Wonderland

I've been here for nearly a week, but it will take longer than that to get used to this stunning view from our deck. Those are the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background, and ponderosa pines against the breathtakingly blue New Mexico sky. Another foot of snow fell after this photo was taken, but Bill managed to get the 4x out of the garage this morning, and the road has been plowed. So we're not exactly snowbound--just the next best thing to. The dogs are loving it.

The hardest part about relocating my work from Meadow Knoll to Coyote Lodge (our place here in NM) is getting the computer set up and functioning. Bill has this nifty system of saving my data and email folders from my TX computer to an external hard drive, which I brought with me (along with the three dogs). The thing was stubborn, but it finally worked. However, my camera now refuses to talk to this computer (odd--it didn't have this problem last summer when I was here). So I have to load photos onto Bill's computer, resize and save to a floppy, which I carry across the room and load into the floppy drive on my computer. (We can't send because Bill's compute isn't online.) A very high tech solution, wouldn't you say?

The trip was good (I listened to Robert Reich's book, Supercapitalism--very good), and the dogs were terrific travelers, all except Lady, our elderly black Lab, who has to be hoisted into the van. (It's arthritis. She needs help negotiating our stairs here, too.) I drove on Wednesday (eleven hours), settled in on Thursday, shopped on Friday, partied on Saturday, and got down to work on Sunday, catching up on email and small writing projects. I have the Wormwood file up now and am hoping to get seriously focussed on Real Work today. But I'm planning to blog regularly, now that I've figured out how to post photos. So come back often and visit.

Reading note. Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway."--Maya Angelou

Comments

[Cindy]

It's been almost a month since you posted! I hope that means that you've been busy writing and aren't having problems due to weather or illness.

[pablo]

Yep!

[Christi]

I'll confess, I'm jealous of your snow. My area of Missouri got 6 inches or so over the weekend, so I was hoping for a white Christmas. Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts an unnatural 50 degrees here for Christmas day. Looks like a muddy brown holiday, instead.

[Susan]

Ohhhh what a wonderful view. Here the view lacks snow but we have tons of ice. Fortunately my power was just out for hours and most of them while I was asleep. I discovered that my dog is terrified of my headlight. I guess she thinks it's after her. So I had to remember to turn it off if I had to go to the kitchen or something which sort of makes the whole thing less useful. Surely is nice to knit with though

[Robert]

"I will lift my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help."

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Even from a distance the mountains are good for the spirit.

The first year of graduate school in Texas was the first time I had been away from the mountains for more than a few weeks. On the way home for the summer (southeast of Spokane) I detoured through Oregon to visit friends in Eugene. When I got to the top of Santiam pass I felt so exhilarated that I put my foot to the floor on the throttle and flew my VW bug down the pass. Fortunately it is not a pass with hairpin turns and of course the old bugs would barely do 65 going straight downhill.

Keep the pictures coming as you can.

Happy Holidays
Robert
http://texbrandt.com

[Leslie]

Thanks for the pix. Now I can feel Christmasy (?) even if the East Texas humidity is 90% LOL.

Re your elder matron, try glucosamine chondritin, Susan. If you can get the people pills, split them as you think is right f her weight (the ones the vets use will bankrupt you).

A better solution is to call A&M's vet service and ask to speak to a holistic/alternative medicine vet. I have heard that acupuncture does wonders for arthritic animals!

There are ramps for trucks and there are "doggie steps" at big pet stores for little or aging pets that help yhem onto furniture, but would save y'all's backs and be helpful at the lodge too.

Have safe and merry holidays and blessings on you and *all* of yours,

Leslie

[Jinni Turkelson]

What a beautiful view! I read in the paper that those who live in the mountains live longer. Something to do with the heart using oxygen more efficiently. I think it's because looking at the wonderful views lowers the blood pressure. I always feel very serene in mountain country. Happy Holidays!

[Linda Mandeville]

I always find peace and beauty in the mountains. How wonderful to see this every morning!
Enjoy your time at Coyote Lodge.
Merry Christmas to you and Bill, and the happiest of New Years!

[pablo]

"to blog"

It just doesn't seem like a verb to me!

[andylynne]

What a beautiful view. Our snow has turned to slush and the romance of the first snow is gone. My dogs love the snow too, and have a great time in it. Your comments about your lab, remind me of my old lab Willie. He was the best dog in the world. Live to the ripe old age of 15 1/2. Thre is something elegant and noble about older dogs. It's good to hear you taking such special care of your older lady. I have an elderly Greyhound now, she is 14 1/2 and still getting around well. She on the other hand hates the snow LOL.
From roses to snow in just a matter of weeks, I bet the Mts. In NM are beautiful. Now that you have the photos all worked out you can share more pictures :)

[Becca]

Oh my! If you were lacking peaceful inspiration before, it should be abounding with that view! But then again, I am partial to New Mexico mountains. :) Have a wonderful stay!

[Kara]

How beautiful! I love New Mexico and am often inspired to write when I am there. Stay warm:)