Saturday in May

This is what a perfect Saturday in May in Taos looks like:

Start the morning at the first Taos Farmers' Market of the year.  While there is not a lot of fresh produce yet, there were plenty of greens, carrots, spring garlic, fresh baked goods, honey, grass fed beef, pork and lamb, eggs, and veggie starts.

spring garlic

After shopping at the market it is off to brunch at a new favorite, Old Martina's Hall in Ranchos de Taos.  This building has such amazing history and restoring the building and opening the restaurant was a multi-year struggle.  Read about the history here.  If you plan to visit Taos, do make a stop here for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Peter had the steak and eggs

I had the huevos rancheros with red chile (delicious)

After brunch we wandered across the street to visit St Francisco de Asis Church, the iconic Catholic church that was built in the late 1700's.  You will find many paintings and photographs of this beautiful building but, if you get the chance, visit in person.

While in St Francis Plaza, we visited one of our favorite galleries...Two Graces.  They had an antique 7 foot cross for sale at an unbelievable price.  I instantly fell in love and knew it would be perfect in our dining room.  (This makes loads of sense if you live in an old adobe in Taos).  We snapped it up and had the interesting experience of loading it in the jeep, carrying it in the house and placing on a banco between the vigas for support. (A banco is a built-in plastered bench, typically in front of kiva fireplaces, along low walls, and under windows. Vigas are large (6- to 12-plus inches in diameter) usually peeled round logs used as ceiling beams regularly spaced across the width of the room. In traditional Southwestern architecture, the exposed interior vigas, along with latillas, decking, or even plaster, form a strong design element at the ceiling. A classic feature of Santa Fe style, they often are exposed outside, too, protruding through the exterior walls.)* courtesy Su Casa magazine.  

The cross looks perfect, we are well fed and stocked with food for the weekend and it is only 1:00 pm.  I think we will get the dog and go on a hike...or check out the craft fair....or drive up to Arroyo Secco...so many choices.  I love Taos!

my best,
diane
May 11, 2013

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Bud break in Taos

flowering trees, may 2013

So, yesterday was May 1st.  May Day. A day celebrating Springtime...green grass, flowers blooming, spring produce like asparagus, peas, greens, fava beans, strawberries, green garlic, leeks, rhubarb...you get the point.  A result of all that "April Showers bring May flowers" lore.  Except if you live in Taos, New Mexico.  At an elevation of 7000 feet and zone 4-5 we are a bit (ok, a lot) behind what I am used to from California.  In fact I have to learn a whole new way to garden.

bud break, late april 2013

I have been taking a series of classes from Melinda at Morning Star Farm, located in Arroyo Secco, just a few miles from the town of Taos.  The classes have covered topics such as:

GARDEN BASICS
Location, setting up a new garden, or continuing on with an existing plot. Water, soil preparation, soil fertility, compost ideas and suggestions.

WHAT TO PLANT & WHEN TO PLANT IT, here in the Taos Valley

SEASON EXTENSION TECHNIQUES
Get started earlier in the season and grow crops late into the fall with these ideas and suggestions.

greenhouse-Morning Star Farm April 2013

The main points of gardening in Taos seem to be plant later (or build a greenhouse)...row covers till summer...then shade cloths for just about everything.  We combat cold weather till May or June (it sometimes snows in May here), a short growing season, loads of sun in July and August and wind, wind, wind.  Otherwise, growing conditions are perfect.

notes from my class reflect what grows, when to plant and how to care for  Spring and Summer produce in Taos

That last bit of sarcasm is not really warranted   Our farmers' market is packed with amazing produce from May through October (same as Napa).  There are beautiful gardens throughout the county.  I recently joined Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos, which was formed in 1949.  Each month there is a meeting featuring a guest speaker or a tour of local gardens.  I look forward to telling you more about this wonderful organization in future posts.

The hollyhock was selected as the official flower of Los Jardineros in 1949, the first year of the club. Members collected hollyhock seeds for planting along streets, alleyways, and throughout the countryside around Taos. (from the Los Jardineros website)

Currently our yard is dirt and has not been gardened in 30 years.  This is part of the property that we just bought...adjacent to our home...and containing the ruin I have discussed in previous posts.  We are just starting to plan the restoration, addition and landscaping projects that will take the next few years to complete.  We will probably not be able to start the garden until next year.  Until then I will dream, learn as much as I can about gardening in this zone, climate & elevation, visit as many public and private gardens as I can, and share with you the beauty that is Summer and Fall  (Winter & Spring) in Taos, New Mexico.  

Happy May!  What is growing in your area this month?

my best,
diane
May 3, 2013  

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John Dunn Bridge Hike

John Dunn Bridge

Spring in Taos.  What a wonderful, unpredictable, ever changing time of year.  The weather can be cold and snowing or warm & sunny...sometimes in the same day.  I have survived my first Taos winter...and it was, surprisingly, easier than I thought.  Don't get me wrong.  Summer will always be my favorite season and flip flops remain my favorite type of footwear, but the crisp, cold, impossibly blue skies, bright sun and blindingly white snow days of a Taos winter have stolen my heart too.

snow covered tree branches-view through a skylight

Early Spring?  Not so much.  Late February and the beginning of March means snow melt (= mud) and lots and lots of high winds (= blowing dust & pollen).  So last Saturday, when we were blessed with our first 70 degree day of the season, we decided to explore the area around the John Dunn Bridge.   Taos Plaza.com describes the bridge this way:

"Top 5 Best Kept Secrets About Taos, New Mexico

1. The Rio Grande Gorge

One of the wildest places in all of the southwestern United States can be found in Taos County. At the New Mexico state line, the river is 200 feet down, the gorge 150 feet across. A bit further south, just west of the village of Questa, where Big Arsenic Spring bubbles from the rock and pinyon jays heap in the winter, the river is a glinting green ribbon eight hundred feet down.

 

At John Dunn Bridge the river enters The Box, an 18-mile stretch of 900 foot cliffs, famous among rafters and kayakers. This is also one of the great migratory bird routes in the world.

Eagles, falcons and hawks make the basalt walls of the Gorge their nesting homes. Ospreys, scaups, hummingbirds, herons, avocets, merlins and willits all traverse the Gorge. Numerous hiking trails lead into the gorge, the Cebolla Mesa Trail and La Junta trail being the best in my humble opinion. Ancient petroglyphs, hidden hot springs and outstanding fishing opportunities abound. If you’re lucky, you just might catch a glymps of the recently re-introduced river otter."
(for the remaing 4 secrets click here).

The drive to get to the bridge is an adventure in itself.  You first drive to the town of Arroyo Hondo (about 10 miles north of Taos)  and make a left at the street by "Herb's Lounge".  You drive about 5 miles on a dirt road which follows part of the Rio Grande until you arrive at the bridge.  From there you can park and hike, fish, picnic, raft, kayak and/or just enjoy the breathtaking views.  A favorite experience is hiking down to the Stage Coach Hot Springs reached by driving(or hiking) up the hillside and hiking about 1/2 mile down.

What a wonderful day!  Sun, warm weather, blue skies, blue water, birds, fish, happy dog, peaceful humans...We will be back---often.

You might be asking yourself...Who is John Dunn and why does he have a bridge named after him?  John Dunn is part of Taos' history...and, as they say...a legend in this town.  For many years he owned the only bridge and the only stagecoach here.  He is described as quite a character.  For a more complete background check out the bio on the John Dunn Shops website.
  

mosey loved his hike!

Spring in Taos...I love it as much as Winter...and Fall...and Summer (ok, Summer wins)...but year round, this place is amazing.  If you live here, aren't we lucky?  If you don't, come visit...really, plan your trip now.  This place is magic.

my best,
diane
April 3, 2013 

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What happened to February?

sculpture made from smashed tin and aluminum cans at taos recycling center

Wow, February was a rough month.  My husband came down with the flu on February 1st.  I got it a few days later. Non-stop coughing and total exhaustion were the main symptoms.  Two weeks later I was feeling worse and finally decided to see a Doctor.  Little did I know that I had a high fever, low blood saturation and...worst of all...pneumonia.  She prescribed meds and complete bed rest for another two weeks.  What a nightmare!

So, this blog has been sadly neglected.  I did not leave my house for a month except for two Doctor visits.  I missed so many amazing sounding events here in Taos, lots of snow (there goes my plan to learn to cross country ski this year), and our anniversary, Valentine's Day and my birthday.  It shocks me that March is here and most of the snow has melted in town.

It is taking me a bit of time to get my strength back.  The weather has been glorious the past couple of days...bright sun and temperatures in the 50's.  We have been visiting the park to walk Mosey (our golden retriever) and doing errands.  Like going to the recycling center.  You know you have been sick when this it a treat.  But Taos does recycling really well. 

one bin for tin cans another for aluminum

I was spoiled in Napa.  They have a "mixed stream" recycling system which means all recyclables...paper, glass, cans, approved plastic...can be thrown in the same bin and picked up on trash day.  Everyone get three bins...one for the recyclables, one for "green waste"  i.e. plant materials like leaves and grass, and a smaller one for trash.  Here in Taos you not only sort everything separately, but you have to drive it to the center.  I know it sounds like a pain...but I actually enjoy this process.  You stay very aware of your garbage/recyclables...keeps it top of mind when shopping.  I always ask myself..."What products offer minimal packaging?" before I buy.  And you meet some very interesting people at the center!


even recycling provides a beautiful view of the mountain

I am spending the next two weeks visiting my parents in Southern California and then we start ramping up for our massive remodeling project.  We bought the property next door to our house and are going to restore the existing  adobe ruin.  Our "Design-Build" architect is working on the plans now...lots to do before we start construction.  I look forward to telling you more about this project in the future...it is going to be so cool.

the ruin in its current state!

Until next time...Happy 16 days till Spring!

We now have a twitter account @dianeintaos. Please follow and I will follow back! Would love to get to know you on Facebook, Twitter and through your comments on this blog.

my best,
diane
March 4, 2013

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We now have a twitter account @dianeintaos.  Please follow and I will follow back!  Would love to get to know you on Facebook, Twitter and through your comments on this blog. 

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my best,
diane
January 9, 2013

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Thank you Martha Stewart, We love Taos too!

courtesy taos ski valley

I received my copy of the January edition for Martha Stewart Living magazine a few weeks ago but just had a chance to peruse this morning.  Paging through the stories about New Year's resolutions, cooking with citrus, organizing, winter gardening and the contents of Martha's makeup bag, I found an article describing the tiny ski town of Woodstock, Vermont, pop. 900.  Truly beautiful.  Imagine my delight when, at the end of the piece, there was a sidebar entitled:                                                              

"you'll also like... Here are four more small-sized laid back, well rounded ski towns that will appeal to every member (skiing or otherwise) of your travel party.

Where  Taos, New Mexico
Why      Two words:  perfect weather.  Taos gets an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, and if you go in spring, chances are high that you'll find yourself skiing in a light jacket under bright blue skies."

Other towns listed are Lake Placid, New York;  Bend, Oregon and Truckee, California.  (And my totally biased view is that the attributes they assign to these three towns are also here in Taos).
(full article page 99, January 2013 edition Martha Stewart Living)

courtesy taos ski valley

Taos Ski Valley is a must for both experienced and beginning skiers.  Also try Sipapu, Red River and Angel Fire resorts. We are going cross country skiing next week at Enchanted Forest ...and they have 5k of dog trails so Mosey can come too.  Enchanted Forest also has over 15km of exclusive snowshoeing trails in addition to their 30-plus km of cross country ski trails which are snowshoe friendly.   We plan to spend a lot of time this winter and spring at the ski resorts.  You should come visit Taos and join us!  Martha would....

my best,
diane
january 3, 2013

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Happy New Year from Taos, New Mexico!

I saw this on Facebook today (thanks Gigi) and thought it accurately summed up my goals for 2013. I decided to post on all three of my blogs.

Wishing each of you a very happy, healthy and inspirational new year. Thank you so much for visiting California Girl in Taos this year.  I wasn't sure about starting another blog, but your response proves there is a lot of interest in my newest adventure here in beautiful Taos, New Mexico.  I so appreciate your comments, emails, facebook posts, tweets and support!   Please let me know if you have a particular experience/story you would like me to tell in 2013. 

 

Speaking of experiences....scraping snow off the jeep at 7:00 am to be able to drive to an 8:00 am yoga class is a very new experience for this California girl!!

 

be safe tonight!

my best,
diane
december 31, 2012

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