Southwest Living

I am no longer needing fires to heat the house. While Skye and Bubba are deeply disappointed by this and would likely cozy up to a morning fire in the middle of the summer, the fact is, wood chores are over for the season. I’ve filled the indoor bin to brimming, the wood pile that has been a fixture in the front yard for the duration of the winter is gone, the tarps are folded and stowed.

Okay, I can’t help it. I’m over the moon about the arrival of spring! Living up here at 8500 feet, the winters can be long and cold. But I saw my first blue bird today—a little finch-sized bit of living color—that made my heart sing. So I’ll say goodbye to winter for another year, with gratitude for the snow we’ve received, and will fully embrace the spirit of spring.

The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque and more than a two hour drive from my home. Even so, I see them from my house as part of my southern view. They’re that little graceful, humped shape sitting above the rest of the hills—rather elegant I’ve always thought. Sandia means watermelon in Spanish. It’s thought the name derives from the reddish color of the mountains at sunset.

I love my artful life. Just the other day my friend, Vera, invited Anna, Bill and me over for a spring afternoon potluck. She and Nickolas live one village down the mountain in Ojo Sarco. It was sunny and warm and, even more important, still. Not a breath of wind. We spent the entire day outside.

“Take the High Road” is more than just a suggested diversion down a scenic byway. It is a way of looking at life, looking past the surface and into the heart. It is amazing what talents are hidden in these hills.

I wasn’t even tired of winter. I could have been happy with two or three more months of it, I swear. So my utter delight in the appearance of spring has come as something of a surprise. But I am loving all the signs of new life. The winter grasses are giving over to new shoots of green.

Whenever we go to Taos, Anna and I like to treat ourselves to lunch at the Trading Post Cafe & Gallery. It is one of my favorite restaurants in all of New Mexico after all. In fact I highly recommend that any of you traveling the High Road plan on having lunch or dinner at this lovely establishment. You’ll be glad you did.