December in Taos & The Festival of Trees

Luminaria (small bonfire) at Lighting of Ledoux

December in Taos is magical and celebrating the holidays here is a "must do" experience. There are both annual traditions and new experiences every year. I am particularly fond of the Lighting Ledoux St event which this year is being held on Saturday night, December 7th. This historic street is lit by farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and holding a lit candle) and all the shops, galleries and museums are open. Luminarias (small bonfires) are in most of the courtyards and merchants hand out marshmallows for toasting. Read more about Lighting Ledoux by clicking here.

Farolitos line the street

Friday night, December 6th, is the annual Tree Lighting in the Plaza. You can read my post from the 2012 lighting by clicking here.  This year's schedule of events is as follows:

• 4:00 PM Welcome by Mayor Darren Cordova
• 4:00 PM - 4:20 PM Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts Light Fibrolites,
• 4:02 PM - 4:07 PM Taos Cheer,
• 4:07 PM - 4:17 PM Taos Middle School and Taos High School Chorus,
• 4:17 PM - 4:27 PM Taos Middle School and High School Band,
• 4:27 PM - 4:32 PM Sister Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
• 4:32 PM - 4:45 PM Mariachi Jaguar Enchanted,
• 4:45 PM Yuletide Parade,
• 4:55 PM Fiestas de Taos Royal Court introduction and Holiday Greetings,
• 4:55 PM Santa Claus will be handing out 200 toys donated by and with the help of the Taos Optimist Club Elves,
• 4:57 PM - 5:07 PM Christmas Caroling led by Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts,
• 5:07 PM - 5:17 PM Taos Middle School Drill Team,
• 5:17 PM - 5:32 PM Taos Youth Music Group,
• 5:32 PM - 5:42 PM Mystic Dance,
• 5:42 PM - 5:57 PM Trio Alarcon,
• 5:57 PM Mayor Darren Cordova Holiday Greetings and Countdown to Tree Lighting.

Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served. The Taos Plaza and businesses will be open to foot traffic, please remember that during this fun filled event vehicles will not be permitted in the plaza. Special parking arrangements will be provided for people requiring ADA access to the event.

(from Taosgov.com)

I plan to attend the tree lighting ceremony and then held over to the El Monte Sagrado Resort for the Festival of Trees. This annual event benefits many local charities in Taos. Sponsors decorate trees and wreaths and designate to which charity they would like the proceeds donated. Guests then bid on the entries via silent auction. So many worthy charities are represented and I am happy to report that Habitat for Humanity has 2 trees this year (full disclosure, I am a HFHT Board Member). Museums, animal welfare, victims of violence, ending hunger & homelessness, among others, are some of the non-profits included . In addition to the silent auction there is music, food, drinks and lots of holiday cheer. I look forward to posting a recap of the event next week.

Event info:
Festival of Trees and Wreaths – Community Party Friday, December 6, 5:30-10:00pm
El Monte Sagrado Living Resort Conference Center, 317 Kit Carson Rd. 
The event centers around a silent auction of beautifully decorated wreaths and trees. The proceeds benefit many of the Taos communities non profits. Music and dancing this year with The Damn Band, food, drinks, and a raffle. $20 entry fee, includes drink ticket, appetizers and live music. (from taos.org

Lots going on and this is just the first week of December...whew!

My best and Happy Holiday from Taos!
diane
December 4th, 2013

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World's Best Ski Towns?

courtesy National Geographic , Photograph by Bud Force, Aurora

National Geographic just created their "Top 25 List of Best Ski Towns in the World".  Of course Taos made the list!

"Best For: Art-loving skiers and boarders with a taste for steep runs and green chilies

In the world of classic ski towns, Taos is a unique gem. Originally an ancient, high-desert pueblo at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico, the city was populated in the early 20th century by artists and writers who were attracted to the Native American and Hispanic culture, stunning natural surroundings, and the region’s 300 annual days of crystalline sunshine. In 1955, a German immigrant named Ernie Blake founded Taos Ski Valley 18 miles outside of town in a narrow valley engulfed by precipitous peaks. Today, the Swiss-style chalets at the area’s base exude an old-time European character while the town itself feels like a funky Southwestern artist’s colony."  cont.

In my opinion we are #1.  Read the full story here

My best,
diane
Dec 4th, 2013

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A Visit to Taos Pueblo

The "new" San Geronimo Church, built in 1850

A trip to Taos is not complete without visiting Taos Pueblo. And, if you live here, attending many of the feasts, festivals and events held throughout the year is a "must-do" addition to your calendar.  Last July I wrote about the annual Pow-Wow and I cannot wait to share my experience after this year's Christmas Eve Vespers & Bonfire Procession, but today I want to provide some history and background on the Pueblo itself.

We have been to the Pueblo many times but one Saturday in late October we decided to take one of the tours offered every 20 minutes during open hours. Our guide, Pat Romero, who also hosts a Monday night show on local favorite KTAO radio (Contemporary, traditional and pow-wow Native American music by Native American artists), shared his experiences growing up on the Pueblo. 

Taos Pueblo is thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States...over 1000 years. The native language, Tiwa, is still spoken today however it is "unwritten, unrecorded and will remain so"*. This is a result of the history of oppressions the people have endured.  

About 150 people currently live full time at the Pueblo, also known as the village, in buildings made of adobe (bricks constructed of mud and straw.) There is no electricity or running water and wood stoves are used for cooking and heat. Outdoor ovens, called hornos, are used for cooking and baking especially the delicious bread sold at the Pueblo and local farmers' markets.

Horno oven

It is difficult to listen to the history of the Pueblo without feeling a sense of sadness at how the people were treated. At first, visitors were welcomed and treated with kindness from the tribal members. They were repaid by being forced to convert from their native religion to Catholicism and slavery in 1619 under the guise of being "civilized". They revolted in 1680, won, and lived peacefully until the Spanish regained control in the 1700s. This lasted until 1847 where, by now, the United States was in charge. A man named Charles Bent governed the territory, now known as Arizona and New Mexico, in the midst of the US war with Mexico. According to our tour guide, Northern New Mexico was a bit cut off from Mexico and the United States. In an effort to gain independence from both governments people from the town of Taos and from the Pueblo teamed up and killed Governor Bent. The US government retaliated by rounding up and killing the leaders of the Pueblo.  Many of the tribal members fled to what they thought to be safety by inhabiting the original Catholic Church built in 1619. The US soldiers burned down the Church killing a majority of the people.

Remains of the original San Geronimo Church and the cemetery

another view of the old cemetery

Despite the gruesome history, the people of the Pueblo are kind, generous and welcoming. Many of the homes are open to the public with their residents selling crafts, art, jewelry, pottery, leather goods and/or the aforementioned horno bread. A day at the Pueblo includes shopping, walking the beautiful grounds, viewing the Red Willow Creek which is the "river" which flows through the center of the village and touring (from a distance) the structures, both the Hlaauma/North House and the Hilakkwima/South House, as well as the individual homes.  The North and South Houses are the original condominiums, homes with common walls, built over 1000 years ago.  Really beautiful.

photo, courtesy Taos Pueblo Website, Brett Schneider

TAOS PUEBLO

Monday-Saturday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Guided Tours available daily starting at 9:00 am.

120 VETERANS HIGHWAY
TAOS, NM 87571

The Pueblo is generally open to visitors daily from 8am to 4:30pm, except when tribal rituals require closing the Pueblo.

Late winter to early Spring the Pueblo closes for about ten weeks.
Please call ahead if you’ll be visiting during this time. 575-758-1028

A visit to the Pueblo anytime throughout the year is wonderful but, for a truly amazing experience, try to attend one of the annual Feasts Days, Dances or other events.  The 2013 calendar follows but check the website for dates and times for upcoming years.

TAOS

Jan. 1, Turtle Dance
Jan. 6, Deer or Buffalo Dance
May 3, Santa Cruz Feast Day
June 13, San Antonio Feast Day
June 24, San Juan Feast Day
July 12,13,14, — 28th Annual Taos Pueblo Pow-Wow
July 25, Santiago Feast Day
July 26, Santa Ana Feast Day
Sept. 29, San Geronimo Eve Vespers
Sept. 30, San Geronimo Day, Traditional Pole Climbing
Dec. 24, Procession of the Virgin Mary
Dec. 25, Deer or Matachines Dance

* Taos Pueblo Visitors Guide

My best,
diane
November 29, 2013

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We're #6! We're #6!

I love posting articles written about Taos, wonderful Taos. Money Journal just came out with their "10 most liked US Cities" list and we ranked sixth.  Forgetting the fact that we are actually a town....not a city...this is pretty cool.  Major cities like Seattle, Portland Oregon, Boston and New York City made the list and then there is Taos.  How cool is that?

The magazine wrote:

"6- Taos, New Mexico – This historic Spanish outpost is still one of America’s most popular towns. Long a hub for artists and counterculture types, this small city now hosts a world class music festival and attracts visitors from all over the world. Taos might be America’s most popular small city."

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.

We were also featured in a Forbes article titled "America's Prettiest Towns".  This time we were third out of twenty.  Forbes said:

"Taos, a stunningly beautiful mountain community located just north of Santa Fe, has earned a reputation for one of the country’s most captivating small towns. Although it is now known as a winter playground for its world-class skiing, and year-round getaway for the rich and famous, Taos retains its small-town feel while increasingly becoming an artistic hub. Santa Fe’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City has no doubt led to some spillover, but Taos’ beauty would attract artists despite outside influences. Majestic mountains, the kind of blue sky you only get at higher elevations (almost 7,000 feet – a good 1,800 or so feet higher than Denver and its “mile-high” moniker), and the desert climate all add to the traditional, Santa-Fe architectural style of the town’s center. The neighboring Taos Pueblo is a popular tourist destination and a designated National Historic Landmark."

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.

I, of course, agree with every point except that we attract all kinds of people from all walks of life...not just the aforementioned "rich and famous".  If you live here you know how amazing Taos is.  If you have not visited yet, what are you waiting for?

My best,
diane
November 16, 2013

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A Construction Project in Taos

yikes! trenching while saving adobe wall

The long awaited room addition has finally begun.  After a year of planning, easement issues with a neighbor, Planning Department issues with the town, (They required a lot consolidation and then the Town Planner resigned right in the middle of the permit application review and we had to wait until the replacement was hired), and design challenges we are ready to go!

This is a small addition, only about 600 sq ft, but when you own a historic adobe home new construction presents challenges you never could have imagined.  For example, the existing home has, literally, no foundation.  The floor sits on dirt. The addition will have a regular foundation, sub floor, radiant heat...the works. Connecting the new to the old "floor" requires massive expertise in this area.  Happily we have an amazing design/build/contractor with exquisite taste and 30 years of experience with adobe homes.  We got lucky with this one.

shoring up adobe wall

Other examples of the challenges so far....we needed to open up the back adobe wall.  The old adobe "bricks" have become one big adobe mud wall...no more bricks.  The shoring up process was quite the adventure. Then the trenches for the pipes and utilities needed to be dug 8 feet deep to accommodate our weather and the holes went from the front yard, the street, the entire length of the house and around to the back.  Of course, as soon as everything was dug up we had a massive rainstorm that turned to snow.  In early October!  Last year our first snowfall came on December 15th. I think I should take full credit for ending our long drought.

This project is going to be fun, exciting, frustrating, annoying...wonderful.  I plan to post regular updates with photos, stories, learnings and examples of historic building details. I hope you will join me on this journey and share your questions, comments and/or your own construction stories in the comments section at the end of the post.  Wish us luck!

My best,
diane
October 18, 2013

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Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu, New Mexico

It has been raining nonstop for the past 3 days.  Rain is predicted for the next 4 days. This is a normal occurrence for Northern California...in February. This is almost unheard of in Taos. We have been experiencing a severe drought. In fact, the past 3 years have been the driest since 1895.  I am excited to see the final numbers from this rainstorm and the impact on the drought.  I will update you in a future post.

But last week was sunny, warm and glorious.  We decided to take a day trip to Abiquiu, New Mexico and then hike at Ghost Ranch.  What a beautiful day.  You should do this.

Abiquiu is a small unincorporated village located about an hour west of Taos. Best known as the home of the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, now primarily an artist community.  There is an amazing open studios art festival held each year during Columbus Day weekend.  In addition to art, Abiquiu has some of the most beautiful scenery in New Mexico.  We had a picnic at the stunning Abiquiu lake located just a few minutes from the tiny town. Mosey had a terrific time swimming and we soaked up a bit of sun.  Perfect afternoon.

After lunch, we packed up and drove 14 miles north to Ghost Ranch, a 21,000 acre education and conference center known for their retreats, activities, nature, museums and lodging.  If you stay here you can enjoy horseback riding, swimming, tours, camping or stays in cute cottages and white water rafting   It is like summer camp for adults.  But if you come for just the day you can take advantage of the beauty by taking one of the 7 hikes on the property. We only had a few hours so we took the Box Canyon hike.  Check out the Ghost Ranch website for details of the other options.

Box Canyon is a fairly easy hike by New Mexico standards in that the grade only increases by 500 feet. (from 6400 to 6900 feet).  This California living at sea level all her life  girl still gets winded by some of the hikes around here with elevation changes of 3000-4000 ft!! (OK, I don't do those yet).  Box Canyon is about 4 miles round trip and you scramble over huge boulders at the end to take in the view. During the hike you will see a lovely pond, an arroyo, a small stream, beautiful rock formations and blue, blue sky. A perfect way to spend an afternoon. And only an hour from Taos. As always, I am so grateful to call this amazing place home.

My best,
diane
September 14th , 2013

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Summer Flowers

The Taos Garden Club, Los Jardineros, creates dozens of beautiful hanging baskets for the Plaza.  

Wandering around Taos during the months of July and August delivers views of flowers everywhere you look.  Carpets of wildflowers line hillsides, dot roadside lanes and blanket fields & meadows. Cultivated flowers are abundant in home gardens and businesses.  It is all so beautiful I thought I would share some images I have taken in the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

If you have not been here in summer and fall, you may think everything is brown and dusty.  That would be true in early spring, just after snow melt.  But now?  Glorious.  Lots of green...and bright blue skies...and flowers everywhere.  Just gorgeous. We are in the midst of our monsoon season and, while we have not received the usual daily rain, thunder and lightning storms, we have had a few storms a week all summer.  So grass, wildflowers and a bit more water in our rivers. I plan to enjoy every bit of summer possible.  Fall is perfect here...but give me a little more summer please.

Summer is a wonderful time to visit Taos. (but, so is winter, spring and fall).  Come see us...soon.  Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!

my best,
diane
August 28th , 2013

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Taos Garden & Home Tour 2013

We joined the Garden Club of Taos earlier this year.  Named Los Jardineros (the gardeners), the club is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization which helps beautify Taos and educates its residents on the unique challenges we face gardening in our high desert locale.  Los Jardineros raises funds which are then distributed through grants to local organizations for horticultural projects in the community.  The main fundraiser of the year is the annual garden & home tour.

The tour is traditionally held the first weekend in August.  I had the pleasure of volunteering as a docent this year.  What a wonderful experience.  Four lovely homes were selected...each unique in home design and garden layout.  For a newcomer to Taos, these gardens give such hope as to what is possible regarding plant choices in flowers, vegetables, trees and fruit trees able to survive our short growing season and high altitude.

The homes ranged in style from a LEED certified green home with clean lines and pure spare design to a more traditional adobe with curved walls, beeswax rubbed walls and hand painted murals.  The gardens were spectacular!  My favorite was "my" home...the one where I was a volunteer.

This garden, designed by the homeowner Susie Schwartz was chock full of echinacea, campanula, yarrow, climbing honey suckle, Virginia creepers, creeping thyme, yellow-flowered rue, sedum, Mexican heather, snapdragons. zinnias and veronicas.  Trees such as Persian Hawthorne, Mugo Pine, Blue Spruce, Autumn Blaze Maple and Russian olive to name just a few.  Truly spectacular!

In addition to the tour, there were local artists at each home painting in each garden. What a treat to see these extremely talented individuals working and exhibiting their art in such beautiful settings.

Here is a tip...make plans now to attend this event next year, you will be glad you did.
Oh, and if you are here in Taos and interested in additional information about Los Jardineros, please check out our website here.  Some info from the website:

MEETINGS are held in Taos on the third Thursday of the month between February and October.  At each meeting an invited speaker presents a program on a subject directed to the interests and needs of high desert gardeners. Past topics have included: edible landscapes,permaculture, container gardening, orchid care, selecting the right tree, native and flowering shrubs, raising herbs and vegetables, xeriscape principles, and beneficial insects.

MEMBERSHIP includes admission to the annual Garden & Home Tour held on the first Saturday in August as well as to our Members Only Tour in July.  Members also receive discounts from local businesses.

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.

my best,
diane
August 16th , 2013

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