Saturday, May 16, 2009

Farmington, New Mexico

Today, I went with the archeology club to a ranch in Farmington, New Mexico.  This ranch has many Ancestoral Puebloan sites, including petroglyphs and pictographs.  In the picture of the pottery . . . look at the top . . . it is an edge piece, which is pretty cool.  

Something interesting happened to me here.  We didn't do a lot of hiking, mostly we just went from site to site and an archeologist working at the ranch lectured on what we were seeing.  But, it was very hot, and it was all in the sun.  At the last site we went to, the sun got to me.  I had been feeling a little queasy, and during this short lecture a weird thing happened.  Everyone got "golden."  It's like they - - and everything else - - had a golden halo all around their body.  I can't swear to it, but I think my hearing shut down, also.  In short, I was about to faint.  I knew it, and I refused to do it.  I kept saying to myself, "no, no, no," and I didn't.  I walked back to the car and sat down in the shade, while everyone else listened to the lecture.  Then we drove a short ways to see the hogan - - or what remains of it - - in the first picture above.  I walked down and took the picture and went back to the car.  She talked about how the entrance to every hogan is always . . . I can't remember East or West!  But, they are all the same!  I think it's East for the rising sun.  See the beautiful cactus inside the remnants hogan?  Isn't that cool?

Monday, May 11, 2009

Monday

While I'm brushing Whiskey today, and spending a lot of time doing it, Michelle comes over and says, "At that rate, he'll expect something for Father's Day!"

Someone calls from Cadence.  Ron's mare had her foal, and didn't accept it.  So, they are having to hand feed it, and have to cancel riding tomorrow.

Wednesday

I've been a roll with my book lately, and since Barb isn't with me today, I'm decide to do a real quickie with the horses, and get back home. I do the first corral with Doc, Stealth, and Indie. Usually, I do the second corral next with Missy and Whiskey. But, I decide that since I spend the most time with Whiskey, I'll do him last today.  What a mistake.  I go to the third corral and work on Rico, Quinn, and JJ.  When I finish them, I head back to Whiskey and Missy.

I walk into the corral, and Whiskey is standing in the corner gazing into the distance.  Missy is in the middle of the corral, eating.  I decide to do Missy first.  Usually, Whiskey would come over and bug me until I do him, but not today.  I finish Missy and go over to Whiskey.  Usually, Whiskey will nicker when I come over to him . . . but . . . not today.  I start by scratching his neck in his favorite place.  Usually, he stretches out his neck and quivers his lips.  But, not today.  The ole boy was mad at me!  He wouldn't give me the satisfaction of making him feel good!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Square Dance Graduation!

Tonight was my graduation!  They said I had to wear "square dance clothes."  A couple weeks ago, Agnes took me by the hand and took me "shopping."  They have free skirts and petticoats and blouses.  I picked out a few things, and tonight I had to wear one of the outfits.  I was so uncomfortable . . . I can't remember the last time I wore a dress . . . maybe to the 2007 graduation of the kids in Maine.  I was so "out of sorts" that I could barely remember the calls!

Then we had pizza and salad and cake.  After that, it was time for graduation.  Ruth, the caller's wife, hands me a paper plate with a tassel on top!  I had to tie it on!  Then Louis brings me to the square with three other couples.  But, Louis steps back and Ruth hands me a broom!  The broom is my partner!  I had to pass the broom off to "its" next partner before I could move on.  So, everyone in the square had to deal with Mr. Broom!

Next, Louis came back and Judy blindfolded me.  I didn't tell her, but I could still see shadows!  Then we did another dance with me blindfolded!  It was a trip!  One time, Louis deliberately wasn't where he should have been . . . just to tease me!  It was fun.

The final "piece" of graduation . . . either Judy or Ruth brought me two brown paper bags.  I had to put one on each foot, and go through the whole dance keeping the bags on.  They said if one of the bags came off, I couldn't graduate!  They stayed on!

I had a blast, and couldn't really understand why they kept saying I was a good sport.  It was awesome!  I had so much fun!  They forgot my diploma, though, and Judy ordered my badge so I will be an official member soon.  What a trip!

Tues Weds Thurs, May 5,6,7, 2009

Tuesday

More side-walking and leading.

Wednesday

More brushing horses.  I'm finding out their itchy spots.  Whiskey and JJ both have an itchy spot on their neck that they love having scratched.  Whiskey is the only horse that steps back from eating while I brush him.  I try to brush him longer than the others because he appreciates it so much.

Thursday

Just before I turned onto the street that the ranch is off of, someone pulls into the street ahead of me.  The car has Maine plates!  I am amazed at that until she pulls into the ranch!  Her home is in Oxford, Maine, and she attends school at the college here.  Then, later, while talking to this cowboy that has been volunteering there . . . turns out we worked at stables that were about two blocks apart in Los Angeles.  He was there a few years after I left, but still, an amazing "coincidence."  That is where my horse was stabled, so we talked about different rides that we had both been on.  What a mind-blower!

Spring has sprung in Durango.  Blossoms of color are everywhere.  It is awesome.  In Maine, I'd still be wearing my lined jeans . . . but, here, I'm already in t-shirts!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Mancos, Colorado

Medicine Horse has a couple three-year-old unbroke mares. This other woman I've been working with, Barb, really knows her horses, and she said to be cautious when I'm in with them, because they're still babies and you don't know what they're going to do with each other. I was in their pasture, and I had finished brushing Rico, and was just starting Quinn when Rico comes over and starts hanging around. I just stopped and was going to wait till she left. Then, JJ starts walking toward us. I asked him if he was ready to be brushed. He walks right past me, bites Rico on the butt and chases her away from Quinn! Then, he continues on his way to the other side of the pasture to get a drink! It was a gift! He had done that for me! It was so awesome! 

JJ was a little standoffish when I first started, but one day after kind of "cornering" him (not really, just kind of . . . it was a safe cornering . . . he could still walk away) and brushing him, I gave him reiki and he loved it. So, we've been friends, since, but this was just such an obvious gift for me. So cool!

I saw a blue heron fly onto one of the nests across the street today!  I hope there's some at my new house . . . since it's right on the river!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Return to Largo Canyon, New Mexico

No, I didn't go back to the horse ranch, although I was close!  I went hiking with the archeology club near there.  We saw some cool petroglyphs and pictographs, and I met a lot of nice people.  They were very knowledgeable about the Navajo and the Ancestral Puebloans, and I learned a lot.  I had a great time!

Pictures:  First one . . . see the "X" in the middle?  There are several more x's, though hard to see in the picture.  They represent stars, and this is called a star ceiling.

Second one to the right of first one:  Two shields with a connector in between.  To the right of Bill are "peckings" in the rock, also to represent stars, possibly Pleiades.

In the pic with the visible hand in it, look to the right, and you can see a buffalo and a turkey.  They are not as "indented" as the hand, but still visible.

Friday, Saturday, May 1 and 2, 2009

Friday

I spoke to Louis at square dancing about the "angels" only being for the lessons.  He confirmed that it was true, and said that they lose a lot of single women from the group because there aren't enough men.  Depending on how it goes . . . they may lose me, too.  Although . . . my intention is to find my own partner!

Louis told me that when he went to "callers" school, each day when they came in, they would have to close their eyes and tell what everyone was wearing.  In order to be a square dance caller, you have to remember what the lead couple (and maybe the others) are wearing!  I thought that was interesting.

Saturday

I hit a bunch of garage sales to pick up stuff for my new house.  Going from furnished to unfurnished, with all my stuff still in Maine is tough.  Garage sales will save me!  I found a bunch of Corning Ware at one sale - - I love Corning Ware!  I hit the jackpot!  Another one had some mixing bowls that I wanted, plus, they had a Singer sewing machine for $10!  The guy said he had started with $40 this morning, and was now down to $10.  I took it!  I miss my sewing machine, and it's almost time for me to make more feet pajamas!

After the garage sales, I met Rosemary in town, and we had lunch.  We got caught in the rain, but it wasn't too cold.