Category: mountains

October 18, 2016

Where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, so I’m hoping you’re wondering where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. To tell you the truth, most of it’s been fun though some of it… wasn’t so fun.

Myself, Tom, and Yvonne at Madrid’s Hollar having a stellar lunch.

First off, we welcomed my sister-in-law Yvonne and some of her family to New Mexico on September 29. Yvonne stayed with us for about a week and a half. During that time we made all kinds of excursions. Of course, we headed up to Santa Fe one day. We drove the fun way, via the Turquoise Trail which goes right through Madrid, an artsy, little, one-time mining town. We poked through galleries and shops then had lunch at the fabulous Hollar Restaurant (If you ever get there, I recommend the ahi tuna sandwich. A bonus: they carry gluten-free buns!)

Brother and sister on top of the world. Or at least on top of the Sandias. — Brother and sister on top of the world. Or at least on top of the Sandias at almost 11,000 feet.

Other days we perused Albuquerque’s Old Town for gifts for Yvonne to carry home to Boston. We headed to the tramway that goes up Sandia peak but it was mobbed given all the tourists here for Balloon Fiesta. Instead we opted to drive up the east side of the mountain. On the way back down I convinced Tom to take an alternative route, one not on most maps mostly because it quickly becomes a rocky, dirt road type of adventure. Especially if you’re in a Honda Accord. But what views! And now I know where Sandia Man Cave is; not that I’ll see it any time soon. Unless we trick out my Honda Fit with big-ass wheels as Tom’s Accord is done with that route.

A "glowing" balloon at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta. — A globe “glows” at Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta.

About Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque’s annual, international party. Last year we attended mass ascension. That takes place in the early morning when all the participating hot air balloons pretty much take off at the same time. It’s an incredible sight, something to put on your bucket list. Because many of balloons tend to fly close to, if not right over our house and Yvonne got to see that, we chose to visit fiesta during the special shapes “Glowdeo.” Special shape balloons aren’t round like most,but are made to be a character or animal or an item like Wells Fargos’s trademark stage coach.

Uncle Sam comes alive as the sun goes down. — Uncle Sam gets all fired up as the sun goes down in Albuquerque. Wish I could’ve gotten a good shot of Darth Vader and Yoda.

On certain evenings the fiesta holds a “glow” during which pilots fire-up their balloons in the dark. They stay tethered to the ground, as you can imagine it’s probably not a good idea to fly at night.Turns out, you should put this event on your bucket list too. It’s that special.

On Yvonne’s last day, the three of us and Marcelle, one of her daughters, enjoyed a tasting at Acequia Winery in Corrales, a neighboring village in which I think almost every resident owns a horse or three. It was a fitting send-off after a good visit. We hope she comes back next year.

The view from the back patio at Acequia Winery. There's no place better to sit and sip. — The view from the back patio at Acequia Winery. There’s no place better to sit and sip.

Now for the less-than-fun I mentioned above.

My dentist had started prepping me for a crown not long before Yvonne arrived. Shit happens and my crown became the root canal from hell. Ostensibly, it was finished the day Yvonne arrived and that was to be that. Except, except – and some of those who know me will find this funny – I developed lockjaw. Which continues to this very day. I understand it could be a few weeks or even two months (!!!) until it clears. In the meantime I have to cut up all my food into itsy-bitsy bites till it all resembles a nursing home meal. My only saving grace? I can still drink. Let the margaritas flow! And Acequia’s wine while we’re at it. Oh, and Tom Brady’s back winning with the Patriots, so I guess life’s not bad at all.

What have you been up to these past few weeks while I’ve been on social media-light?

NOw that you know where I've been and what I've been doing, you can also appreciate all the hooking I've done too the last few weeks. My guild held a 3-day retreat last week. What fun! — Now that you know where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing, you can also appreciate all the hooking I’ve done the last few weeks. My guild held a 3-day retreat last Monday – Wednesday. I managed to get a lot of my tree done. Here’s to a big reveal soon!

September 14, 2016

Our first visitors!

It took a year, but our first visitors finally arrived here at our new house in New Mexico. My parents took the honor, arriving last Tuesday. They departed early yesterday morning, just as the sun came up from behind Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountains.

Mom always says, "Wine tastes best on top of a mountain." — Mom always says, “Wine tastes best on top of a mountain.” In this case we were celebrating the view from Sandia Crest after arriving via the Tramway.

I have to admit that Tom and I were rather depressed after we dropped them at the Sunport (that’s what they call the airport here). More specifically, we were homesick, something that really hasn’t been a problem for us other than at the holidays. Which are coming up… Still, we had a good time: saw lots of sites, shopped lots of shops, ate lots of food, drank lots of wine. (My beverage proclivities are clearly genetic.) New friends – also from New England – joined us for Tom’s home-smoked ribs and football Sunday. And since you asked, yes, the Patriots did beat those Arizona Cardinals, even without Tom Brady. Woohoo!

Interestingly, I took few pictures, mostly because we were always visiting places I’ve already got photographs of. Guess I better ask my father to share his pics.

But vacation’s over (and it was a vacation for me, especially not dealing much with social media, to be perfectly honest), our visitors are gone, and now I’ve got work to do. There are two weekends of the Rail Yard Market left for me. Mug rugs have been selling, so they have to be replenished. I steamed two today; tomorrow I’ll finish them up. I’m in the midst of finishing a table runner too. And starting a brand new rug, a big round one. I drew it up yesterday. Later today I’ll finish sewing on the twill tape and start cutting strips. (If you’re new to High on Hooking, I sew the tape on first, before I start to hook. It’s just how I was taught.)

The reception I’ve had at the Rail Yard has been so positive that I’ve decided to participate in December’s special holiday market. It’ll be cold standing outside all day (the building we’re in is really just a shell), but I’m hoping that it’ll be worth the effort. And that there will be a LOT of hot tea available. So, I need to get ready for that, come up with some new ideas. More on that later.

Balloon Fiesta: what fall is all about in Albuquerque. Think our visitors will like this?

So, it’s time to get moving and to prepare for…more visitors! Tom’s sister and some of her family will be here in…two weeks! Just in time for Balloon Fiesta to start. Fall is a busy time here in the Salamy household and at High on Hooking. Thank goodness we like it that way.

What’s on tap for your fall?

June 22, 2016

Escaping the city

On Route 4, the Jemez Mountain Trail, somewhere around Jemez Pueblo. — Southern Route 4, the Jemez Mountain Trail, somewhere around Jemez Pueblo.

Escaping the city heat was only one of the things on our minds yesterday when Tom and I headed off for a day out. The kid’s been driving us crazy, my RA won’t stabilize, and once in a while I need back-to-nature.

Much as I like Albuquerque, I come from a succession of small towns in Connecticut then Kansas then Connecticut again and then Massachusetts. Albuquerque’s got a population of just over a half million. Sure, it’s spread out – much as most western cities – but that can make for a butt-load of cranky-pants people driving in 104 degree weather.

Soda Dam is a 300-foot long natural dam created by mineral deposits from a hot spring. Very cool.

We’d promised the dog that he could get out too, so northward ho the three of us went. Mountains sounding coolish (compared to here), we headed up the Jemez Mountain Trail, a national scenic by-way, towards Los Alamos. Enjoy some pics!

Welcome to Battleship Rock; it marks the confluence of the Jemez River and San Antonio Creek. Yesterday it also marked the location of a nascent forest fire. Maybe you can see it to the right of the rock. Fortunately, the fire was contained by last night. Especially fortunate as I took the photo standing in the driveway of a YMCA camp, and I could hear all the kids int he mess hall. — Welcome to Battleship Rock; it marks the confluence of the Jemez River and San Antonio Creek. Yesterday it also marked the location of a nascent forest fire. Maybe you can see it to the right of the rock. Fortunately, the fire was contained by last night. Especially fortunate as I took the photo standing in the driveway of a YMCA camp, and I could actually hear the kids celebrating someone’s birthday in the mess hall.

Vibrantly green conifers all over the mountains.

New Mexico - it's not all brown and dry. We hiked about a half-mile down to the stream, but my knees opted not to continue on to the hot springs. — New Mexico – it’s not all dry desert. We hiked about a third of a mile down to the stream, but my knees opted not to continue on to the hot springs.

To come around a curve and find...this amazed Tom and me. It's the Valles Caldera National Preserve. It's one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, about 17 miles in diameter. You might have seen it on the news this week. A woman running a marathon stumbled upon a mama bear and her three cubs. Thank goodness she lived to tell the tale. — To come around a curve and find…this amazed Tom and me. It’s the Valles Caldera National Preserve. It’s one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, about 17 miles in diameter. You might have seen it on the news this week. A woman running a marathon stumbled upon a mama bear and her three cubs. Thank goodness she lived to tell the tale.

I loved it up there so much that the next plan is to spend a couple of nights in Jemez Springs when we get a chance. Tynan's happy; there are a couple of little motels that allow polite dogs to stay. — I loved it up there so much that the next plan is to spend a couple of nights in Jemez Springs when we get a chance. Tynan’s happy; there are a couple of little motels that welcome polite dogs. He can be very polite. As long as we give him lots of snacks.

Will you be escaping the city this summer? Where will you go? What will you do?

May 25, 2016

Tent Rocks rock!

"Kasha-Katuwe" means "White Cliff" in the native language of the Cochiti pueblo people. The tapered rock formations are called hoodoos (or tents). Some still retain their "boulder caps." — “Kasha-Katuwe” means “White Cliff” in the native language of the Cochiti pueblo people. The tapered rock formations are called hoodoos (or tents). Some still retain their “boulder caps.”

“Make sure you visit Tent Rocks,” both friends and acquaintances told us. “Go now, before the it gets too hot.” Actually, they said that back in March. We finally made it Sunday even though we couldn’t take Tynan (the dog) which was what made us hesitate earlier. He loves going to new, outdoorsy places. But even without him there, it was easily the BEST, MOST INTERESTING FIELD TRIP since we moved to New Mexico back in August.

Tent Rocks are the products of volcanic eruptions that happened 6 or 7 million years ago.

Technically, the national monument is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. It’s located about an hour north and west of Albuquerque. There are very cool geologic formations as well as a couple trails with wicked vistas that include views of the Sandia, Sangre de Cristo, and Jemez mountains and the Rio Grande River valley.

Entrance to the slot canyon portion of the Slot Canyon Trail.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (because why should I re-write the wheel?):

The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a “pyroclastic flow.”

Precariously perched on many of the tapering hoodoos are boulder caps that protect the softer pumice and tuff below. Some tents have lost their hard, resistant caprocks, and are disintegrating. While fairly uniform in shape, the tent rock formations vary in height from a few feet up to 90 feet.

The view from the top of the mesa. Very satisfying. I'm not sure if those are the Sangre de Cristos or the Jemez mountains. — The view from the top of the mesa. The climb there was quite satisfying. I’m not sure if those are the Sangre de Cristos or the Jemez mountains. Either way, we were jiving on the undulating cliffs.

What are the cool, touristy places you can visit in your area? How do they provide inspiration for your art?

It's as if the trees grow right out of the rocks! Check out those gorgeous stone curves. — It’s as if the trees grow right out of the rocks! Check out those gorgeous stone curves. They encourage you to wend your way to the right, to keep following the path. And maybe even to create an abstract rug based on them.

Unfortunately, I'm not up on my high desert botany yet, so I can't give you a name, but aren't these gorgeous? Who says the desert is boring and...brown? — Unfortunately, I’m not up on my high desert botany yet, so I can’t give you a name, but aren’t these gorgeous? Who says the desert is boring and…brown? I see bright orange flowers in a near-future mat…