another great car sighting in Albuquerque

1948 Plymouth spotted at Target. Very nice car.

2 miles + 158 ft (10,678)

Up Sandia Mountain, over 2 miles high. We were worried about being blown around with gusts over 50 mph.
Look at what they have been cleaning off the trails, so much wind damage everywhere. Cold too!

Queen Anne Chest

Look at this!

I bought this at an estate sale for $60.00. Unreal. It's 6 plank rock maple chest with original feet, lock and boards. Top has had strange repairs, new hinges (about 1960) and warping of sides due to super dry air of Albuquerque, but its great. I was washed it down with hot water, linseed oil and turp until I got the motor oil and extra paint off it so now the original red paint is showing. woow! I'm in love.

Honey comb to Strawberry rhubarb pie

Here are the bees that made the honey, that came in the kitchen, that I made the pie with that was so good. This honey had a unique flower taste that brought out the flavor of the rhubarb. Wonderful. In bottom photo the bees are bearding, staying cool on outside of their home.

Quiche in a bun

Bought an old cookbook from an estate sale which stated that quiches were cooked in day old bread. I filled my with sauteed onions , Conte cheese substitute and fresh eggs. Yummmm

Tin Lizzie

I had to take a photo. I was going down Zuni "Drive" and I saw this car. Shinny bare mental blazing in the sun. Driver looked original too.

$739.00 Sunglasses

No not these sunglasses , the ones I tried to order through my insurance. $739.00 . I didn't know sunglasses could cost so much! These are photos of my Ray Bans that I have taped my old driving lenses inside of...I drove across 10 states wearing those babies.  My new ones will be here at the end of the week, and I will be paying far less than $739.00.

More Photos ...our climb down the cliff

where I live in Albuquerque

I'm staying with my daughter in a little faux adobe house from the 1930's. It's very cute.

she has chickens, dogs, a garden and hoarder neighbors. One neighbor has the largest rooster I've ever seen. Take a look around at these photos, esp. the Sandia Mountain views from the front yard.

Getting ready to become culturally competent

Ever since Sky City, another name for Acoma, I have been feeling fairly confident that I can do this.. that is be culturally confident. I had the opportunity to read a handout from the IHS about culture differences. It stressed listening, listening and the weak handshake.I talked about that in an earlier post, where Native Americans barely touch hands.
  while talking to our guide, he mentioned that some tribal members had had experiences that frightened them at the IHS clinic. I've been trying to imagine what happened. Perhaps Dr. W will have some ideas of what scares people in the clinic.
I think I just have to work at listening, creating trust, and listening some more with N.A. Pts.

Ansel Adams and Acoma

Here are some of Ansel Adams photographs of Acoma Pueblo. I've added my photo of the church. The last photo is from 1890s, abd it was not taken by Adams.

OUTHOUSES

I grew up using an outhouse at my parents ski area. I felt our outhouse was a pretty special one, with painted murals by my mother, the number of holes and the general coziness of the place. But here at Acoma, I was horrified by the prospect of sitting perched atop a 370 foot cliff, in gale force winds, in one of these outhouses.

see for yourself. It's not cultural, it's just that I am a chicken when it comes to pooping over great heights.

Acoma Pueblo

45 miles west of Albuquerque is the Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in north america. It is believed to date back to 1100AD. At 7500 ft, it is a 1.48 miles high atop a mesa. Homes are always passed down through clans and the family through the youngest daughter. A distinctive black and white pottery is produced by the tribe and I'll try to put up some examples of it. the mesa itself is 370 feet above the desert floor reminding one of Mesada.We went there Friday, not knowing how beautiful the Pueblo and it's culture would be. It was a place that I would return to again.
The wind is a strong force there, while hurricane force winds in the winter months. I had on my winter jacket and two scarves while we walked around the village. It is hard to image how old these homes were, and yet they felt just right, like it was the way humans were supposed to live. I have found Amsel Adams photos of Acoma which I will post with my photos. Racheal has some photos to add of our descent down the cliff, using the ancient steps and handholds in the cliff walls.

One thing to note that it was one of my goals to listen, speak quietly, and not interject words when Acomians were talking. I had been researching how to be culturally sensitive and these are qualities that I need to cultivate. Being from New Jersey does not predispose me to any of those characteristics or slow talking. I was also aware of the weak handshake of the west, which at home would earn us a queer look or two. Also, I was informed about the story telling and humor used by Acomians to instruct or correct behavior. information might not be given in a direct manner like I was used to in the East. I did my best, and I was pleased that I am retrainable to a certain point. But , enough...on to the photos.

Rattlesnakes

Okay, Dr. W sent me a paper on snake bites. I really hadn't thought of that danger, yet there I was climbing rocks a few hours later. Crotalus atrox and Crotalus oreganus are two possible types of rattlesnakes I could expect to find around here in Albuquerque.  As I read more about the bit, the toxins, the deaths, I wasn't all that sure I would even leave the sidewalk. How common are they? I saw snake tracks on our walk that were about 3" wide in the fresh wet sand. After that every stick looked like a snake to me.

Petroglyphs

We went over to see the Petroglyph National Monument this morning. It was raining and cold which is very different for Albuquerque.  The rock craved pictures represent a time period between 3000 to 200 years ago. Later cultures would add crosses or sheep brands to the sides of these huge brown stones formed from a 150000 year old lava flow. the thin dark desert varnish is chipped away to reveal the lighter gray rook beneath, thus creating an image.