Christmas in Santa Fe

Our first Christmas in Santa Fe has been a wonderful, magical and community-centered experience unlike no other. Just like the celebrations of the summer months, "The City Different" knows how to have fun and put on a party, and our own microcosm of the city here at The Commons on the Alameda Cohousing Community also knows how to make the most of the season.

On Christmas Eve, we made our way to Canyon Road for the very famous Canyon Road Christmas Eve walk, an event that is now attended by 20,000 to 30,000 people. But first, we stopped at a local gourmet chocolate shop for spicy Mayan hot chocolate to pique our palates and warm our bones.

On this special night, the entire road is closed to vehicular traffic and is transformed into a spectacle of bonfires (luminarias) and farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and lit with candles). Some galleries, residents and shops go all out, lighting their property and adobe walls with dozens, if not hundreds, of farolitos, and the effect is stunning.

Many galleries and shops offer free hot cider, cocoa and snacks, and there are planned and spontaneous outbursts of holiday singing and caroling at every turn. Although there are thousands of people, it is a very tranquil event, and there was a very palpable peaceful aura all through the city.



Thanks to a local friend, we were invited to several nearby house parties, where we were treated to hot food, egg nog, and other holiday cheer. It was a nice respite from the chilly night, and we were greeted along the way by people gathered in front of fires along the darkened streets.

Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny, with abundant blue skies. Here at The Commons, a group of carolers wandered the community beginning at 10am, singing for various neighbors as they asked for their cups to be filled. We rewarded these intrepid singers with French cognac, and then joined them on their merry rounds. We ended our singing at a neighbor's home, where a generous spread of food and drink was on offer, with kids and dogs running and playing in the large living room as adults laughed and talked.

Luckily for us, our son and daughter-in-law arrived from Taos by noon, and we enjoyed a long, lazy day of opening presents, cooking a sumptuous meal, walking along the river, and playing charades after sundown. It was a lovely and memorable time, and the day ended as sweetly as it began.

On Sunday---Boxing Day---we had a delicious brunch with our "kids" and bid them adieu. Leaving Tina at home, we went for a very special hike in the hills along the Rio Tesuque outside of town, and marveled at the beauty of the forest, the icy running water, and the sun that tried its best to make its way down into the shady darkness of the forest.

This evening, a Boxing Day gathering at The Commons featured desserts, even more holiday cheer, and time to elongate the holiday feelings that have enveloped our little community all week.

It's been a special holiday weekend, and we look forward to the celebrations that will no doubt be in the offing as 2010 wanes and 2011 dawns.

Happy holidays to all, and our blessings to you and yours at this special time of year!

Snow on the Mountains

A Flash Flood Comes to Santa Fe

Today was an amazing event in Santa Fe, the purpose of which was to call attention to the timely and urgent subject of climate change.

To explain the background story further, 20 locations around the world were selected to participate in "art actions" to call attention to climate change, satellite images of which will all be projected worldwide and watched by the attendees at the upcoming Cancun climate change summit. Santa Fe was one of only 5 communities in the United States selected to take part, and we were all excited to be part of such a great event, where Indian, Anglo and Hispanic citizens were all well represented.

Here's information from the Santa Fe Art Institute website:

"The Santa Fe Art Institute, in coordination with Bill McKibben’s 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to building a movement in response to the global threats of climate change, is spearheading the New Mexico project, which is one of five U.S. sites out of 20 global locations. 3,000 community members will carry and flip blue-painted recycled cardboard to compose the FLASH FLOOD in the dry bed of the Santa Fe River, which has been designated as one of America’s most endangered rivers. The art action and aerial design will be visible and documented from outer space via satellite. The FLASH FLOOD will be projected worldwide alongside the 19 other global aerial designs as part of the Cancun Climate Change Summit, November 29 – December 10, 2010."

So, between 10:53 and 10:56 pm, we created a "living river" as the satellite passed overhead. Meanwhile, news helicopters and cameras on a 5-story high crane shot video and still photos of this spectacular community event.

Representing the Indian community, local Buffalo Dancers performed dances in the river bed:

There was even a local Mariachi band......

As well as people of all ages.....

We're grateful to the Santa Fe Art Institute for making this event a reality, and we hope that we contributed, at least in small part, to a growing global movement bringing the issue of climate change to light.

Family Photos

Keith and his mom Barbara,  who is sitting at the Commons piano

Barbara and Mary, walking at The Commons

Our son Rene, Barbara, and our daughter-in-law Bevin 

Three generations

Flamenco!

To celebrate my mother's birthday during her weekend visit to Santa Fe from Atlanta, we saw a spectacular flamenco show at El Meson in downtown Santa Fe. The dancing, musicianship and energy were simply without peer.

Autumn Light

The late afternoon light here in Santa Fe is just spectacular at this time of year. And here at The Commons on the Alameda, the cottonwoods in the central plaza simply glow as they tower over our cozy community.

The fountain in the central plaza

Cottonwood and evergreen, by Mary

Cottonwood and adobe, by Mary

Cottonwoods, by Mary

Somos Un Pueblo (We Are a Village)

There is a plethora of beautiful public murals all over Santa Fe (and greater New Mexico). Many of these artworks depict the cultural diversity, religious iconography and ethnic pride of various groups within the larger citizenry, which is generally divided into "Indians, Anglos and Hispanics" for want of better terminology. (I, for one, don't feel any identification with the term "Anglo", but that's what I'm seen as here in New Mexico, for better or worse........)

This mural represents the Spanish Conquistadors, the Mexican settlers, and the Pueblo Indians who inhabited New Mexico long before anyone else attempted to claim it for their own. The text on the flag mentions the suffering, laughter and tears experienced here. 

Day of the Dead/Hallowe'en in Santa Fe

Keith and Mary in sepia

Mary and our friend Kate

Amazing photo of Keith by Mary

Trick or Treating Commons Kids

Sumo Wrestler Commoner