Land of Enchantment . . . . . “Crescit Eundo”

It’s been a busy number of days this past week.  I always enjoy being here in Albuquerque.  I get to spend time with my family, see the sights (different ones each time), and do a little shopping that’s not available in Wharton.  It’s a big city without being overwhelming huge with too much of everything – things to do, places to go, crazy drivers, and heavy traffic. 

Whenever I’m here, I have a list of Favorite shops I want to go to, like:

Saturday, my daughter and I went to Favorite – The Downtown Growers Market. 

“…mission is to support and promote local agriculture, small business development and community engagement in order to better the economics, health, wellbeing and education of New Mexico residents and visitors.”

  

Oh my dear lord – so much to choose from – vegetables of all sorts, herbs, plants, local meat, homemade breads, jelly, peppers, relishes, pickles, eggs, honey, cookies, pies and more.  Plus a section is dedicated for local crafters and artists.  I love it there.  Not all the spring vegetables were available because, here in ABQ, spring has only recently sprung.  Still my daughter bought fresh lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and greenhouse tomatoes.  Me?, well I bought a sweet roll (hey – we all have our priorities).  And, it’s all organic.  I want one just like this close to me!

Abby and I went to another

Favorite  Stranger Factory - a weird, unique, unusual, one of a kind place.  It’s a “postmodern, pop surrealist, lowbrow” art gallery and has some of the coolest stuff – from tarot cards to books to sculpture to original artwork to limited edition prints to just curious objects.  I love it and there are a number of things I always think I just might need.

Today, Charlotte and I went to a couple more.

So, I’m a cross stitcher.  It keeps my hands busy in the evenings (it’s hard to just sit and watch TV).  I start with a blank piece of fabric and have to count placement of each stitch.  I like to think it keeps my brain working also.  Favorite  Stitcher’s Garden.  I go every time I’m here.  And, I make whomever I’m with promise to not let me buy any patterns (I have six 3-ring binders full at home and yes, I have cleaned them out, keeping only the “ones I plan on doing before I die”).

My granddaughter was no help here . . . .

She, in fact, picked this one out.  And, it comes with a story.  The designer went through a Beatles stage and designed patterns based on Beatles songs – Strawberry Fields, Yellow Submarine, Octopus’s Garden, Long and Winding Road.  And had the patterns printed with song lyrics on each – without getting permission to do so.  Oopsie.  Had to have all the patterns reprinted sans lyrics.  Anyway, Strawberry Fields Forever will be the next project. 

Lately, I’ve made changes to some of my patterns by including beadwork.  For that, I need a very small seed bead – 15/0.  And, yes, I can buy them via Amazon or other internet stores but I’d really like to see what I’m getting.  (Telling me I’m getting 8 grams of beads doesn’t work for me – how big is the container for 8 grams?).  Favorite  Beaded Iris.  I like doing beadwork – adds sparkle and depth to a project.

And, finally we went to

Favorite  Figments Tea Shoppe.  I like it there – people are knowledgeable about teas, they have a very nice selection of lose tea blends, and it’s not frighteningly expensive.  Plus, it’s more than just a place to buy tea.  They also have all the tea accruements, specialty vinegars and olive oil, along with – garden stuff, knick-knack stuff, dragons, fairies, wind chimes, crystals, you know – stuff. 

And then, we came home.

23 May 2019

Tent Rocks

Yesterday we went to The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. 

WOW!  It is an amazing place.  And, if you decide to visit – wear good walking shoes and bring water (there is none to be had once you enter the gates).  If it’s a sunny day, you might want a hat.  And, a camera because there are about a million picture opportunities! 

Tent Rocks isn’t far from Albuquerque but you want to plan to get there early because in the summer, it fills up with visitors quickly.  And, they only allow so many people in the park at a time then, you just have to wait until some leave.

Kasha-Katuwe comes from the traditional Keresan language of the Cochiti Pueblo and means “white cliffs”.  The rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 7 million years ago.  They are made up of ‘tuff’ (a relatively soft, porous rock that is usually formed by the compaction and cementation of volcanic ash or dust) and pumice and a bunch of other things.

It’s on the Pajarito Plateau and ranges from 5,570 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level.  And for those of us that live in places where the highest “hill” is the freeway overpass, that’s waaaay up there!

We took the Tent Rocks Slot Canyon and Cave Loop (about 3.1 miles) which is rated as moderate.  Hahahahahahahahaha – moderate – giggle, giggle.  It’s a loop through a slot canyon with hoodoos (tent rock, fairy chimney, or earth pyramid) and striated rock formations.  And the climb is about 750 ft (seven HUNDRED and fifty) to the top.  And, the whole loop is uphill – even coming back, I swear it was uphill too!  And there are great big rocks you have to crawl over that get bigger on the “down” side. 

Now follows picture dump

  

The grandgirls were standing
amongst the roots of that tree.

Yep – had to crawl under that

And this.  BTW – that’s not a fallen tree
it’s growing that way

About 3/4^th of the way up, the trail turned into a wash filled with very large rocks.  That would mean – spider crawling up to the top.  Hmmmmm – pass.  My oldest granddaughter took on the challenge and went all the way to the top

I do think I might need this tree in my yard.  Looks like an Ent sitting around keeping an eye on everyone.

18 May 2019

Flowers and other NM stuff

I am a morning walker.  Specially here in New Mexico.  Because – 1 it’s not humid and 2 the mornings are very cool.  Nice.  So far this year Albuquerque has had a lot of rain and water from snow melt and you can see it in the roses.

OHMIGOD!

And, these are only a few of the ones in my daughter’s neighborhood . . . . . .

These are all grafted roses, that while we can grow them down our way, they do require a lot of hands-on attention.  Here?  Not so much.  Ok – one or two more

Then I saw this – running down the street in front of my daughter’s house!  As many times as I come here, it’s the first road runner I’ve actually seen

  

And these guys were in a neighboring yard . . .

Yeah, yeah – yard art but who knew you

might find Pink Flamingos in Albuquerque!

This big yard art sculpture has been a staple in her neighborhood.

Hmmmm -  I don’t know

My youngest middle granddaughter graduated from high school!  Yea!  I'll tell you what - start to finish including speeches, songs, marching in and out, they graduated all 300+ in one hour.

If you haven’t been to the Albuquerque Botanical Garden, you should go.  Go in the spring because after Memorial Day, everything turns brown.  It was very pretty though and I think we walked about 735 miles – maybe more.  I saw a whole list of things I’d like to grow but don’t because it’s humid where I live -humid and hot and humid for 98% of the year.

Hellebore – Lenten Rose

Included in the Botanical Garden is a Butterfly House and a Bugporiam (which is a building full of bugs – caged bugs – sorta interesting considering they’re all bugs - oh, bugs and rat moles which are a bit icky).

And there is a small Aquarium – full of, well yes, fish.

  

Today we are off to The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.  More to come.

17 May 2019

On the Road

I mentioned how hectic and busy last week was with trying to get ready to leave town, adopting two babies, RAIN, and dealing with the leaking roof. 

Monday it all came to an end.

Monday, the clouds went away and the sun came out and the roofer came over!  Yea.  I am told it is all patched (double yea) and ready for the next bout of inclement weather.

Monday, I took the babies over to my sister’s house.  She’s babysitting.  It was like going somewhere with 2-year old humans – food, blankies, kitty box, food, bowls, and so forth.  They settled right in, seem to have few problems with her puppy, Minnie and are generally ignored by her cat Emma.  They are, however, keeping Ellen busy and somewhat sleepless. 

cute, cute, cute

Monday, I left for a visit to Albuquerque.  My youngest middle granddaughter is graduating from high school.  Plus, I’m going to stay and visit for a little while. 

Ellen volunteered to take me to the airport.  We left about 7am-ish.  And, almost immediately got stopped in traffic on Hwy 59.  The kind of traffic where nobody moves, there are only red tail lights as far as you can see and nobody moves (did I say that?). 

18-wheeler shuts down northbound, southbound lanes of Highway 59 in Wharton

After sitting for 20 minutes, we finally googled optional directions and found another path around the problem.  Made it to the airport in good time. 

The trip to Albuquerque was fine and I was (am) happy to be with granddaughters, daughter, and son-in-law.  We went out for a walk Monday night and came across this

Yep – pig – actually there were 2 pigs in the back seat of the car.  I found out that the woman that owns them teaches pig yoga -

“Barbie the pig has been showing up to local yoga classes, creating some fun and entertainment for anyone who attends.  “She's such a diva,” Sydney Forestal, Pig Yoga Instructor, and Owner of Barbie said.  But she's not alone, her faithful partner, Elvis also makes an appearance.  I always am a big believer in animal therapy and animals and movement just makes people have fun and smile.”

In this world --- you just never know what’s going to be around the next corner.  I just may need to pass this idea onto my yoga instructor.

More to come . . . .

Kevin helping me write up this addition to my blog.
Not much help as he insisted he should sit on the keyboard.

15 May 2019

They’re coming to take me away – ho ho, ha ha, hee hee

While the first half of this week started of quietly, it escalated into total chaos by the last half.  And, I’m currently keeping an eye out for the little guys in white jackets.

Wednesday – it rained.  Not the gentle pitter-patter of rain that sinks into the ground, making all my plants happy.  Nooo – it was the “somebody turned the faucet on full force and it is spraying all over the kitchen” type of rain.  Along with thunder – window shaking thunder and big zots of lightening, oh goodie. 

Then, as I sat listening to the rain, I kept hearing SPLAT!, SPLAT!, SPLAT!

What the . . .

Got up and looked outside – nope nothing going SPLAT! out there.  Walked over to the window aaanndd a big drop of water went SPLAT! on the table next to me.

I looked up and – yes – my roof sprung a leak that had made it through the ceiling and was dripping on my oak floors, table, and stereo. (ho ho, ha ha, hee hee)

Honestly – I went from saying many very bad words to moderate despair.  Houses are, I think, a lot of trouble.  Anyway, as much as can be done, is being done.  It’s all dependent on the rain.  Therefore, I am talking to Q'uq'umatz, Surupa, Freyr, Dodola, Oya, Tó Neinilii, Lumo, and the universe in general, on a regular basis – no rain on my house, no rain on my house, rain rain go away come back AFTER THE ROOF IS FIXED!

 

Oya

Thursday was the Garden Club’s monthly meeting.  You may remember I brought home a truck load of plants from the plant sale.  None for me – no, no, no – I have lots and many and do not need more.  I brought them home to babysit until Thursday to take them to the meeting so members could take them to forever homes.  So, after loading up plants, unloading plants, attending the meeting, I left plantless.  Yea me!

My little puppy, Morgan, died last Christmas

and I’d been talking about getting a kitty for a little while.  Unfortunately, there were none to be found from January until Thursday.  My sister mentioned that a friend of hers had four feral-ish kittens that needed new homes.  Was I interested?  Yes, but I’m leaving town for 2 weeks and can’t leave little half feral kittens alone.  No problem, she sez, they can come to her house while I’m gone.  Fine, off we went after the WGC meeting.  First of all, her friend, has earned her place in the promise land, heaven, fairyland, Elysium, hereafter, wonderland.  She is a rescue home.  Not only does she foster dogs until they go to their forever home, she has adopted a large number (20 or so).  She also is home for capture and release feral cats.  Through a small accident, an unneutered feral female was released to the cat yard where she promptly made whoopie.  The four kittens were the result. 

We drove up to be greeted by a herd of small dogs, all welcoming with barks, yips, and jumps.  OMG – the noise was amazing.  You could not hear the person standing next to you.  There was no walking from the car to the house – there was shuffling so no little toes got stepped on.  There was no walking through gates or doors – there was inching through so no little dog managed a big escape.  The kittens were housed in the garage - three grays and one black/white; 2 boys and 2 girls. 

Of course I chose two.  I mean, how can you look at these cute little guys and not bundle them home. 

I think I have lost my mind.  Kittens are rather like year-old toddlers.  Capable of getting into all sorts of trouble, quickly and quietly.  And look perfectly cute while doing it.  Day 1 – they crawled into any dark recess they could find and would not come out.  Day 2 – they ran when I tried to pick them up.  Day 3 – they would come out slowly when I came into their room (after all, I am the bringer of food).  And now, Day 4 – they come out when I call them.  Obviously they are brilliant kitties!

Daryl

Zack

In a series of books I read, Daryl and Zack are werewolves.  Daryl is the tough guy, second only to the alpha (that’s me) and Zack a submissive.  Yeah – that’s right.

Here’s what I rediscovered about kittens – they are time intensive.  Half feral even more so – they need a lot of attention to keep them people aware.  These two now play, jump on each other, tussle, race around the room.  I worry for my sister.  She already has a cat (an only cat that doesn’t play well with others) and a dog (princess of all she surveys).  It will be interesting at her house.

Oh and, on Thursday, after getting kittens and then running errands, I came home to find this on my driveway.

Somebody left a trayful from garden club.  Fortunately I was able to deal with them easily – the oak tree is going to be my bonsai project.  The pecan tree was pulled out of the pot and thrown in the street.  The dozen or so cotton plants got a new home with my friend Bobby.  A couple of others also were given new homes.  And, yea!, no plants left.

So far we have had a couple of days of no rain (and no roofer).  And a couple of days of downpouring rain.  I’ve spoken with the roofer a few times trying to convey how stressful it is to have it raining INSIDE the house.  (Yes, yes, as soon as the weather station shows clear - that might be next month!) 

Today I am trying to get myself and the house ready for me to be gone.  Clothes washed, folded and put away, house clean and vacuumed, dishes washed and put away, yard picked up (it has also rained branches from the many pecan trees in my yard), trash emptied, suitcase packed, kitty suitcase packed, etc and so forth. 

Whoops – there goes the dryer buzzer. 

12 May 2019

PLANTS!

Every year, the Wharton Garden Club (of which I am a member of long standing) holds a Members Grown Plant Sale.  We started doing it 10, 12 years ago as a fundraiser and it has been very popular.  The primary reason for its popularity?  Well, the plants are pretty inexpensive, there’s a wide variety of choices, and there are always people there that know a little about a lot of plants. 

It’s big work to hold this sale.  I’ve been chair before – it involves reminding, polite nagging, begging, mild threatening, pleading, and then figuring out the where’s, when’s, and how’s.  This year I showed up at 8:30am to help with set up.  While others brought out armloads of donated plants, I tried to figure out what went where – topicals together, annuals, perennials, trees, roses, camellias.  My sister said I was being anal – not me! – well, maybe just a little.

Members are not allowed to purchase any plants until an hour before we close.  Boo hoo.  Customers started arriving by 930 and the sale opened at 10am.  Once open, my job was to stand around and look knowledgeable.  Hahahahahahahahaha! 

I had staked out a couple of plants I wanted and put an invisible wall around each with the thought that if they were invisible, they wouldn’t sell.  Worked pretty well – I got the ones I really wanted.

When all was said and done, I helped gather up all the plants not purchased (poor babies) and brought home a truck full.  They’ll be going to the meeting this Thursday so the members that couldn’t/didn’t attend might have a go at giving some of them a forever home. 

And what, you ask, did I buy???

Yep – a cactus.  Don’t know its name yet but I really like the variegated coloring and its general warty look.

And a succulent.  I do know this one – Crassula ovata, otherwise known as ET Fingers, Skinny Fingers or (and I like this one best) Gollum Fingers.  A member of the jade family, it is happiest in a dry hot climate.  Well, we got the hot part.  As for the dry – it will sit on my porch and hope for the best with the humidity.

Toothache plant (Spilanthes acmella).  I’ve grown this one before and like the unusual blooms.   This one earned its name from the mouth numbing sensation caused by chewing on the plants’ flowers.  It’s also called Buzz Buttons and Electric Daisy.  This is a tender perennial, and according to one expert, likes full sun though my experience says not our sun – morning ok, afternoon not so much.  It likes regular watering and will probably die in cold weather.  Die as in not come back in the spring.  It can be grown in a container, which is my plan this time.

The petal-less flowers are the thing, though.  They are antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal, have a numbing sensation when chewed or rubbed on wounds, and are sialagogue (it makes you salivate – not mouth water – full on drooling).  A tincture can be made of the leaves and flowers to help with mouth pain.  For numbing effect, swish several drops in the mouth for a minute or so then spit out.  For localized pain, a drop or two can be applied directly, or to a cotton ball and held on the area.  For throat pain you can also gargle with a tincture mixed with water, or with a tea made with a few of the flowers.

Balsam, a member of the Impatiens family is also called Jumping Betty, Tough-me-not, and Lady’s Slipper.  The plant blooms from summer through the fall with trumpet-shaped flowers that produce seed pods that explode when they ripen.  It likes morning sun and protection from afternoon sun.  This is a cheerful reseeder so plant it where you want many.  It attracts butterflies and sphinx moths, grows well in containers, and will bloom all summer provided it gets enough water.

Once upon a time, the juice extracted from its leaves was used for treating snakebites and crushed flowers applied on burns and arthritic joints.  An infusion of the flowers makes a good general tonic that is an effective emetic and laxative plus it promotes the flow of urine.

And, so far, that’s all I got.  However, tomorrow may be another thing – don’t want any homeless plants!

8 May 2019