Saturday 2 April 2016

I may just possibly have fallen in love

I may just possibly have fallen in love with New Mexico and some of its people. 


The flight in was magical. 


Our first resting place was Casa del Sol, 
located within skipping distance of Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch house. 


We were able to cook our dye pots over a fragrant open fire.
We wrote poetry and drew in our journals,
adding local colour by literally rubbing the earth into the pages. 


We took an excursion to the Chama River, in a region where the scent of Piñon was intoxicating


After unwinding ourselves at (or possibly from) Casa del Sol we moved on to Taos.
Here Carpio Bernal Watercrow graciously shared his story and created a special ceremonial circle for us, as the Taos Pueblo was closed for initiations and we were not able to visit.
A smoking juniper branch was passed among us.
There was drumming and singing and storytelling.
Later his partner Rose joined us and sang several of her original compositions
after which she handed her guitar to the man who had been shepherding our flock around the countryside (but is also a writer and musician who can build things)
and there was more singing and music
(pictured below, minus guitar)

 we had some splendid studio times, including a little "cheating",
using eucalyptus from a local florist (who was frankly delighted to make some
sales before closing for Easter)
...we also dyed with a local weed, Chamisa
there's magic in the local water,
some of the colour was rather interesting
and
not what i would expect at home.
then we dyed eggs
 wrapped in cloth

 one lunchtime i wandered up to the Mabel Dodge Luhan house
and fell in love some more.


i could quite happily live there.

the tour concluded in Santa Fe
where i was permitted to cook dinner for us all
which made me very happy
and
then
in the night
it snowed
which made me even happier,
even if i do look like a Babushka setting out to gather recyclables in St Petersburg.

The group bonded like true sisters and
working with Sharon Blomgren of Arts + Cultural Travel was a dream
so i'm delighted that we will be visiting New Mexico together again,
twice next year....for a start!


27 comments:

  1. what a travel you have been on you are a lucky soul with a dyepot , i did not knew anything about this land thank you for write and send pictures, congratulation with the comming adventure . funny picture with snowing and you like snowing !!!

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    1. it is beautiful country and very powerful. and once it gets under your skin i think it has a hold on you for ever

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  2. not a bit like a babushka except in the best possible way :) glad it worked out so well, sounds the best place and then snow hah!

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    1. by sheer luck the wool tsunobukuro bag that keeps my shawl and mittens safe for travel turned out to be rather handy as a hat. the complete cold weather travel kit, in fact!

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    2. Love that your hat is also your bag. Now that's what I call crafty.

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  3. For me this all is new, i did not know this land. How beautiful it is! And those red/orange/apricot/yellow colours are marvelous.

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  4. sounds wonderful, love those earth colours.

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  5. How wonderful! I know what you mean about falling in love with New Mexico. I fell hard my first visit to Santa Fe and even harder on my second. It's becoming a yearly artist retreat with a dear friend. The vastness of the sky and the ever changing light is magical as is the landscape. My friend and I are both water people, but the land where we stay is so large that it has the feel of water as we set out back nights, watching the setting sun put on its light show...and listen to the coyotes begin their activities.

    Twice next year, huh? How tempting it is to join you. Enjoy!

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    1. the first venture went very well, but i have the feeling that (just as been happening in Scotland) as we continue to explore and refine, it will be even better

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  6. What a wonderful life you lead at the moment

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    1. i do indeed, and i am deeply grateful for it

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  7. so glad you had a great time . new mexico is an awesome place . i can never get enough of the blue skies . i will look forward to hearing more about your experience when i see you in san francisco .

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  8. Can't wait to find out when you will be back.

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  9. Can't wait to find out when you will be back.

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  10. India. I'm so happy you fell in love with New Mexico! I knew it would enchant you! I go every fall to Ghost Ranch to soak up that magical place! The. veil is very thin there and the spirit just expands as big as the sky! Your trip sounds incredible and I know those who shared it with you had the experience of a lifetime!

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  11. I went to my first fiber festival in Taos in the early 1980's. I have been back several times. I told everyone I knew that if I ever had all the money in the world, I would live in the Taos-upper New Mexico-area. I have to settle for visits. There is a monastery near your first stay on the Chama River. There is the Presbyterian camp Ghost Ranch next door to Georgia O'Keefe's ranch. I think it was all one Spanish parcel at one time. There are sheep, alpaca, and wool and fiber folk everywhere. It is a most wonderful place.

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    1. We made an excursion to Christ in the Desert and Casa Del Sol (where we stayed) is the original name of what is now the Presbytarian camp. All so very beautiful. And we saw the sheep wandering about there every day. As I understand it the parcel now known as Ghost Ranch was acquired by the Lindberghs, whose friends then also gravitated there.

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  12. I, for one New Mexican, am looking forward to seeing what color you next squeeze from our local landscape…happy your visit was a good one.

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  13. Hmmm, looks and sounds wonderful India. Maybe one day . . . .

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  14. The enchanted state really is just that..enchanted. I too fell in love with it at 16. I worked for the summer learning the light board at the opera company and then was first introduced to the wonders of medicinal herbs in Toas...magical...yep....wish I could have joined in the fun! You look content to be in the snow too!

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    1. i was well content in the snow, thank you!

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  15. New Mexico is pure enchantment and took my by surprise. Mostly likely I will not return, even so, New Mexico is in my heart and spirit.

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  16. oh I LOVE New Mexico India! And I can just imagine you wandering & whirling there...the colour, the light & those wonder filled skies...and the SMELL of the landscape. I kept collecting rock & crushing herbs & happened to visit the Taos pueblo the day of a pow-wow. I have visited twice...once in summer & once in winter and would happily live there...would love to join you next year on a 'wandering'!

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  17. India,
    When will you hold a workshop at GR in 2017? Thank you,
    Leslie

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    1. happy to say I am returning twice next year

      http://artsandculturaltravel.com/portfolio/wandering-with-india-flint-new-mexico-2017/

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