartment in Arlington. When we moved to the condo, Monica prevailed; the first year, decorating with P+T was, I think, the origin of the traditional Christmas Tree Decorating Trader Vic's Mai Tai.

But the decorating aesthetic, that was a point of contention — simple and elegant or a haphazard mishmash of the assorted ornaments acquired over the years? I was a proponent of the latter and, once Monica made it Connecticut for Christmas one year and experienced Joan and Ken's tree, she saw the light.

For as long as I can remember, they've had an impossibly large tree that dominates a corner of their house, pressing against the ceiling and spilling out into the room. And it's covered, covered with decades of ornaments of all shapes and sizes. It makes for a giant, warm, family Christmas display. Since then, our quest was for Joan-and-Ken-ness in our (definitely smaller) tree, and they've been happy to help by providing ornaments.

So, then, that first year we had Cheyenne, we finally left her alone after about a week. Just for an hour or so to go out to dinner. And when we returned, she'd pulled a bunch of ornaments off the tree and "collected" them. To this day, she still collects things, bringing them to her bed in the bedroom, giving them a few chews, and leaving them. When it's socks, or fabric, or those Envirosax (she loves those), it's not really a big deal. Glass ornaments, or ones with pins or made of wood — that's reason for worry. We undecorated the tree immediately that night.

And last year, wondering what to do, never really quite got around to making a decision about having a tree. This year, we did buy one and, wondering if we should pull out some ornaments, put up the lights and garland. And by then, it was late and the tree looked just fine and bright and safe for houndies. And so it stood this year, but for a couple of Joan and Ken's recent ornaments, a photo of their tree from last year, and a few birds Monica made, to watch over our celebrations.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

M+D arrived into Santa Fe Airport last Tuesday afternoon; Monica was off for a few days to bake last week, but I was working.

Christmas Eve we spent catching up on stuff and preparing for the coming days; after a visit to deliver cupcakes, M+D headed back out for the Farolito Walk. Ribs for dinner, then Jon and Susanne joined us to help with all the cookies that Monica baked and M brought.

Christmas day began with pastries from Clafoutis, presents mostly of the warm and fuzzy clothing variety (and a skunk fetish to commemorate the year), and a dog walk. Then over to Stacy and Jim's for Christmas dinner with Bernice. Who made Cheyenne a sweater!



A good time, wonderful dinner (the pheasant came to the table as breasts, no beaks in sight) and dessert, a lot of fun visiting. And some planning for our taping of Mouth of Wonder on Monday — which took some extra work, because it's an extra half-hour.



Sunday, we headed out for brunch at Tesuque Village Market and then, at J+J's suggestion, to Ohkay Owingeh for the Turtle Dance there. Been years since we'd gone to the dances and with actual activities on Christmas, made more sense to go the following day. Over an hour there, in the warm day, following the lines of dancers as they moved around the town square. Home to rest up for a soak, and then dinner.



Monday, we recorded the show — listen in to hear our favorite Web foodie sites, my interview with Stacy, and M and Stacy planning out brunch. You can tune in to 101.1 FM or catch the stream this Saturday, 10:00 MST.

Tuesday, we checked out the History Museum and spent some time with the amazing documents at Threads of Memory. Posole for dinner.

Wednesday, M+D got delayed flying out SFE because of poor visibility with the incoming storm; cleared enough that they were still able to get out and make their (also delayed) connection and get home. We headed out to Secreto with Rob for some visiting.

Yesterday and today held a lot of loafing, kicked off by all sleeping in as the snow fell yesterday morning. Starting Wednesday night, accumulation was 4-5"; subfreezing temps have made for some nasty going out there. Piled on the long underwear; dog got two jackets for this morning's walk.

Planning on reading the whole 100 Bullets straight through (in anticipation of adding it to this year's top ten) sitting in front of a fire, a quiet evening in. Jon and Susanne over tomorrow. That's the plan.

The Most Awfulest Time of the Year

sit. stay. beg for votes!

So, Spoonflower, yes? Fabric of the week contest, remember? This week, it's Dogs (no cats allowed).

My pattern is made from a I sketch did years ago of P + T's dear, (now) departed dog Annie. She had a little stump tail (the Wagometer) and she would wag it while doing her downward- and upward-facing dog stretches. She was great little dog, and I miss her. ♥ ♥ ♥

All the designs appear in random order, so you'll probably have to page through a few screens (there are 8 total) before seeing mine. You can vote for as many or as few designs as you like (not just mine) by clicking on the images you like best. A green box will appear around the design(s) you select for voting. You submit all your votes on the last page. Any and all votes are appreciated!

UPDATE: Nanners made the top ten! Thanks to everyone who voted!

Finally

Snow started yesterday, but wasn't until late afternoon that it started sticking. This morning, looked to be about 5" on the ground, the Ski Basin's reporting 14". This really the first precipitation of any kind we've had since that little dusting at the beginning of November.

I'm taking today off and, running errands about an hour ago, the snow's let up and already melting. By Sunday, forecast is calling for a chance of showers, it's going to be so warm.

confidential to Melanie

Hi sweetie! It was great to hear your voice on the ol' answering machine. BUT, we don't have caller ID so I don't know what number you called from, and I'm not sure I still have your (old?) phone number... Drop me an email (or a comment here) with your deets so we can chat! :) xoxo Gossip Girl

Checking Who's Naughty and Who's Nice

Working on the Christmas card list on the train, returning from the monthly 7000 BC meeting. In North Carolina this past week for press check, where it was colder (like, record-setting colder) than in Santa Fe.

Area Dog is Calendar Girl

If you were to want, say, a calendar featuring a whole bunch of Greyhounds you've never even heard of, and a couple of photos of one that you may have read about (or even met) featured in the snow and sleeping, you could check out the 2011 Greytalk calendar.

Does Not Like the Way the Pig is Looking at Her

Thanksgiving Weekend So Far: A Mixed Bag

Wednesday
Both got a bit of an early release. Monica used the time to make herself a birthday cake. Don't judge me! I'm just not a baker, she has the traditional family birthday cake recipe worked out for the altitude, and wanted to experiment with the frosting. Is this the time for me to try to learn something new? I thought you'd agree.



Dinner out a La Boca, a nice, tasty time after some seating problems. Back home for the aforementioned cake. Which was really, really good.


Thursday
A nice sleep in. Sitting about catching up on newspapers(!) and Greytalk, watching parades and dog show on the TV. Time for some reading before heading over to Stacy and Jim's for dinner.



Joined again by her friend from Brooklyn and his girlfriend, Bernice, and other friends. A delicious dinner (which I failed to photograph this year) and a great time socializing.

Turns out Stacy was not only at Flash Flood last weekend along with Bernice, but was a volunteer; there's some of her and more of the event in this movie, though I'm still waiting for someone to post a video of the river turning blue.


Friday
Even more sleeping in, which meant a later start to the post-Thanksgiving hike. Not necessarily a bad thing, we were having some pretty cold temperatures; decided on Atalaya, not to go all the way, but because it was likely to keep us in the sun.



Unfortunately, the breakfast burrito before was betraying me; I was dragging the whole time and I don't think any of us were particularly into this hike. An hour up, then an hour back retracing our steps. To True Believers for their Blackest Friday sale, stocking up on gifts and few new releases. Back to nap, which the dog never really bothered to get back up from. Read some of the haul, but I called it an early night.


Saturday
Shaky, but getting better, I was starting to clean up some when a call came in from a friend, out of state with his family for the weekend. His dog wasn't well and wanted to know if we could help his mother, house- and dog-sitting, get him to the vet. The pickup got complicated, I'd forgotten how big this dog is; we'd sat for him in the past, seen him some, and I wouldn't have characterized him as particularly active, but he was lagging noticeably. To the emergency vet where he was admitted for critical care.

Monica later noted what a weird time warp it is there. Simultaneously dragging and speeding, there's a rhythm of activity and sitting, never able to actually concentrate on reading. Noticing we were in one of the agitating cycles after a couple hours, we were updated on the tests' progress by a vet tech. And then, a while later, when the vet herself came out, we could tell it wasn't going to be good.

There was one more test to run, but he probably only had hours and would have to be put to sleep. We took a break, home to get some food, and Mon and I headed back to the office when the worst was confirmed. We were able to sit with him for about an hour, feed him the peanut butter, squeeze cheese, and turkey the doctor gave us, crying as we held him as he got the injections and went quietly and peacefully. He was a beloved family dog, 11 years old, I'm just sorry his people couldn't be there and hope we were some sort of comfort.


Sunday
Another slow start, we're just really not doing mornings this weekend. In a little while we'll be J+J's guests for Circus Luminous, a post-Thanksgiving tradition here in town. We've never been — and, actually, have never even been to The Lensic, so looking forward to a nice time and dinner out this evening.

The Weekend So Far: Arty, Leafy, Houndy

Last night, one of the shows Monica's been working on for the New Mexico Museum of Art had its opening. Case Studies from the Bureau of Contemporary Art presents works from the permanent collection as if they were pulled from the files of the fictional department; her designs draw from historical sources.



Outside, Axle Art was set up, where we were certified as art lovers. Inside, the event was well attended, the crowds treated to performance art pieces by The Rubber Lady and Tim in his Orangeman guise.



Got to visit some, see the art, and still make it home at a respectable time. And then we were up (relatively speaking, for a weekend) early to participate in Flash Flood.



The plan was to turn the Santa Fe River — singled out in 2007 as the most endangered river in the country, what with it not actually having any water in it — blue for a passing satellite photo. Participants would hold up blue-painted cardboard to create a living river, flipping the brown side to animate the process.

We grabbed some takeout burritos and headed over to SFAI to pick up the shuttle (provided by the city with volunteer drivers), which arrived after some delay, to San Ysidro crossing for the event. It was probably 10-ish by the time we arrived and the staging was well underway.



Seems that somewhere along the line, blue tarps kind of started taking the place of the cardboard, so, for a half-hour or so, it was all about coordinating tarps for maximum coverage, practicing running the corners together for a dry river and then apart for blue.

Quite the festival atmosphere, with mariachi, Buffalo Dancers, a helicopter circling overhead, chanting, much laughter, and a crane with a videographer; the latter was there to capture our simulation of a running river. A gorgeous day, approaching 60° with a few clouds. Santa Fe New Mexican's saying around 1000 participants of all kinds, including the dog that walked on water.



At 10:53 the satellite passed overhead (we were told), so we all held up the blue for a while before and after; then it was turning the brown river blue, in various directions, a few times, following the directions of the organizers on the ridge and the runners with flags along the riverbed. I hope that video's going to be easily available sometime soon, would love to know how it all turned out.

Update: photos and coverage at 350.org



We were back home by about noon, in time to bring Monica and Cheyenne to GCNM's monthly meet and greet. I tackled the leaves that had finally dropped off the apricot tree. A trash barrel and two leaf bags later, I made it over to the greatly diminished crowd. Apparently had totaled 15 Greyhounds at one time, including the new couple in town with the two dogs, one of whom looks like Cheyenne, causing confusion (as it did on this evening's walk) among our neighborhood's dog owners.



Quiet night in, posole, the makings bought while the oven was broken earlier this week. Chores tomorrow.

Sigh

The view outside right now.

Bonus: ghostly dog in the snow.

Of Course, a Sunday Walk …

tires a houndie out.

Sunday Houndie Walk

This time of year's rough for me. The early darkness, the cold; as impossible as it seems to believe, I get even grumpier when Daylight Savings Time ends. It takes just about everything I have (and many manufactured projects) to keep myself from just coming home and going to bed, skipping dinner. Especially on Mondays.

It kind of started the first year we had Cheyenne, and was institutionalized last winter: Sunday evening, she and I head out for a big walk.



Over a block, up the street; a short, but steep, climb up to the ridge. Through the open space to the dog park (the irony — a dog park within walking distance where, because of the lack of fencing, she can't go off leash). Down through the park and back up the other side, past the memorial and back into the open space. There's two paths out, and from there at least two routes, so plenty of room for variation depending on the weather and our mood. No girls allowed, except for the dog.



It's become important, this ending to the weekend. Something to look forward to, something that puts an end to the weekend's activities. Something where nothing happens except putting one foot in front of the other. And enjoying the sights and sniffs.

These first few weeks, nice; but winter sets in quickly and the walk gets cold. It's timed to make sure that we still have sun up on the ridge and, hopefully, a bit in the park. Though the sun can warm, the wind blows up on the hill. The park's protected — but dusk lingers, making distinguishing figures in the gloaming difficult; from what I understand, this is the way dogs always see. Through the dark neighborhoods on our way home, the sensible people are inside.

The season's changes become evident. Up through New Year's, it's rough, obvious why we have the holidays to bring us light at that time of year. But soon enough, it may not be warming or even nicer, but the sun's out longer. Still have to skip This American Life to make it, but the progress to the longer days is visible.



I romanticize, I'm sure — we'll be dragging ourselves on this walk soon enough, both bundled up against the cold. Muscling through to the solstice. Maybe we'll enjoy a little a snowstorm or two, maybe watch one just obscuring the mountains. The return to the warm, lit house for the evening's last chores, then dinner, always a welcome treat.

Last Sunday, Cheyenne was thrown off by the false start to Sunday Houndie Walk season, not particularly wanting follow me through the neighborhoods instead. Yesterday, as I worked at the computer, she came in to lie down in the office; not unusual, but unexpected. But, soon enough, agitated, egged on by Monica telling her to demand a walk. When we set out, there was no hesitation, no question about direction at the end of the driveway. She was, except for some distractions, at the end of the leash from the beginning to the very end (a rarity these days as she loses her conditioning). It's important to me, this walk; even moreso now that it is to her, too.

Too Nice Not Too, 2010 Edition

Seems that we were given another nice weekend this year. Sleep in, then a walk over to Tart's Treats. A long, leisurely morning out.



The Halloween Report
Much more yard- and housework last weekend, but wrapped up Sunday early enough to take the dog through the neighborhood to check out the various Halloween decorations.

Didn't get anyone until almost 6:00, I was figuring it'd start up earlier to take advantage of the light and nice, warm afternoon. James was over for dinner, disappointed he didn't manage to scare any of kids. Compared, I guess to that first year, it again seemed light, but we went through five bags of candy, dispensing one piece at a time, in just about two-and-a-half hours.



Some fun costumes, the only one managed to get a photo of was the skunk family. When Cheyenne ran out to see what was going on, I cautioned them that she was looking for some payback.

And How It All Worked Out
So the data's as back as it's going to get. Mozy had it all and was able to get it; but, even still, it's tough to give them an "A" for this — the retrieval was way more lengthy and stressful than it needed to be.

The backup's accessed through a Web interface; that first weekend, nothing was loading. Rather than risk being a foul mood for Andy and Liz's visit, just waited to get into it all until they left. To Mozy's credit, they escalated my problem quickly and got me on the phone with a senior tech guy. His opinion, which I have no reason to doubt, is that server upgrades were giving everyone access problems; and, again, to their credit, only the user can access the data, so they couldn't go about restoring it for me, but could assure me it was all there (though my worry at that point was what "all" was). There were days of workarounds, afternoons spent on the phone mucking about with the account. And then suddenly it worked and I could order a drive shipped with everything.

Which was another week of waiting, but a tremendous relief when I saw all our photos, portfolio, and music. Some stuff was straightforward to re-file; some, like the iTunes library, turned out to be a little tricky; some, like fonts, haven't even really gotten into. Quicken data continued to elude me for a couple weeks; how Mozy restores via disk or the Web doesn't agree with the format; but some more support, some re-tooling and an alternate method of retrieval, and it worked. Problem was — and I suppose I have myself to blame — I can't figure out for the life of me where the current data file is. Best I've got is a manual backup from mid-August, which looks like it will have to do.

So I've stopped carrying around that retrieved data everywhere, set up a new backup drive in a different room, and everything's backing up to Mozy again. Still waiting to hear from the insurance company about the settlement.

Moral: can't outright recommend Mozy, but it did all work out. So whether them, or Carbonite, or some other thing, take a cold afternoon soon and get your computer backed up somewhere outside your house. This would've been so much worse if we hadn't made, what seems like now, that pretty small investment.

more voting!

Hey everyone! Are you tired of campaign ads? Too bad! Here's one more: Please vote for my design (at left, there) that's in the current "Fabric of the Week" contest over at Spoonflower! All those other designs are Washington Insiders who Want to Raise Your Taxes and Eat Puppies for Lunch.

This week it's 2011 calendar towels. I hope Rula isn't angry at me for not entering her favorite!

All the designs appear in random order, so you'll probably have to page through a few screens (there are 10 total) before seeing mine. You can vote for as many or as few designs as you like (not just mine) by clicking on the images you like best. A green box will appear around the design(s) you select for voting. You submit all your votes on the last page. Any and all votes are appreciated!

The American Coalition for Awesome Tea Towels is responsible for the content of this post.

UPDATE: Made the top ten again! Thanks to everyone who voted!

For Halloween: Disembodied Head in a Box!

New fencing mask's arrived, greatly diminishing the chance of facial injury due to failure of my 10-plus-year-old one. An investment, but I think worth it.

James'll be over for dinner tonight and to assist with the Halloween hordes.

Following up on a conversation with Andy …

… from months ago, it occurred to me to search for this: Greyhound versus sports car. With the home track advantage, not really a fair race — but, still 40 MPH in less than a minute? As we noted to the guy we met on dog walk tonight, that's why she's never off leash out in the open.

Andy and Liz

So, it's been a while. Spent a weekend in there getting the recovered from Mozy — it worked out ultimately, but was more work and more stressful that it needed. But luckily there was a nice Sunday night party at La Choza, thrown by J+J.

The usual weekly goings-on, the following weekend was still waiting for old data and new computer, so I refereed at a youth competition at NMFF and Monica went to the GCNM gathering, where all the other houndies were in costume. Finished out the weekend with yard chores, mostly of the ending-of-the-season and closing-up-the-house variety.

Been restoring the computer this week and this weekend, just about everything is back; spent some time figuring out that, I think, however Mozy stores data does not agree with how Quicken stores data. But there still might be hope. More house and yard chores, Monica harvesting the green tomatoes (which are right now becoming chutney). A little get-together with Stacy and Jim to visit and deliver the Rula calendars.

Also? Now there's snow up on the mountains. Just a bit, but still.

-=-=-=-

So, couple weeks ago, Andy and Liz. Which started with that Friday. Saturday, up to finish cleaning up and make it to Santa Fe Airport for their 11:30-ish arrival.



At that point, they'd been going for almost 12 hours, so headed back to the house to visit and rest for a bit before going downtown. Strolled the Plaza, ducked into the Palace to see Tom printing up posters, checked out the exhibits. Fortified ourselves and then continued on through the stores before heading home to prepare for an evening at Secreto.

 

Passed a couple fun hours with Chris concocting for us, then to pick up some snacks at Flying Star — where we got to see the stormtrooper stopping by what looked like a wedding reception — then home to call it a night.

After a leisurely breakfast back at Flying Star, to Tesuque Flea Market; a friend had recommended it to Liz, and it'd be a while since we'd been. The weather had turned Friday, but it was still a beautiful, unseasonably warm autumn day. Good to be outside and there were some finds.

I'd declared Sunday culture day, so we set off to Museum Hill, first MIAC, where I haven't been in probably over a year. Snacks, and then on to Folk Art. That big Girard collection is overwhelming, the days had been long, so one can be forgiven for needing a break. Back home where Monica tackled the sudden plumbing problem in the guest sink, I worked up (probably the last for the season) grilling. We did eventually wind up with some time to sit and visit, moving outside to enjoy the evening by the fire pit.



Monday, confirmed that the month-long construction that started in July out at Tent Rocks was still keeping it closed.



So started out at the traditional pre-hike Santa Fe Baking Company, then up to the Ski Basin. Lift to the top, where, again, surprised at how warm it still was.



View was amazing, with some of the aspens turned, some turning, some still green, making for a beautiful tableau. We headed further up a bit, then down the mountain. Snagged some fish tacos at California Pastrami, rested up, and then to the bath we'd reserved at Ten Thousand Waves for some soaking at sunset and under the stars. Warm, relaxed, our quest for a "late"-night dining option got us to Cowgirl.

Tuesday, for the first time we actually managed to be ready to go before our guests. Because they were packing. To the Tuesday Farmers Market to smell the roasting chiles and check out the scene. Breakfast at Zia, then off to Canyon Road. We parked at the top and strolled the galleries there, checking out the things that interested us. Heading back, ducked into Mirador Gallery — which turned out to be an unexpected find. A great owner, a fun vibe, a really cool ring for Liz, and some espresso. Put us in the right mood for a little snack at El Farol before heading out. Andy and Mon saw Liz off at Santa Fe Airport while I attempted to attend to some police business. And then we brought Andy to Albuquerque, by way of some pizza, to go off to his conference in Phoenix.

Those thunderstorms Wednesday night …

… were a little bit of snow up in the mountains. Might've slept through it, but, luckily, the dog made sure we knew about the thunder. (Baldy, with more snow, obscured by that cloud there)

And, speaking of herself, birthday Tuesday:

 


Nice dinner out with J+J on Wednesday. And data's arrived and, near as we can figure, is all there. Some things are more difficult to reassemble than others — iTunes back, but Quicken continues to elude.

More later. Including that Liz and Andy visit post.

This Time Last Week

Up at the Santa Fe Ski Basin. More of a post to come later about Andy + Liz's visit, but it looks like they did catch the last really nice, warm autumn weekend.

In other news, computer data's due in this week. Feeling better that we have it all, but we'll see.

Gallery on Wheels

(Originally supposed to be posted last Friday, October 1; replacement camera cable arrived, so here you go, in all its outdated glory.)



Wednesday, Axle Contemporary parked its mobile gallery outside my office.



Sounds like some interesting stuff they've got planned for the next few months.

Andy and Liz arrive tomorrow — and, as KSFR noted this morning, the unseasonably warm weather ends today. Been 80s during the day, clear, for a couple weeks now. This weekend calls for 60s and a chance of rain. Though, as I told Andy, until the chance gets above 50%, you don't alter plans; but clouds and wind, well, that might change something.

Meanwhile, down in Albuquerque, they'll be making comics for 24 hours. Chuck will be blogging about it.

Brief Update

An awesome time with Andy and Liz, days of culture, hiking, plumbing, shopping, and much eating. Post and pictures will likely follow later, along with that post I wrote but was waiting to download the photos from the camera, when I receive the replacement cable.

Liz's return went about as well as can be expected, but Andy got stuck for about three hours at the airport. Hopefully that makes their stay with us seem that much better.

A long evening with the folks at Mozy because of some technical problems with restoring the computer's data, but they've got 234 GB of it, which is hopefully everything. They're working to get it to me so an enthusiastic endorsement may follow.

Brief update to the update: they're claiming delays and problems because of the server maintenance, so still withholding that endorsement.

Robbed

I guess, technically burglarized, since we weren't there.

Yeah, this blog pretty much covers the highlights, the fun stuff we do in Santa Fe. But the dark side of this town is unavoidable — and we became a statistic today.

The desktop computer, speakers, and external hard drive; the SLRs; the old digital camera; some pieces of jewelry. The laptop; iPod; and new digital were with me, though the cord to it to connect the computer was not. If I've set everything up right — and this is a Hell of a way to test it — all the data from the desktop should be backed up offsite. A lot of things were overlooked but, let's face it, we don't have much of value.

Right now it's the frustration and the cleaning up; most drawers were pulled and tossed. When I first got home, there were a few minutes of real panic when the dog was nowhere to be found; eventually, calming, it occurred to me that it was odd that the spare bedroom door was closed when everything else in the house was opened. There she was, and we were able to summon back our neighbors who were out searching. In those first hours, that helped give us perspective.

And just over 12 hours until Andy and Liz arrive.

Another Sign of Autum

Cooler mornings. Time to seek out the sunny spot.



Geez, it's all been dog posts recently, hasn't it? Chores all weekend, including more leaf-blowing and with a break for a short coaching clinic at the club, preparing for Andy — and Liz's (for the first time out here) — visit next weekend.

Ren Fair

Renaissance Fair time of year again; we went that first time, then skipped the next two even though GCNM and Greyhome have a presence there, so we get in for free and get to bring our dog. Last year was awfully busy in September, plus we didn't have a thing to wear. This year, though, with preparations and planning, we were ready to take the hound for an afternoon at Las Golondrinas.



Thing was, it was brutally hot on Sunday. We were in a nice, large, covered portal kind of thing, but venturing out into the sun was pretty rough. But we did, for a bit, wandering down the hill to the creek to check out the dueling, Celtic feats of strength. And meet another rescue.



Checked out the vendors, grabbed some snacks, took in the sights. Mostly, though, sat in the shade and let the Ren Fair visit us. Including a visit from La Reina, a big fan of the hounds.



When the other couple there packed up their dogs, we stuck around for another hour or so. Sitting in the shade, visiting with Jon and Susanne, winding down.



Getting Cheyenne out proved to be difficult; I think she got so comfy in the cool dirt that heading out onto the hot stones made her balk like it was a thunderstorm. All we could do to get her to the entrance, where I had to pull the car around. Again. But did make it to clean up, change, and back out to spend the evening at Jon and Susanne's.

Update: Santa Fe Reporter's posted a slideshow, looks like from the same day we were there. Warning: music and no obvious way to mute it.

Welcome (Back) To Santa Fe

Took the Rail Runner to and from Albuquerque for the 7000 BC meeting yesterday. Probably been more than a year since we've been on the train; gave some time for watching the landscape, using the wi-fi, reading, though not really enough of any one. Hour-and-a-half passes pretty quickly, though probably if you only make the trip occasionally.

Back in time for a little outing to the dog park around sunset.

(Notice the dog on the wall?)

Cheyenne, Watching Nature

Part one of Dogs That Changed The World.

Fall Palette

At Tuesday's Farmers Market:





In the side yard:



Up at Aspen Vista:



Not pictured: chamisas.