We arrived at Beth and Peter’s very interesting and beautiful adobe just a few miles south of Taos after we had driven the scenic route 518 through the Sangre de Cristos. They have spent the past 15 years building, adding on to and generally making it into a living art project. So many items in the house are old world Mexican craftsmanship, the work of local artisans or have been made by the two of them. Karen and Beth had several dyeing projects going on plus tons of flower and vegetable plantings to do. I helped as best I knew how by laying in the freshly dug soil to keep it warm until things were planted; then I had to walk all over these spots to help compact the soil; very important work. I don’t understand why everyone kept moving me though! I really liked the garden and the fields full of prairie dogs and their burrows. I bet I helped at least 30 prairie dogs enlarge and clean out their homes. I just love being helpful, you know!
(Portions of the fun at Beth's have been omitted to protect the innocent!!)
During the week we stayed at Beth’s we found lots of interesting things to investigate around the area:
Millicent Rodgers Museum
There are more than 8000 items in the Museum collection which …”is dedicated to acquisition, preservation, research, display and interpretation of the art, history and cultures of the Native Americans, Hispanic and Anglo peoples of the Southwest, focusing on Northern New Mexico and Taos.” Whew! What I know is that Cokie and Kae so enjoyed this museum that they had to go twice and I got in some very cool naps. I heard them say that Millicent Rodgers was a wealthy NY socialite who came to Taos in 1947, assembled a stellar collection of Native American jewelry, pottery and textiles, superb examples of Hispanic religious artifacts and furniture, plus a …”special collection of pottery illuminating the art and life of famed San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Maria Martinez.” This particular pottery is distinctive for its black on black design and is known and collected world wide. The Ladies truly enjoyed this museum and said they would return anytime.
Taos Pueblo
We drove over to Taos Pueblo for an afternoon to wander and try to understand a place that has been continuously occupied for more than 1000 years. I was really looking forward to exploring and trying to savor 1000 year old dirt when we discovered that the local dogs are really not very friendly to canine intruders. They all looked a little hungry to me and I guessed that they didn’t want any more competition for food; besides visitors are instructed NOT to feed any of them. So I stayed in my Pod while the gals went exploring. It is a beautiful setting with Red Willow Creek running through the center of the pueblo and the mountains rising behind it but my sense of this place is that even though these folks have over 1000 years of community life together this old village is not really where they want to be now. There is no electricity and no water to the houses, a little too primitive for most. I know I love all of my warmth and conveniences so I really understand. The Ladies enjoyed the tour, unique architecture and a pretty good Indian Taco lunch, none of which they remembered to bring back to me!
San Francisco de Asis Church
This church is in the Ranchos de Taos, south of Taos and is touted as the most photographed church in the entire state. Built in the 1600’s this church still serves about 1200 families in the Ranchos and just has the feel about it that it is well used and well loved.
Okay this completes Journal #23. We will post one more – Journal #24 as we head out of NM after nearly four months. We are traveling into Oklahoma and Kansas over the next few weeks and we’ll report along the way.
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