Diaster Strikes! Part II

The only things that I was aware of on the ride to the emergency room were the bumps in the road. My universe was now centered around the unending pain in my arm. The only variations in the pain occurred when the car hit one of Houston's apparently endless pot holes. At this point, I felt sure this was the worst it could hurt.

We got to the emergency room about 5:00 on Friday evening at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend.

We passed the emergency room turn in at Ben Taub. I had spent far too much time in the mighty Taub's ER waiting room with husband number one back during the really bad old days. They do an amazing job of putting people back together, but for tonight I would pass on their hospitality and go next door. For me. Ben Taub is full of memories. That's a long story in and of itself. Maybe I'll tell it someday, but not now.

The next emergency driveway was less than a block away and led to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center. My husband, Joel, walked me through the doors and deposited me at the emergency room admissions desk. While the woman at the desk started asking me questions and filling out forms, he left to park the car. Once she finished with me, I took my seat among the other folks waiting their turn.

The waiting room was divided into three seating areas, each with its own TV mounted from the ceiling. The result was a mind numbing cacophony of sports and news. The waiting room was amazingly empty or so it seemed to me.

An old woman in a frumpy brown blouse tried to start a conversation with me. Apparently she had broken her arm some time back. I vaguely understood that she was trying to tell me that her arm had been broken worse than my arm. I nodded and closed my eyes hoping that she would leave me alone.

Joel returned and sat with me. We waited. I rocked in my seat, cradling my arm and wondering if I would still get to go to Japan. Joel says it took about a half hour before they called me to go in, but I had no sense of time left. The universe revolved around my arm.

Everything from here on gets pretty fuzzy for me. Everyone was very kind and gentle with me. There was a constant flow of doctors and nurses. They took my blood pressure and my temperature. They asked, "Can you feel this? and this?" as they checked for nerve damage. I would love to thank them each and every one, but that's not possible here.

Then, they did the best thing of all, they gave me pain medication. They asked if I wanted a shot or tablets. Silly me, I asked for tablets.

Shortly afterward they sent me to get X-rays. Joel had stayed with me the whole way so far, but here they had him stay outside the door.

A very nice young woman asked me to place my hand in various positions. Positions that had previously been everyday, no big deal, a gesture here, a turn of the wrist there, had become excruciating. I was afraid that I was screaming. In my mind I was screaming, but I kept my mouth closed. Joel, waiting outside the door, said that he could hear me and it only sounded like whimpering.

Afterward I was able see my X-rays. My initial self-diagnosis was right. It didn't look at all right. I definitely broke my arm. The paperwork said, "Fracture: distal radius (displaced)."

I was taken in and helped onto a bed. An IV was placed in my right hand. An oxygen mask was placed over my nose and mouth. The last thing I remember was the nurse injecting some liquid into my IV that produced a very unpleasant burning sensation in my right arm and then nothing.

When I awoke, I was lying on the same bed in a different room with my left arm in a splint, elbow to knuckles.

There was more, people checking on me, signing papers, checking out, but it all passed in a haze.

The emergency room was starting to get busy. Folks in much worse shape than me were being rolled in on gurneys.

I don't really remember leaving the emergency room. All I really know is that Joel got me safely home and, for that, I am very grateful.

To be continued . . .

Diaster Strikes!

I am typing this with one hand.

Why? Because my left arm is in the same temporary splint that they put on it in the emergency room last Friday night.

The following is the long version that will bring you up up date, if you are interested.

Last Friday I loaded my car to leave work. As usual, I put my teaching bags in the back, then I walked to the passenger door, opened it and placed my purse and my new laptop on the seat. I was thinking about which Japanese podcast to listen to on the way home.

I closed the car door and that is when the trouble started. I tripped. I don't know what it was that I tripped on, but I was falling forward and I did the only natural thing. I tried to break my fall.

My right palm slid on the asphalt. My knees slid on the asphalt. My left palm didn't slide.

I knew something was horribly wrong. My left arm, or was it my wrist, didn't look right. It hurt in a strange, distanced sort of way.

I supported my left hand with my right and headed back to the building. I ran into another faculty member and her daughter on their way out of the building. She sent her daughter on ahead of us to look for the nurse while she walked me back inside,

I was lucky. The nurse was still at school. She sat me down and started back together as best she could. She cleaned and bandaged my bloody, scraped up knees and right palm while I kept my left arm flat on her desktop. Then she put a splint on my left arm. By then I knew how bad it hurt.

I was cursing a blue streak that would have made any sailor righteously proud. Gratefully all the students were gone.

My principal stopped by. He's on crutches right now, having recently broken his ankle. Other teachers stopped and looked in, most of them offered words of condolence along with their thoughts about the possibilities of my still going to Japan.

My husband was called to come pick me up and take me to the hospital.

One of my fellow teachers and her husband got my car back to my house.

More later.

Winding Up While Winding Down

The school year is ending and I'm preparing to go to Japan. Nothing new there, except the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program listserve. All I can say is "Wow!"

As of this last week, I have been overwhelmed by e-mail. It's wonderful e-mail. It's incredible e-mail. It's an avalanche of e-mail. E-mail from all over the country, from every size and shape and type of educator is barreling into my mail box.

As of right now, looking over my list of people who are going to Japan, I know of ten people who are going to Katori, Chiba, thirteen people who are art teachers, and six people who are Texans. All total, I have counted over 114 people and I know I've missed a few! Some people have just sent one e-mail checking in while others have been e-mailing away at an incredible pace. Good thing it is all coming to my home e-mail address. My school e-mail would never be able to handle this type of volume.

I've been trying to keep up. I have to read it all. I don't want to miss one little thing. At the same time, I have an incredible amount of stuff to get through here at the end of the school year.

Let's see, there are grades and paperwork. There is the annual End-of-Year Check Out List. Oh, but the thing that is wiping me out is that I am changing rooms and I have to pack up everything.

The problem is that I am an art teacher and I have a room full of art materials of all shapes and sizes. Some things will just have to be moved as they are and others have to be brought together in one box with other similar items.

And then, there are the boxes. I have never before in my life had so many boxes. The school, my principal and the office staff have been incredibly helpful. I have so many boxes! But, at this point the school year is still going on and I have a classroom full of kids and boxes.

Top all of it off with trip preparations and I'm feeling a wee bit stressed. It's not all bad, but it does feel overwhelming.

I just bought myself a new laptop to take on the trip. I got a MacBook, my first Apple. This is the little machine that I've wanted for a long time, but now that it is here I don't have time to play with it until school is out. I take that back, I won't have time to play with it until this weekend. I definitely need time to become familiar with it before I head for Japan!

I got a new camera for Mother's Day and I have the same problem there. No time. It's a Sony CyberShot T70, very similar to my previous camera, so I'm a stranger to it. It has a touch screen which is taking a bit of getting used to, but otherwise it's easy to use.

It's time to get going. I have another day of kids and art and crazyness ahead. Wish me luck!

My Host City

I received the news last week. My host city is official. I'll be going to Katori, Chiba Prefecture.

I've looked it up on the web and I'm really excited. It is not too very far from Tokyo. Tokyo is west of Narita Airport and Katori is north east of Narita Airport as far as I can tell. There is some good information about Katori online at http://www.chiba-tour.jp/eng/airport/katori/top.html

I started receiving responses from some of the former JFMFers that I have contacted. They have offered many helpful hints and shared their experience.

I'm keeping my mind as open as I can to this whole experience. I have no idea what it will be like, although I have had several dreams that involve being in Japan. I'm sure that my dreams are influenced by all of the reading that I'm doing.

I received another e-mail from the JFMF folks. Today there was a new online form to fill out. This time I got to sign up for two different special seminars. I signed up for "Peace Education" on June 13 and "Art Education Workshop" on June 24. Both seminars will take place in Tokyo.

Tokyo, in five weeks I'll be there. How cool is that?

The Spending Begins

As soon as pay day arrived I went and bought my luggage. I have never owned a suitcase so huge! At the same time, I have never traveled so far.

I got one of those enormous roll-around suitcases. You've seen them in the airport. I know I've seen them in the airport. In the past I always thought, "My god, what are those people packing?" Now, I suppose, I will find out.

I also bought the matching carry-on case. No, I did not get the one with wheels.

My next stop after buying luggage was the print shop. I ordered business cards with my name and info on one side in English and on the other in Japanese. Special thanks to Alex for the translation!

I actually had two sets made, one with my school/work information and one with my Texas Art Education Association Area VI Representative/personal info. They look awesome!

It's early morning here. It's time for me to head off to school. More later!

And the next step is . . .

The acceptance letter was just the beginning of the process.

Once my head cleared and I could breath again, after I called my husband, I reread the letter.

Along with the acceptance letter came the Statement of Intention. Now I had to indicate my acceptance of their acceptance. Its a good thing that I pay attention to details. This letter had to be first faxed, then the original signed form had to be mailed, to the offices of the Institute of International Education.

No problem. I had the Statement of Intention signed and faxed in no time at all. I made a photocopy for my records and mailed it off promptly.

Then, the next letter came. Now there were eight items to accomplish:
1. Travel Registration Form
2. Terms and Conditions
3. Insurance Beneficiary Form
4. Medical Forms
5. Participant Update Form
6. Digital passport photos
7. Proof of Citizenship
8. Copy of photo page of passport
There were several different due dates. Some things could be done online. Some things had to be done in hardcopy.

I got out my calendar and marked out the dates. I went online. I followed instructions.

As each paper went off, as each e-document was sent out into cyberspace, I moved one small step closer to going to Japan.

I copied instructions from the website and made copies of the materials that I need to read before the trip.

I went to the book store and bought travel guides. I went on iTunes and downloaded Japanese language podcasts.

The Japan Festival was being held at Hermann Park. I went and wandered through marvelling at the thought that soon I would see the real thing, Japan itself. I stopped at the Consulate-General of Japan at Houston's booth. I spoke with the people at the Japan America Society-Houston's booth. I collected several business cards.

Business cards, now there was something that I needed! I talked to a young man about where to go to have business cards printed in Japanese and English. He asked if I needed a translation. It had never occurred to me. Yes, of course, I needed a translation.

When I left the festival I was well-fed and had a bag full of brochures and information about classes in the Japanese language. I didn't buy anything outside of food. All I could think was, if this is the Japan Festival in Houston, imagine what I'll find in Japan!

I got home and sorted through my bag. I reread the required Japan Basics reading material.

When time came to sleep I found I couldn't. My mind was churning.

Now the fun began. I started to think about what kind of luggage I need. New clothes, do I need new clothes? What about electronics? A laptop? A new camera? Finally, I dropped off as visions of Japan spun in my head.

The Journey Continues

I told myself that I wasn't waiting for it, but over spring break I found myself repeatedly checking to see if the mail had arrived yet each day. When the envelop finally came I was afraid to pick it up.

I could see the corner with the return address peeking out from under the bills and junk mail. I left it on the floor beneath the mail slot while I picked up the other mail, one envelop at a time. It was a slow striptease of lifting each envelop and then the next off of the light blue envelop with the Japanese return address.

Finally, all was revealed. Eying it carefully, I tried to determine at a distance what its contents might be. It was the same color of blue as the envelop I received when I was picked to be an alternate a couple of years back. It was larger than the rejection notices that I had received in the past.

I picked it up cautiously, feeling its weight in my palm, its thickness between my fingers. My heart was pounding as I carried it upstairs and used my letter opener to slowly open it. My hands shook as I read the opening line, "Dear Ms. King: It is a pleasure to inform you . . . . " I could barely breathe as I read the letter.

It was the middle of the day and I was home alone except for the dog, who was gazing at me with concern. "Ubu," I said as calmly as I could, "I'm going to Japan!"

Finishing up on the Follow Up

I've finished my two page Summary Report, but there are still things to do. I have to copy all of the financial report over and make copies of receipts. This portion of it has been the linear thinking part.

This weekend I get to work on the fun part! The Reflective Report is a sort of open-ended, creative, joyous sort of a thing. It can be a scrapbook or a Power Point or whatever moves me. I'm looking forward to this portion of the Follow Up.

I've been waking up thinking about the Reflective Report and about how to apply what I've learned this summer. I'm very excited about the possibilities. I'll let you know what's up as soon as I can.

Just remember . . .

You can lead a horse to water . . .

But don't act like one of these!

Following through on the follow up

I woke up before 5:00 a. m. and started sorting through all the papers that I brought home from the trip.

I spent hours yesterday working on the financial paperwork from my grant. It is finally all entered into the computer. All that is left to do is copy it.

The next steps are writing the two page summary report, the reflective report, and, finally, the survey.

Going over the financial paperwork was somewhat frightening. I spent an incredible amount of money. Its a good thing that I received a little extra money in July. I added my money to the grant. This allowed me to stay on the road just that much longer. All told this trip cost me about $3000 more than the grant. Amazing!

Of course, that isn't including the books and gear that I bought before the trip. I'm now the proud owner of a tent and all the gear that I need to take off and go camping. Good thing, too, as this trip has made me remember how much I love being out in nature.

It will be a while before I'm going anywhere. I have a week before school starts back up to sort through all of the papers and materials that I brought back.

My brain is churning away with ideas for how to use my experience in the classroom. It's a marvelous state to be in! Between the workshop, Folk Art Traditions and Beyond facilitated by Nancy Walkup of SchoolArts Magazine and Mayra Walker of the University of North Texas, and all the traveling I've done the options seem endless.

I already have the majority of my professional development hours for this school year and school hasn't even started!

Got to go. It's time to make coffee, have a bite of breakfast and get back to the papers.

Working on lists of resources and thinking about the future

I've spent hours today working on inputting the information on the books that I actually own and have used for research in the course of my travels. I had no idea that I had so much until I started working on it.

I've also created a list of links to the various places that I went over the month of July. Hopefully this will help anyone who is interested find out more.

There is still a little left to do.

I'm hoping to keep this blog going, although I don't know if that is really feasible. I have another blog up and running now. The name is "News from the Art Room". I'm considering the idea of letting it replace the e-mail newsletter that I was putting out last year. Again, I don't know if that will work. People seem to prefer the passive form rather than the active. A blog actually requires them to go to it, whereas the e-mail lands in their mailboxes like manna from heaven. Well, maybe its not that good, but you know what I mean.

Still settling in

Chama River Valley

In some ways it feels as if I was never gone.

I'm still sorting things out and putting them away. At the same time I'm trying to catch up with e-mails, particularly the one's from school.

I ordered the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Collections along with the Georgia O'Keeffe Catalog Raisonne. I found them with Amazon. I got a good price break and I didn't have to haul them across country. That was a good thing, too, since the Catalog Raisonne alone weighs 20 pounds!

Since I've been home I find myself waking up in the middle of the night with ideas for projects, both for myself and for my students. I have to write them down as I get them, otherwise they'll be lost in the flood of beginning-of-the-school-year in-services and professional development opportunities.

Mesa Verde

There are reports to file with Fund for Teachers, paintings to paint, drawings to draw and all matter of other things to do. Where does the time go?

Taos Sunset behind the Sagebrush Inn

Leaving Taos Pueblo

Its time to take a breath and remember sitting outside in the moonlight at Ghost Ranch. The real versus the unreal, all the chaos of functioning in the system versus the hands-on reality of days lived in the air and light. I know why Georgia O'Keeffe chose to lived in Northern New Mexico.

Rainstorm over Cerro Pedernal

Home, Sweet Home

I'm back home in Texas. I drove like a maniac from Abiquiu down through Santa Fe and Albuquerque and on to Fort Stockton.

It was starting to get dark, so I spent the night at the Best Western in Stockton. Two king size beds, one for me and one for my stuff, a TV and a jacuzzi tub! What more could a poor road weary girl want?

Up at first light, I painted until time for the buffet breakfast. As soon as I finished eating I loaded the Jeep again and hit the road.

Let me tell you, after driving mountain roads and dirt roads, the interstate highway system is a dream of sorts. It does seem to go through the most boring routes, but, boy, can you just drive!

I made it to Austin in time for granddaughter Hazel's fifth birthday party.

The drive yesterday morning from Austin to Houston was a hop, skip and a jump compared to what I've been doing.

I turned in the Jeep this morning. I really hated to see it go. It was fun to drive. I made sure it had a full tank of gas and a nice coat of New Mexico mud and dust.

Right now I'm back home sitting at my own computer adding photos to some of the posts on this lil' ol' blog, bless its heart. You may want to go back through the posts and check the pictures. I think they're pretty good.

After my time in O'Keeffe country and at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center and Ghost Ranch, I can tell you that I'm not through yet. I'm on a mission!

On the road

Leaving Ghost Ranch

I spent the last two nights standing out in the moonlight listening to coyotes howl, watching the cliff faces light up, and wishing on shooting stars. I love it here at night. The only problem is that its hard to paint in the dark. I should know, I've tried.

I got up this morning way before dawn and watched the morning arrive. I painted my goodbye to Cerro Pedernal and Ghost Ranch.

It's time to head home.

Another beautiful day in O'Keeffe Country

O'Keeffe's Abiquiu House where she spent winters

I took the tour of O'Keeffe's home in the village of Abiquiu for the second time yesterday. This time I could relax and be more observant, since I wasn't so overwhelmed by the experience. It's a lovely old adobe. When O'Keeffe bought it in 1946 from the Catholic church it was little more than a ruin. With the help of Maria Chabot, she restored it. The structure follows the original footprint of the old adobe ruins, but O'Keeffe had windows cut in to allow her better views of the landscape.

The house is maintained, as much as possible as, in the exact state that it was in when O'Keeffe was forced to move to Santa Fe due to her health in the late 1980s. Her rock collections are sit on every available flat surface.

Here at the Ghost Ranch, 12 miles down the road, I am carrying on her practice, picking up stones and branches. I wake up with the sun and watch the light catch on the outline of Pedernal, the mountain that O'Keeffe loved so much. Her home here is not open to the public, but the view is not much different. The cottage she stayed in her first few summers here is still available as a guest house.

This afternoon I'm taking a tour of O'Keeffe Country.

O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch House, Rancho de los Burros, where she spent her summers

Lavender Hills, Ghost Ranch near O'Keeffe's house

Cliffs beyond Abiquiu - Dry Waterfall, Ghost Ranch

Cedar Tree, Ghost Ranch

I've met a wide range of people who knew O'Keeffe, from a woman who worked as a checker at Kaune's back then, to a receptionist at the O'Keeffe Home and Studio Tour who keeps her parents' wedding photo on her desk. She looks just like her mom and the woman standing with her parents is O'Keeffe. Several of the older folks here at Ghost Ranch remember O'Keeffe.

I'll try to check back tomorrow.

I have two more nights here before I hit the road back to Texas.

A few days and a lot of miles

I keep getting myself off to places with no internet access and no cell phone signal, but that's OK. Just bear with me.

Since you last heard from me I was in Chaco Canyon, Taos, the Enchanted Circle, Taos again and back to Santa Fe. My traveling companion for the last week, Brandy, left me in Santa Fe to fly back to Houston and I headed out to Abiquiu and, about 12 miles further down the road, Ghost Ranch.

The road into Chaco and one of the goat herding dogs

Chaco Canyon was one of the best stops so far. I headed out down a two lane blacktop that changed to dirt.

We encountered a small herd of goats being moved along by three dogs, no shepherd in sight. The dogs stared as we drove by.

A sign stated the obvious, "Pavement Ends", and then there were no fences in sight and open land for as far as the eye can see. It was beautiful beyond belief.

We came to a wash with a sign that said not to attempt to cross it if there was water in it. While we stopped to ponder the question of whether to attempt it or not, two other vehicles pulled up behind us. We all got out of our vehicles and conferred. None of us had been to Chaco before, so none of us knew what the wash looked like dry, but there appeared to be a goodly current. The water was muddy and we couldn't tell the depth. The driver of a Lexus 4x4 decided to take the lead. I figured that he had OnStar and if he got stuck they would come and rescue him anywhere on the planet, so I moved over and let him through.

He made it and the other vehicle followed. Brandy and I looked at each other, took a deep breath and drove through, no problem. The Lexus had waited on the other side to make sure that we made it. We waved our thanks and we all headed out. We stopped in the visitor's center for a restroom break. I bought books and found I that I got a teacher's discount! That led to buying a few more books.

Me standing in one of the T-shaped doorways of Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon

Many of the ruins at Chaco are easily accessible. We climbed and took photos. It is a sort of eerie place. The sound of the wind through empty windows and doorways, the call of ravens, the color of dwellings against high cliff walls give a strangely spiritual quality to this place. Due to the difficulty of access and the remote location there are few tourists hopping about. Don't tell anyone! Too many people would ruin it.

Near Nageezi and O'Keeffe's "Black Place"

On the way out we stopped to take photos of The Black Place that Georgia O'Keeffe painted so often. In the paintings it looks immense, but it's a distortion created by the artist, just like her huge flower paintings. The Black Place is a small geological formation of hills that appear black to dark gray depending on the time of day.

We drove on from there to Taos and spent one night in the Sagebrush Inn.

The Sagebrush Inn is where O'Keeffe stayed in 1930 as she tried to distance herself from the social scene at Mabel Dodge Luhan's house, Los Gallos. The Sagebrush Inn has the original rooms from 1918 and quite a few newer wings that have the same basic feel. It also has a jacuzzi and a swimming pool and a bar with live music on the weekends. The jacuzzi was the right spot to head for after all the days on the road. After cleaning up we had dinner in the Los Vaqueros dining room followed by a stop in the bar for music by a little group calling themselves South by Southwest.

In the midst of all this we found that we had landed square in the middle of Taos Fiesta weekend when the Queen of the festival and all her court dropped by with a mariachi band. We finally called it a day and headed for some rest in a nice air-conditioned room.

Entrance to one of the Earthships

The next day we went out to see the Earthships. These structures are built out of old tires packed with earth and covered with concrete. Several have walls made of old bottles that glow like stained glass in the desert sun. We heard Val Kilmer has a place out there, but we didn't go looking for him.

Portal of the Mabel Dodge Luhan House

We checked into the Mabel Dodge Luhan house for the next two nights where I had the good fortune to run into Lois Rudnick, a writer who has written a history of the house and a biography of Mabel.

The Mabel Dodge Luhan House is not air-conditioned, but it cools off so well at night that you don't really need it. It's quiet and calm and restful. The property is bounded by the Taos Pueblo lands on two sides. I spent a part of my evening listening to the coyotes howl back and forth.

Doing my usual, I woke up at about 3:30 in the morning and headed outside to write for awhile without disturbing Brandy. It felt quiet, safe and cool.

If you don't stay at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House for any other reason you should go there for the breakfast. It is absolutely incredible and served up in Mabel's dining room. I'm not going to tell you anymore, except maybe homemade from scratch blueberry pancakes and fresh bagels and lox. Yummmmm!

We drove the Enchanted Circle with a short stop at the D. H. Lawrence Ranch again. I was hoping to run into Mary Barrett, but no such luck.

One last night at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe. I love this place, great location, good breakfast, and happy, unpretentious people and a chance to do some laundry. My second appointment with the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center and a tasty lunch at the O'Keeffe Cafe followed by waiting for the shuttle with Brandy.

Once she was off I hit the road for Ghost Ranch Abiquiu. The name is not quite appropriate, as it is 12 miles past the village of Abiquiu.

I checked in and headed for my room on the top of the mesa. It looks like something out of my old Girl Scout camping days but the view is awesome. I can see Cerro Pedernal from my front door. Another good choice, the price is right and includes three meals a day!

Last night a thunderstorm blew in. Now if you have spent time in the high desert you know what I'm talking about. I could see it coming miles off. The air grew cooler and had a different smell. I raced back to my room, uphill all the way. I made it, out of breath and only slightly damp, before the storm hit. I could see it, hear it, smell it, long before it got to me in full force.

Up on the top of the mesa there is not much between you and the thunder and lightening. I was seeing the flash and hearing the crash simultaneously. It was incredible and awe-inspiring.

Looking down from the mesa, early morning

Morning came with a beautiful coolness. Sunlight on orange and yellow cliffs. Pedernal standing over it all. What more can I ask for?

On the way to Chaco Cultural National Historical Park

Here I am again, typing away on a hotel computer. I'm at the Comfort Inn in Farmington, New Mexico. Tomorrow morning it will be up early and off to Chaco.

White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly

Monday night was spent in Chinle, Arizona. In the morning Brandy and I took a tour of Canyon de Chelly. Access to the canyon is only in company of a Navajo guide. We took a half day tour that included portions of both the North and South Canyons. We saw petroglyphs and ruins. Any time the truck we were travelling in went into the shadows of the canyon walls it was at least 10 degrees cooler.

Mesa Verde

Tuesday and Wednesday night were spent in Mesa Verde National Park. There are more ruins and archaeological sites in this one small area than you could possibly believe. There are also some really hair-raising roads in this park.

We stayed at the Farview Lodge. Our room was not air conditioned. It was OK after sundown, but when the sun was streaming down it was unpleasantly hot.

Mesa Verde Sunset

Gorgeous views of sunset. We could see Shiprock from our porch.

Yesterday we went on a self-guided tour. We took the bus tour of the park this morning. Like I said, the park is full of a variety of sites, pit-houses and cliff dwellings, both.

I'm about worn out with being on the road. I'll be glad to head home soon.

Welcome to Arizona

I only have a moment to post before I head out to tour Canyon de Chelly.

We took off early yesterday from Santa Fe. A short stop at the Hubble Trading Post and on to Chinle. We stayed last night at the Thunderbird Lodge at Canyon de Chelly. After the tour we'll be off to Mesa Verde.

I'll post more from there.

Words are failing me. I have seen so much country that I can't even write it, at least not yet.

Until tomorrow.

About to be moving on . . .

Today, July 15th, is Joel and my anniversary. It's been 11 years. We spoke on the phone for this evening, same as we've been doing since I started this trip. We've agreed to postpone celebrating until I get home and I still have a ways to go.

We, Brandy and me, went out to the Indian Flea Market. She found the earrings that she wanted. I've been searching for an onyx bracelet with a turquoise inset. Once upon a time, a long time ago in a different life I had one for a short while. I haven't seen anything even vaguely like it since.

Well, today at the Flea Market I found a beautiful bracelet with a turquoise inset, but it was made of spiny oyster, not onyx. I told the vendor I would think about it. I walked around for a moment and couldn't get if off my mind. I returned to the booth just in time to watch another vendor buy it and about four or five other bracelets off him. That'll teach me!

We went on to Bandelier. Incredible drive with a narrow road and immense vistas. We took the easy walk, the Nature Trail, to the cave/cliff dwellings. Took some great photographs before it started to rain.

We raced the rain storm back to Santa Fe and dinner.

Tonight was the last night of the workshop, so my time is once again my own.

My personal shrine box from the workshop, Folk Art Traditions and Beyond

Tomorrow we head out for Canyon de Chelly, Mesa Verde, and Chaco. I don't know if I'll get a chance to check in for the next four or five days.

I'll be in Taos the 22nd and 23rd, then back to Santa Fe for one night and on to Abiquiu. I'll be headed for home on the 29th.

It's been a long haul so far. I miss home and my husband and my dog. I miss my own bed, but right now I have to take as much advantage as I can of the time I've got here.

If you don't see any new posts for a couple of days keep checking back. I'll post again as soon as I can.

'night ya'll!

Playing Catch Up Again

My days have been so full lately that it has been difficult to get a chance to write. If you catch any errors in grammar or spelling, please ignore them. I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.

On Wednesday, July 11th the workshop, Folk Art Traditions and Beyond, started up in earnest.

We began our day with a trip to the Museum of International Folk Art. The group that I was a part of spent most of its time in the Girard Collection. Alexander Girard was an architect and collector of folk art. That last part just might be an understatement.

He also knew Georgia O'Keeffe. She and Juan Hamilton visited Girard and his wife in Morocco.

We were given the grand tour behind the scenes of the Museum of International Folk Art. We watched as pieces from the collection were photographed and labeled. It was a side of the museum that most folks never get to see.

From there we went back to the Ghost Ranch Santa Fe for lunch and a session with a young woman named Nancy Judd.

Nancy Judd makes recycled fashion. She combines unlikely materials (broken glass, junk mail, aluminum cans, plastic detergent bottles) into elegant fashion statements. If you'd like to know more you can check her out on line at www.colores.us/pulpfashion.htm

We began work on personal shrines using cardboard boxes and a variety of materials, both two- and three-dimensional. It is amazing the range of directions folks will go in when given an open-ended project!

Finally, John Reyna from Taos Pueblo came and talked to us from his personal experience as a member of the Pueblo and as an educator.

John Reyna's dad's shop at the entrance to Taos Pueblo

Thursday morning, July 12th, started with a lecture on Outsider Art by Mayra.

House with bottle fence and bottle tree in yard, near Madrid on The Turquoise Trail

This was followed by a visit from the potter and ceramicist, Joe Bova. He was unable to make an evening session with us, but dropped in for a few moments.

Nancy Walkup gave an overview of Georgia O'Keeffe's life with particular focus on her time in New Mexico.

We had a another scrumptious lunch and got aboard the vans for a trip to the village of Abiquiu and the home of Georgia O'Keeffe and the Ghost Ranch Abiquiu. Now, if you are like me, you are probably wondering how to pronounce this place name. Its Ab-e-q. Now that's phonetic, so don't fault my spelling.

Brandy and me at the Ghost Ranch Gate. The Ghost Ranch logo was designed by O'Keeffe.

O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu is beautiful and the views are spectacular, but you're not allowed to take photographs or sketch or anything else while you are there. Still, it's definitely worth the trip.

The landscape around Abiquiu is dramatic. As you go further north it just gets better. From the Ghost Ranch Abiquiu, which is actually north of Abiquiu the village, you have a view of Pedernal, the mountain that O'Keeffe painted so often. She actually said that God told her if she painted it often enough, He would give it to her.

There is no open access to the O'Keeffe house at Ghost Ranch. The house itself was originally named Rancho de Los Burros. Arthur Pack owned Ghost Ranch when O'Keeffe first arrived in this part of the country. She eventually bought her house at Ghost Ranch and a few acres from him. She had hoped to buy the entire ranch, but Arthur sold it to the Presbyterians before she had the chance to make an offer. The word is that it infuriated her, but she got over it.

On our trip back from Abiquiu we stopped off in Espanola to check out the Sikh Gurdwara. That's a temple to the rest of us. The American Sikhs, followers of Yogi Bhajan, have a center on the edge of Espanola.

This part of the world seems to be a center for spirituality. There are a variety of religious retreats, monasteries, temples and mosques up here.

Friday, July 13th, we had a short day of workshops with free time in the afternoon and evening.

In the morning Nancy gave a talk on Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead, followed by a hands-on session making papel picado, the tissue paper banners that you may have seen in restaurants or other establishments.

El Santuario de Chimayo

After lunch my friend, Brandy, and I headed for Chimayo. We wandered around the area of the Santuario de Chimayo taking pictures, then we hit the High Road to Taos.

We drove out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge so that I could watch the effects of the view on someone (Brandy) who was, as yet a virgin to this experience. It was worth every second. The river was running yellow from rains up north of us.

The Rio Grande Gorge

We went by the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow. It hadn't started yet, but we went by anyway and visited the venders. The sky was overcast and we decided to get back to Santa Fe before the rains caught us.

Since we had come in on the High Road, we decided to take the Low Road or River Road back. We laughed ourselves silly driving along. We watched the mountains disappear and reappear as the rains moved along on either side of us.

Once back at the Ghost Ranch Santa Fe we found out that those "Watch for Falling Rock" signs are not a joke. Another group of folks from the workshop had also headed up to Taos, but they got caught in the rain. They came down the River Road not too long after us. They didn't find it quite so funny. The rain had loosened rocks and gravel and their car was pelted as they drove. Not a relaxing experience for any of them, but they did arrive alive back here at the Ghost Ranch.

Today, Saturday July 14th, was the big day, the first day of the International Folk Art Festival. We took a shuttle over to Museum Hill and it was a good thing. The place was packed.

There were 118 booths with folk art from around the world. Venders and artisans were dressed in the costumes of their various countries. Many of the artisans demonstrated their skills. There were weavers at their looms, basket weavers, doll makers. It was a feast for the eyes. Color, texture, pattern beyond belief.

I took photos until I ran out of space on one card, switched cards and took photos until I ran out of charge on my battery. I switched cameras (Yes, I carried two cameras.) and kept on shooting. When that camera lost its charge I switched batteries in the other and continued on through the crowd. It was great.

Artists

And craftspeople from around the world

From Mexico

From Peru

Happy folk art creators and consumers!

We had to wait in an incredibly long line for a shuttle back to the truck, but it wasn't too bad.


The only money I spent was on a nice cold gelato, yummmmm, hazelnut and chocolate chip.

Once back at the Ghost Ranch Santa Fe, I unloaded pictures into my printer. Afterward Brandy and I headed over to the O'Keeffe Museum and lunch at the O'Keeffe Cafe.

Back to Ghost Ranch and a well deserved nap.

We had a good meatloaf dinner with ice cream for dessert.

The final event of the day was another hands-on session on
milagros. Milagros are the small metal charms or amulets that you see sometimes in churches. They represent requests or prayers. I bought several at Chimayo. We made them from sheet copper and used counter-repousse, pushing into the metal with whatever tools we had at hand. They were lovely, each one unique.

Once that session ended I started my laundry and headed in here to write to you. It's been a long day and I think I'll go get some rest so I can do it all over again!

'night ya'll!

Of Research Centers and Live Music

"Life is uncertain, eat dessert first."
A quote read in Tinkertown Museum

Morning, Tuesday, July 10th, I got myself together, checked my bags and went to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center.

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center with a view of the Juan Hamilton sculpture on the side lawn.

Now I have to admit this place intimidated me. They had rules: no pens, no Post-It notes, no photographs, no photo copies. In other words, lots of stuff you can't do. They also had what I want, information and lots of it.

If you don't know me then you have no idea how much I love books and papers. I buy books everywhere I go. When I become interested in a subject I want every piece of information I can find about that subject close at hand and in my personal possession. I have a huge library at home because of this drive to know. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Research Center and Yale's Beinecke Library are my Mecca.

I got to the Research Center early by about fifteen minutes. I sat and meditated while I waited. Seriously, I followed my breath. It worked to keep me calm and I didn't pace or fidget.

The Research Center is located on Grant Street just about three blocks from where I am staying.

After I had signed in the guard called the librarian and let her know that I was there. I sat still and as calm as I could be at the moment and waited.

The door opened and the librarian, a delightfully patient woman named Eumie, led me into the inner sanctum.

Books, shelves and shelves of books, a wall of file cabinets and another of flat storage drawers, library tables with lamps and two vitrines were all contained in a light, airy room. The building the Research Center is in is a work of art in itself.

Someone else came up to ask Eumie a question and I got to examine the contents of the vitrine. The first vitrine contained O'Keeffe's tackle box with oil paints and palette knives in one half. The other half was occupied by boxes of her charcoal and various supplies drawing supplies. The second vitrine contained O'Keeffe's pastels. My hands ached to hold them and feel the friction of crayon on paper.

In the meanwhile, Eumie had finished and was ready to help me out. She suggested a couple of books to answer my questions about O'Keeffe's support of other artists, but I already have them. I am a little obsessive when it comes to research and at last count my library of books having do with O'Keeffe, New Mexico and related people and things has reached over one hundred items.

After a short talk, Eumie provided me with several binders that I could go through and search for material that I would like to have pulled to look over. And that, my friends, is how I spent two hours.

I made an appointment to return to the Research Center later in the month when I come back through Santa Fe. Eumie said that she would have my materials ready for me.

I walked back to the Ghost Ranch Santa Fe with my feet barely touching the sidewalk and my head spinning with ideas.

I fixed myself a sandwich for lunch and returned to my room to print out my pictures from the past couple of days. My friend, Brandy, called to let me know that she was on her way from Houston.

I kept busy until time for her to arrive. Once we had her bags in the room, we ran out to the Plaza for a quick walk around before dinner. After we had dinner and attended the orientation for the Folk Art Traditions and Beyond, the workshop we are attending, we headed back to the Plaza for a free concert.

An unfortunately blurry picture of Robert Mirabal performing on the Plaza in Santa Fe

We almost ran to the Plaza. Robert Mirabal was playing a free concert on the Plaza and promoting his new CD, In the Blood. We arrived just in time to catch the last song. Robert Mirabal is from the Taos Pueblo. I've enjoyed his music and was glad to be able to buy the new CD and get it signed to boot.

After that we headed back to Ghost Ranch and a good night's rest before the first full day of the workshop.