(Snowy) Early Winter

November and December in New Mexico have been surprisingly snowy, and we have been taking full advantage of both the indoor and outdoor recreation activities.

In early November, we went to our good friend Jennie's opening in Santa Fe. She also made our wedding dishes and is available to make a wide variety of things, check our her etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenniejohnsrud.

We went to this amazing event at Jemez National Monument where they put luminarias (or farolitos in NM) on the ruins of an  old pueblo.

Once it got dark, the candles lit up and some dancers from the Jemez pueblo performed.

I got to head up to the Sandia Mountains with some pals for some early December skiing.  Thanks to Candyce for the ski loan!

Then Ben had a snow day.  Seriously, this is all it took.  To be fair, places in the mountains got almost a foot.

Our Carleton friend Leilani lives up in Taos, a very cool little skiing village.

We have never been cross-country skiing in the mountains before and it was so beautiful. Leilani took us backcountry skiing in Los Brazos in Northern New Mexico to test our skills.

The three of us had an awesome time!

Leilani and her husband (sadly he had to work while we went skiing) were our intrepid guides to Taos- skiing, music, parties. Thanks Justin and Leilani!

Whoa!  Check out that scenery.

Happy and exhausted after a long ski.

A Thousand Autumns

One of New Mexico's principle charms is that Fall lasts basically forever. September through early    November is a long procession of heartbreakingly beautiful days. So we did some pretty good stuff: paid a visit to the Tinkertown Museum ("New Mexico's Premier Folk Art Environment") on the east side of the Sandias; hiked the Piedra Lisa trail; camped in the 4th of July Canyon in the Manzanos; checked out the Dia de los Muertos Marigold Parade in the south valley . By the way, if you ever make the drive to said campsite please be aware that packs of near-feral dogs may attack your car (while it is moving) at any moment. We know that now. 

A hand carved circus at the Tinkertown Museum.

These guys were pretty good (although I prefer their earlier stuff).

This is me on the Piedra Lisa. Just looking at trees.

20 minutes from our house, people.

Above the 4th of July Canyon

A windy peak.

Witness the amazing Hispano-hippie, desert black metal vibe of the Marigold Parade

And again.

Ben's birthday in balloons

One of the things Albuquerque is known for is the annual balloon fiesta. Balloonists (real word) come from all over the world, including France where the first balloons were flown in the 1890's.  Apparently people brought champagne with them so that when they landed in other places, they could use the champagne to identify the region they were from and placate their unintended hosts.  The first weekend of the Balloon Fiesta coincided with Ben's birthday. Our friend Daniel and Ben's sister Martha came to help us celebrate. 

You can walk right up to the balloons and see them getting blown up

Apparently there were over 500 balloons in the sky at once

Martha and I happy to have gotten up so early and that we decided against the Cinnacone.  Breakfast burritos yes, mini cinnamon rolls no.

Hot air balloons are incredibly photogenic

Unlike Daniel and myself, although that tourist penguin looks pretty perky

Look at these cute pals!

This is what Alex Achen would look like if he were a hot air balloon

This is the best photo I will ever take.  Also, this was clearly the best balloon.  It is from Belgium.

After the balloon fiesta and naps (we had to get up at 5:30 am), we relaxed in another hot spring in the Jemez Mtns.

Ahhh...

We then headed to a bday party at Jesse and Erica's where Wilder showed off his new trick.  Walking with a garbage can!

We had a tasty dinner in the backyard with Nathaniel and Nina.

Jesse and Erica made this amazing flourless chocolate birthday cake.  Check out that incredible design.

A great birthday

The next day we headed into the mountains to check out the changing aspens.

Wilder showed us how to find the most delicious rocks.

Hunter found a lot of dog and human pals to hang out with.

We hiked around the skiing area

Amazing yellow aspens

Our intrepid guide

Fall in the southwest.

In the Lightning Field

45 minutes and a few dimensions west of Quemado is Walter de Maria's Lightning Field, a land art installation in one of the quietest, most remote places imaginable. Rebecca Lowery provided the companionship and the art historical perspective. The field, the sun, the poles provided the strange magic.

Rebecca and I hash it out. Behind us, the cabin. Behind the cabin, very much empty space.

Inside the cabin. It was nice there.

A sunset.

The next morning.

Can you believe the sun rises every single day?

I want to go to there.

Old Man Gloom

When September comes to Santa Fe, you can put all of your worries and cares into a 50-foot wicker man named Zozobra, aka Old Man Gloom. Then you gather with thousands of other people, party like its New Years Eve and burn that sucker to the ground. Sam and I watched it all go down from an arroyo (New Mexican for ditch) behind the park.

Looks like someone needs his worries and cares burned to the ground.

The old man himself. Complete with fire dancers.

 

Things not looking good for old Zozo.

Feeling better already.