Land of the sun

Above, a last minute project, thinking I NEED something 

1. Portable 
2. Knitting 
3. Warm
4. To wear with a skirt
5. Knitting

Started leg warmers on August 31. 

The day before departure, I start to soak in the sun...

Colorado sun 

And New Mexico sun!

Out of Town in New Mexico

No excuses... I've been too busy to think of sharing anything.  First there was a month of daughter and granddaughter, then just enough time to fit in some gigs, and I was off to Taos with friends from NY and PA.  Whew...  I must say that my bed felt great as I sank in, and... napping every day... lovely.  I felt like I had been many time zones away.
Ah!  Taos.  The drive there was amazing, the weather perfect! and the wool amazing.

Rio Grande Gorge

A trip to the nearby pueblo... and I assure you, the sky was BLUUUUe!

Taos Pueblo

The shops were open... we bought... Fiesta Ware!  (Not here, but at Monet's Kitchen.)

And the wools? We succumbed to Colorado Yak!

And finished up with a walk in the Santa Fe Plaza.

That was just last weekend.  I'll catch you up on projects---later!

Birding

Since I've been around for 60+ years, it shouldn't be surprising to say:  "I've done that!" But others are surprised... and I'm surprised at their reaction. It's called living and curiosity.  


I find that now I've returned to many things. It's not like learning something entirely new, but more like picking up where I left off.  

One of those things is "birding". I've never been an expert or hardly an amateur; I enjoy looking at birds, identifying them, and most of all, listening to them.  I don't enjoy catching them in the house after a cat has brought them in for show and tell.  I especially don't like to return home to find my closet full of feathers, even when there's no tell-tale body.


Yesterday was the perfect day:  I sat inside as long as I could, with the sun shining, and air calm, the birds tweeting, and so much to do outside, yet... knitting was calling.  Or more accurately, my hub was calling.  He doesn't often ask for help, but there's this 1/4 ton bird bath that needed to be moved and assembled. And it takes two.  I was happy to have an excuse.  I had already soaked my last piece of the lace tunic and blocked it.  I had already given attention to a pattern that had me running scared, yet I cast on in spite of the danger ahead.  Outside I went, and what a glorious day.  The birds rewarded my venture by showing up whenever the cats took a break, and I realized I haven't sat and admired them in a long time.


Here's what I saw:

The most common of birds around here: House Finch.  This is a great photo that I must say I didn't take nor anyone I know.  I found it at this website, and rather than risk copyright fines, I refer you to these beautiful images.  At this site, you'll see the following birds that I have seen in the past few hours. (Of course, I had to look up most of them in my bird book.)
Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-Headed Grosbeak, House Sparrow, and Mountain Chickadee.
In addition, today I saw an Indigo Bunting which was quite surprising, 

and a pair of orioles.  I heard a Meadow Lark, but never caught a glimpse (they are so very loud, and make you think they are nearby).
Yesterday, we tried to rescue a Western Tanager from lovely kitty (Bonnie).  Hub put it over the fence in the field while I corralled the cats in the house for a few minutes.  It wasn't there later in the day, so we are optimistic.

Such is the way of the backyard.  We are very lucky to have ponies, cattle, pheasants and alfalfa in our extended backyard. 


Gratulere med Dagen, Norge!

Weather

Why I like New Mexico weather in March:

• Blue skies
• When I look at the 7-day forecast and 6 of the 7 days mention sun, sunny or sunshine, what's not to like?
• Snow does occur: 1 of the 7 days says "Chance for morning snow showers"
• Snow doesn't last
• I've lived here 20 years and maybe 3 times we've had a patch of ice on the north side of a building that lasted over a month.
• Special this year: Normal precipitation year to date is 1.56"; This year to date is 3.71"
• Normally we get 7.3" per year.  I can live with that!

Downside:  Body lotion is a necessity! (And the wind is not blowing at this moment...)