Special Shape Balloons - last day

I got up at 4:30am to get ready to head out with Susan to the Balloon Fiesta. The Special Shape event was scheduled Thursday morning. I picked a flight that left at 11:25am on purpose so I could see this before I had to leave.
We got right there with no traffic problems at all. It was still pitch dark but 100's of people were there already milling about, drinking coffee, eating & finding a place in the field to camp out & wait for the balloons to go up. It was a little windy so I was nervous. I hope they wouldn't cancel it!
Susan & I got some chai & chatted for a while. Luckily it was a go BUT the balloons were tethered-not flying. I was ok with that! I was just so happy to see them! Just like on Sunday, it was such a thrill to see an entire field of hot air balloons being blown up! All different, wacky shapes! We walked around for a good hour taking pictures. There were things like a panda, cow, pig, beer bottle, mushroom, pirate, owl, jester, sun-all kinds of stuff!!
Then it started to get more windy & the announcer came on & said they were taking them down. So all the balloons started to deflate so quickly! I'm glad I got to see as much as I did though. It was fabulous! Especially to see them all up close since they were tethered.
I got to go back to the arts & crafts tent & blew some more money on things I had my eye on the other day. It might have been a good thing I was leaving today so I woulnd't spend any more money!haha

So by 9:30am, we were off to the airport. The week went by incredibly fast! I can't believe it was time to go home already. I had such a good time with Susan & George. I really appreciate their hospitality while I was there with them. It was awesome meeting Leo (their new Berner) too! He's such a cutie pie, I love to love him!
I love New Mexico & the atmosphere there. It's a great place to visit & I hope to be back soon! Maybe for a Pow Wow next~
Thank you Susan & George for an awesome trip!!

Peacocks, Coyotes & Tarantulas- OH MY!

Wednesday Susan & Tina went to their Garden Club meeting so George took me on another joy ride on the Turquoise Trail. We drove north towards Santa Fe then hung a right & drove behind the mountain through the desert area. It was beautiful!
We had brunch at the San Marcos cafe, a quaint little place that had peacocks running around outside & a pen with chickens, pigeons & geese. My eggs benedict was awesome! We walked around after we ate to get pics of the peacocks-my favorite! They didn't have nice tail feathers though at this time of year. They still looked amazing though!
We continued on to the town of Madrid next (that's MA-drid, not like the one in Spain) where the film Wild Hogs was shot at Maggie's Diner. It was a tiny little town with gift shops. Believe it or not, I didn't buy anything! It was a neat place to walk around. I found some things to keep in mind for the next time I may be out there.
George was a great tour guide telling me all about the land just like he did on our trip through the Jemez reservation/pueblo. As we're driving along, I spot something crawling across the road...a tarantula!!!! A real, live tarantula! He swerved to miss it as I was freaking out in excitement since I've never seen one in real life before. I remember petting one when I was a kid but that was through a zoo or something like that of course. Not a minute or 2 later, we see another one! George steps on the brakes, pulls off on the shoulder, puts it in reverse & backs up down the shoulder for me to get out & take pictures! I was SOOO excited! It was like my own New Mexico safari. Ü George starts poking at it with a stick to get it to rear up on its hindlegs. Then it started to take off after us! AGH! I ran. That sucker was pretty fast.
Then we stopped at a trading post that George & Susan have been going to for 40 years. He said it's never changed in all that time. It's the greatest, cheapest place to go for jewelry & other Native American stuff. He introduced me to the owners who were very nice. I got a turquoise wrap bracelet & nice earrings for $30.

When we got back to the house, Tina's husband Tom, arrived. We had some time to chat before we all went out to eat at Blaze. Tom & Tina are going to Paris soon so we got to talk about that & other travel stories. I had a bit of time to catch up on some reading too which was nice. I heard some coyotes near the house screeching & barking. I heard them too the other day in the middle of the night. Good grief! They are noisy things. I wish I would have seen them though. That would be cool.

I realized that this was the first day that I felt fine! No headache or neck tension. Maybe it was altitude sickness affecting me. Now just when I'm getting used to it, I have to leave. :(

We met up with more friends at Blaze- Jerry & Sharon. We all had a great time chatting & eating. It was a super nice restaurant & cozy atmosphere. I had some terrific trout & caprese salad. Susan & George are social butterflies with great friends!

My last day was great. Time to pack-BOOHOO!

Spike & Paco

Tuesday I spent the day with Susan in Old Town Albuquerque. They took me there 5 years ago but we didn't have much time. It's a huge town square filled with all kinds of unique gift shops & restaurants with a 300 year old church in the center square.
They had a lot of balloon fiesta merchandise for all the tourists. It was fun to look at! I got some cute socks, a tree ornament & postcards. At a finer gift shop, I saw the Jon Anderson fimo clay animals that I fell in love with last time I was out. I regretted not buying one! There was a horned toad figure that I loved cuz I saw one here & it looked so cool made out of the fimo clay with all these intricate designs in it. So there they are-ok, now I have to get one. 5 years ago I thought they were outstanding, didn't get one & couldn't stop thinking about it since. The small ones were $95 & they had 1 big one (looked actual size) for $195. Of course the big one looked WAY better, more colorful & fancier. The salesguy was super nice.Pretty cute too. He gave me a magnifying glass to look at them & left me alone to make my decision. I know it's a lot, but I had to get the big one. It was SO much nicer & I don't really have any kind of "good" art (except for the katchina print I got Monday!). So I said I'll take the big one. Cute guy wrapped him up in cool box with the artist's info card. YAY!
Susan & I have lunch at a very nice place in the square. I ordered a strawberry & orange salad with goat cheese & almonds. Not exactly Mexican food but we just had that last night. I think I'll have to replicate this dish at home-YUM!
I took the box out to show her my treasure. She picks it up out of the box & the one leg was loose. Oh no! She set it on the table & it fell right off!! EGADS! She said we'll go back to the shop, it looked like it could easily be glued back on. Maybe I could get something knocked off the price.

So we headed back to the shop. Cute guy had a very cute son to which I said, "Is there a doctor in the house?" We explanined what happened & they were all mortified. This never happened before. They actually tried calling the artist, Jon Anderson, who lives in BALI to see what they could do. I'm not sure if they got a hold of him but they agreed to try super glue. The wife shop owner came over & said, "If they fix it & you like it, we'll throw in a baby for you. If you don't like it, we'll give you a refund or have Jon send you a new one". Holy crap! A free baby? Susan & I gave each other a wide-eyed look like, hell yea!
They fix Spike for me & hand him over with a magnifying glass for me to approve. I pretend to be all picky & give them a "yes, it's acceptable". She tells me to pick out a baby horned toad. EEEEE!!!
They wrap everything up & we learn that the cute guy husband is the artist of the cool copper & brass art that Susan & George have on the dining room wall. We laugh, shake hands, I take his picture, thank them profusely for their generosity & tell them they have a very happy customer.
I walk out feeling like I hit the jackpot 2 days in a row!!! Susan says I have to name them so I now have Spike & baby Paco. WOOHOO!!!!

Unfortunately, I had a neck tension headache all day that was feeling worse in the car. When we get home I sleep from about 4-630pm! Their friend, Tina from San Antonio, arrives to stay with us for 2 days. She & her husband used to live here & she's joining Susan at her garden club meeting to visit more friends. Tina is super sweet & we have a fabulous meal together of pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy & broccoli. After dinner, the women chat & catch up while George & I rock out in the living room watching a 1973 concert of Led Zeppelin in Madison Square Garden.

Another great day in New Mexico!

Jemez & Sopapillas

Boy, this is starting to be about food!

Today George took me for a drive to the Jemez (Hay-mez) pueblo/reservation, about an hour away while Susan went to a book club meeting. George was a great tour guide! I got an education on our way about the native american people & the land.
As we drove, it reminded me more & more of Sedona, AZ! We came to a HUGE red rock area where George had to pull over for me to get out & take pics! It was amazing~ There was noone around, hardly any buildings & mountains everywhere=gorgeous!
We stopped at a creek where he sometimes goes fishing, then went for lunch at Los Ojos, which was his old college stomping grounds for fun. He said it hasn't changed much! I got fish & chips & he got a famous burger. The fries were great! It was very rustic with antlers, deer mounts, rifles & tree-trunk type barstools. The waitress gave me postcards of the place!

We continued on towards Soda Dam- a natural hot spring along the road. Oh WOW!!! If I had a suit, I would have jumped right in there. The formation was so cool! There were cave-like structures with a big waterfall into a creek. Very picturesque! Up ahead was Battleship Rock- a cool formation made from volcanic rock that looked like a bow to a ship.
Then we headed back listening to "classic vinyl" on Sirrius radio while I told George my Challenger story from Sedona.

They tag-teamed & Susan took me out to a scrapbook store & a bead store that I looked up online before I came. Jackpot!! The scrapbook store was fabulous. They had awesome, unique things that I can't get at home, including hot air balloon stuff! Susan got an album for their Tahiti pictures too.
The bead store was just as fun! Susan found the coolest wooden beads that actually changed color when you touched them! I got 5 of them with the idea of a bracelet in mind. I got a bunch of the teeniest weeniest beads in wonderful colors that I think will be the proper size for classes with Gloria when I get home. I can't wait to learn a new hobby!

Then later, we went out to eat so I could treat them to some good, authentic Mexican food & my most favorite sopapillas!! They took me before to this awesome place-Abulietas where I remembered having the most incredible, doughnut-like sopapillas ever. Mmmmmmm~ divine!

Tomorrow Susan & I hit up Old Town Albuquerque. I think I need a bigger house with more walls to decorate...

Crafts & Crepes

Getting back from the fiesta, we ate some great homemade chicken soup. Then Susan & I headed back out to the huge art & craft tent near the fiesta. Oh-hold me down! This was awesome! I didn't know which way to turn first when we got in under the massive tent. Everything looked so beautiful! Aisles of exquisite handmade crafts & art by local artisans made me want one of everything! I found a cool handmade pendant with a balloon & adobe house scene that reminded me of being here in New Mexico. I quickly put that on my "come back for that later" list. Down the first aisle, we ran into thier friend, Dave, and his family again! (from the balloon fiesta) It was so funny. There were tons of people there at the craft show. It was like a needle in a haystack-again-finding them there!

I found an incredible painter who had some brilliantly colored artwork of kachinas. I fell in love with them! She had a huge painting for $550, a smaller version for $300 & a little print for $24. I was laying some smaller single ones out trying to make a decision. She said she'd cut me a deal on the bigger paintings if I was interested. Ooooo-tempting! I told her to put aside the small print & I'd be back later. In the meantime, I saw another booth of a painter who had some cool kachinas just like Susan & George have in their house that I really admire. He had little prints 2 for $15! YAY
We saw such amazing artwork- jewelry, paintings, pottery, mixed media, metal sculptures & more. It was way better than being at a mall!Plus, what was so neat was that all the artists were right there at their booth so you could meet them. I found a beautiful pottery hanging wall "basket" with feathers on it & a metal kachina sculpture for the wall.
The whole time I'm walking around thinking about the first kachina painting & if I should buy the canvas or the cheap little print. I don't have any NICE art in my house yet. This could be my first REAL piece of artwork! Hmmm.....I could offer $250...should I spend that much? If not, will I regret it? ARG!
Well, time was awasting & we had to go. I went back to the booth, picked up the small print & said I'd take that for $24. The woman wasn't there so the husband helped me. I must have said something about wanting the big canvas. He said, "It's 4:30pm, I don't want to pack that back up. I'll give it to you for $250". Susan & I looked at each other- hmmmm.... I got a look in my eye & said to the guy, "If you make it $200, I'll take it right now". He said, "ok"! Susan & I just looked at each other like "HAHA! Woohoo!". Happyhappyjoyjoy!!!!! What a great day!

Later back at the house, we got ready for friends to come for dinner. Terry & Ebbit came to visit on their way from Durango, CO back to Toucson, AZ. Terry used to live near Susan & George back in Slatington. We had a great time! They were a lot of fun to talk to & we ate a yummy chicken enchilada casserole. I volunteered to make crepes for dessert! Everyone seemed happy with that. Terry wrote down the recipe & asked me how to make them. My favorite way to eat them is with Nutella since being in Paris! They were soooo yummy!

So, it was an outstanding first day in NM!

Hot Air Balloon FIESTA!

"The Greatest Show OFF Earth!"
That's what the papers say about the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. I say it's better than Christmas morning!! Wow- what a day!

George & I left for the fiesta around 5:30am Sunday morning to see the Mass Ascention. That's where ALL the balloons go up! As we neared the Fiesta field, traffic was backed up considerably. It was pitch black out yet & chilly. We could see some balloons filled up & glowing in the dark!
The "Dawn Patrol" balloons went up to check wind & weather conditions. It was so exciting!
They had everything running very efficiently to get hundreds of cars parked. We didn't have to walk far into the field at all.

There were tons & tons of people! It was kind of strange to see so many people milling about a festival, with loads of food & gift vendor, in the dark! You could feel the excitement in the air (no pun intended!). People were getting food, hot drinks, all bundled up in their jackets, gloves & hats. George got coffee, I got a breakfast burrito & we headed out to the field. Loads of people were finding their spots on the grass with chairs, blankets or standing. Crews were starting to lay out their balloons to start filling them. Everyone had their own assigned location to set up.
There were rows of balloons in the field. Some were flat on the ground, just being laid out, other rows were starting to inflate. It was such a thrill to see all the colors & patterns unfurl. Geometric designs, stripes, southwest patterns were common to see. I was almost giddy with delight discovering the "special shape" balloons such as a sun, alien, clown, a cow, a pig, bees, even Darth Vador!I was glad I brought gloves! Otherwise I think I would have had trouble pressing the buttons on my camera-it was cold!

We ran into a friend of Susan & George-David, his one son & in-laws. The in-laws were from Jersey so we were chatting it up. Nice people~ It was funny to run into them there- like finding a needle in a haystack!

We stood in the field watching all the balloons gradually take off. Oone row would be blown up & ready, then they would lift off one by one. Everyone on the ground would cheer & applaud! Then the next row would take off, then the next & the next until about 350 balloons were filling the sky!! It was spectacular!! An unbelievable sight that I highly recommend everyone see at least once in their life! I believe they hit a record with how many balloons there were this year.

When they're all up, there's not much else to see so everyone starts heading out. George & I putzed around the vendor tents, I got a cinnamon bun & chai tea as we waited for the crowds to leave. I had a great time looking at all the tents. I got a commemorative pin which are very popular. Each year they have different ones to collect.

There was a fabulous arts & crafts tent that I could have spent WAY too much money in! Beautiful artwork, metal sculptures, jewelry & more were there by the artists. George told me that Susan would take me to a much bigger art/craft show nearby later in the day. Woohoo! I did get a unique necklace there handmade by a woman in Hawaii. I was about to ask her if she offered a multi-purchase discount! I could have come away from there with a bag full-her stuff was so beautiful!

Leaving was much better -the crowds were gone & we sailed out of there with no problem.
Such an incredible experience!!! I can't wait to see my pictures developed~

Albuquerque, NM

I'm off again!
I took to the clouds once again today to visit my friends, Susan & George, and also see the infamous Hot Air Balloon Festival!
I've been dying to see this for the past 4 years & something has come up every time, the exact same week to prevent me from coming. Finally, this year it all worked out.

I had, as Susan called it, a very squirrely flight to get here! I flew out of Allentown (which Dad -aka "chauffer"-was relieved for) to Charlotte, then Denver, THEN Albuquerque. Thankfully the connections were all very short & smooth. No problems! I always thank the Lord above for the opportunity to travel to an exciting place, say a "please keep me safe" prayer & leave it in His hands. Sometimes I don't understand why people get so nervous to fly. A great quote I saw on a church sign read, "Worry ends where faith begins". I guess I have an eternal full well of faith built up cuz I just don't worry much about anything. =no stress!
Well, maybe the only thing I worry about when I fly is if I'll need to use the barf bag upon descending for my motion sickness. I had very smooth landings this time but the descents were making me woozy!

Susan greeted me at the airport. It's so good to be back from 5 years ago! We talked nonstop in the car, catching up on the changes to the area & their house & our schedule of events for the week. We made a little detour to Jackalope-a super cool, eclectic shop, where I found some bead findings & coffee for Mom & Dad.

Back at the house Leo greeted me right at the car! Leo is their gorgeous, adorable Bernese Mountain Dog. I instantly became a new "Aunt"! George helped me with my suitcase & we all got to catch up as they gave me a tour of the NEW additions to the house!

It's just 10pm here but it feels like midnight to me so exhaustion is setting in. 5am will come around quickly! I'm super excited to see the Mass Ascention tomorrow morning! Can't wait for the photo ops all week!
Jes