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The muse of minutiae

Flower is a muse of minutiae
The muse, she’s beautiful close up, yes?

 

So the muse called yesterday. Not from anywhere far from home, but right in the backyard and even in the house. Fortunately, she called while I was watering the plants and before we hit the jackpot temperatures we’ve been getting lately. Yes, we are “enjoying” that heatwave that’s the talk of the Southwest. But if you stay in the shade and don’t move around too much, it’s not bad. It really is all about the humidity. And the fact that we live in New Mexico, NOT Phoenix with its 119º. Okay, it helps that both of our AC units are back online. Last week we had to limp along with just one of them for several days.

 

But back to the muse; I’m calling her the muse of minutiae because I was looking at things close-up rather than trying to see the big picture as I often do. Really, I wanted to find something extraordinary in the hum-ho of the yard I look at each day. But who really looks closely at their backyard every day? Guess I need to practice that more, particularly at off times. It is a nice backyard, especially at the end of the day when the hummingbirds visit while you sit out with a glass of wine.

Muse's energy
This is a close-up of a painting by my aunt Pat Croke. Talk about the muse’s energy, people!
I’m a big lover of all things sun – hell, why else would I have chosen to live out here in the desert? This is part of a chiminea that the original owner of our house left. If we touch it, it’ll break. It has to stay.

 

 

Taken as I am by the sun on the chiminea, I’d never noticed this almost shadow of a kokopelli hiding down near the ground. Who isn’t inspired by the happy flute-player?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the muse in the shadows
What do you see in the shadows?

 

 

 

What a treat to find a rose like this one blooming during this heatwave!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muse of touch
Then there’s texture. Who’s not excited by the muse of touch?
Muse of the sun
LIke I said, the god of sunshine is always here in my Albuquerque backyard.
Muse of the sun
And he brings his a-muse-d friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, someone else is not enjoying the heat one iota! Tynan barely agreed to show you “what’s on the frame” this week. He’s barely looking me in the eye to shoot the pic. Instead he insisted that he was too hot to pose, to move even. That is until I got the shot and mentioned the usual treat. He was up like a puppy – not a heat-stricken nine-year old. He’ll feel better when he gets his hair cut tomorrow.

dog muse of rug hooking
Maybe he’s just embarrassed by the shameless commercial nature of this new rug. Even if he was its muse!

A reminder, the blog will be back in a couple of weeks. I think I mentioned that Tom and Tynan and I are off to Pagosa Springs in southern Colorado soon for a little R&R. Nothing big; it’ll be just as warm there. But nothing sounds better than morning hikes and afternoons spent lolling on the patio with books and beverages. Pics to come!

What fun are you up to now that summer’s fully set in?

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Summer’s last gasp…

Fall in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Fall in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s been feeling like summer.

 

The past week we’ve been eating out on the patio every night; it’s been that warm here in Albuquerque. Mid- to high- 80s. Lots of sun. And while I’ve felt a little left out of the New England autumnal loop – you know, turning leaves, sweater weather, stoking the fire-pit – I can’t say that I’m regretting this uncharacteristically lingering summer one bit. But it’s all about to change. Friday’s the day, apparently, that some rains come, and the temperature drops that 15 or so degrees that nature eventually demands.

Our loving room looking out to the backyard. Eventually we'll get things on the walls and such, once we take and inventory and see what'll work in this style of house. Till then we're pretty comfy, though.
Our living room looking out to the backyard. Eventually we’ll get things on the walls and such, once we take and inventory and see what’ll work in this style of house. Till then we’re happy to be comfy and settling in.

 

 

 

 

I’m good with that too. It’ll keep me in the house more, allow me to do some writing, start looking at the job situation here in town. Not that we haven’t been busy. Finally, I can say that most of the boxes have been emptied, and many of their contents have found a place in our new home. We have fully functional kitchens and bathrooms, something that’s an imperative to me. We’ve even managed to lay in some of my favorite seasonal decor: pumpkins!

There's even a cute, little patio perfect for sharing a bottle of wine. Looking for a fire-pit now.
There’s even a cute, little patio perfect for sharing a bottle of wine. We’re looking for a fire-pit now.

 

 

The neighborhood’s rather quiet, but a potluck’s been planned for Sunday afternoon in our little park down the street. We’re looking forward to getting to know people, breaking bread and sharing a glass or two. Most important to me is getting the scoop about Halloween. How many kids can I expect to come to the door? Lord knows I can’t to run out of candy my first time out in a new community.

 

Imagine the views...
Imagine the views…

We’re really hoping to start limiting the trips to Target, Lowes, and all the other big box stores that become a home away from one’s new home when you move. The bank account can’t take it any more. And we’d really like to reclaim that time for fun and exploration. To that effect, we did take some time Saturday and headed with the kid and the dog to hike up in Santa Fe. It was good to get out and remember why we relocated.

Mixed media mat in the making. T-shirts, wool yarn, and some gossamer fabrics to come.
Mixed media mat in the making. T-shirts, wool yarn, and some gossamer fabrics to come.

 

Last update: I am indeed in the midst of a new mat. I’ve included a pic. I’ve finally started pulling my stash out of boxes and trying to arrange it for maximum efficiency and workability. I have no studio or room that can be dedicated to all things hooking, but I do have one hell of a master closet which holds my clothing and, on some kick-ass, built-in shelves, the bulk of my yarns and fabrics. So, with a little more time and arranging, I’ll make it work.

 

So to all my east coast friends, enjoy your picture-perfect fall days and leaf-peeping. I do miss this quintessential New England season. In fact, send me your photos. I can look at them while bask in this glorious last gasp of summer in New Mexico.

Okay, it's a cactus, not a maple tree. But it's still something to look at.
Okay, it’s a cactus, not a maple tree. But it’s still something to look at.

 

 

 

 

 

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