Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe (October 14, 2023)

On our way to Ojo Caliente, we stopped at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe. The chapel is known for its helix-shaped staircase (nicknamed "Miraculous Stair"), which rises 20 feet (6.1 m) to the choir loft while making two full turns, all without the support of a newel or central pole. The carpenter appeared after 9 days of prayer by the nuns, then disappeared never to be named.

The staircase, built in 1878, is no longer strong enough to hold a choir like it did for many years.

The altar. We lit prayer candles. 

 

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (October 14, 2023)

How it begins: hauling everything but the gondola in a trailer

The gondola in the pickup bed. I loved that we could mingle with the balloon pilots and passengers.

The balloon is laid out, ready for inflation.

You start with a fan at the opening to make room for the flame. Hot air balloon. Right.

As the balloon inflates, you tip the gondola upright.

Another view of inflating a hot air balloon.

A lot of balloon shapes too.

 

If we're ever all in Albuquerque, we must take a ride in Rainbow Ryder's balloon!

Passengers waving to us.

And so it ends.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: annular eclipse (October 14, 2023)

  During an annular eclipse, the Moon is centered in front of the Sun but doesn’t completely obscure it, instead leaving a ring of sunlight visible around the Moon’s edges. This circle of light is called an annulus, or sometimes a “ring of fire.” Annular solar eclipses happen only when the Moon is at the furthest point from Earth in its orbit, making the Moon appear smaller than usual from the Earth’s perspective.

Meanwhile, back in Austin....Tom sent us this photo of the sidewalk in front of our house. More spectacular than our Albuquerque experience, even though we were in the direct path of the eclipse. (shrug emoji)

If you didn't know an eclipse was happening, I think you'd miss it. The sky hardly changed.

The balloonists created their own ring of fire.

Phone or eclipse? 

The sky never got dark, only overcast. 

Wearing our stylin' eclipse glasses, courtesy of NASA. Staff handed them out as we entered the park.

You could also watch it on the big screen TV. But why, when you can see the real thing???

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: pre-dawn prep (October 14, 2023)

Donna and me at the pre-dawn launch.

The 2023 Balloon Fiesta featured 546 registered balloons, including 107 special shape balloons, and 629 pilots representing 16 countries.

We were close enough to feel the heat

Balloons launched row by row

Balloons like distant planets

Dawn over the Sandia Mountains

 

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: pre-dawn drone show (October 14, 2023)

Are we crazy? Donna's flight didn't arrive until nearly midnight on Friday the 13th. We got up at 3 a.m. to get to the Balloon Fiesta before traffic jammed. The park opened at 4 a.m. Being from Austin, where ACL was happening the same weekend with tickets at a minimum of $170 per day (and $5150 per weekend for the 3-day platinum pass), I couldn't believe the Fiesta admission was only $15. Parking was $20, also a bargain compared to downtown Austin's $8 for 20 minutes prices. 

We walked around and sipped coffee until the 5 a.m. drone show. I think this silent show but for music is better than fireworks especially for puppies who are terrified of the bangs and pops.

Donna

The peppers were red, then green, then mixed. Donna waited all weekend for a waiter to ask us if we wanted "red? green? Christmas?" salsa. 
 

More early October 2023

Moonflowers and chrysanthemums

What do you do with a cucumber bonanza?

We didn't have a pickle kit but found a very easy recipe online. You use vinegar, water, salt, and a little sugar for sweet pickles. Put fresh cucumbers in the mixture in the fridge for about 3 days, and voila! you have pickles that last for 4-6 weeks. Can you believe we finished all of them? They were great on salads.

I left the turkey jerky out to pack for the New Mexico trip with Donna. Guess who likes turkey jerky?
 

Early October 2023

Fox and Leeloo over for a visit

We harvested one frame of honey from one of the hives. The bees had filled all 8 frames. They'll abscond if they don't have space to store more honey. We replaced this one with an empty one. Got about 5 pounds of honey and comb.
 

Training for the Half Marathon (September 25, 2023)

Glowing (because women don't sweat--we glow) after 3 miles/45 minutes on the treadmill. Still not fast enough for the Half. You must complete the first 10.8 miles in 2.5 hours so they can re-open those streets. That equals 13.33 minute miles, assuming no zigzagging, no water/pit stops. Gotta do better!
 

Our biggest hail ever (September 24, 2023)

After a 103 degree daytime temperature, the rainstorm was refreshing. Until the hail pounded our roof! Sounded like someone slamming baseball bats against the house!

OK, not quite baseball size. But State Farm has approved total replacement of our roof and gutters.

Luckily we had enough warning for Papa to fling boxes of Styrofoam intended for the hazardous waste center and other items out of the garage to make room for most of Max. Thanks to the pecan and elm trees, the uncovered part of Max survived with no dents. Papa's 23-year-old Mazda pickup already had hail damage. Now, a few more dents.
 

Brentwood Park in 103 degree heat! (September 24, 2023)

Leeloo's first slide ride. We should have checked the weather. It was 103 degrees! Later that day, nearly baseball size hail at our house.

Leeloo is so easy going. She was game for the slide ride.

 

Cat naps (September 17 and 21, 2023)

Nighty-night with Colette.

TC's routine is to walk over to me and kiss me goodnight, then to cuddle up next to Papa after kneading for a bit. Hence the shirt on Papa's arm to protect him from TC's claws.

Brentwood Park with Amon, Fox, and Leeloo (Sunday, September 17, 2023)

We took Leeloo to our neighborhood park on a Sunday afternoon. She interacted beautifully with other dogs and kids. Fox climbed on the playground.

Amon climbed too.

 

Happy second birthday to TC and Colette! (September 10, 2023)

Their birthday was September 5. They came to us as foster kittens with two litter mates and their mama Rainbow on September 10, 2021. First present: a new feather bird ball to chase.

Fox tried to coax TC out from under the bed. Colette liked her foil ball. Leeloo was visiting so the kittens stayed away from her behind the closed door in mine and Tom's room. 

TC was less interested in the birthday bird ball than the fact that Leeloo was in the kitchen. Colette joined him in safety under the bed.

Leeloo got love and attention too.

 

Girl Guitar at the Saxon Pub (September 9, 2023)

My Girl Guitar teachers Avery and Mandy performed at the Saxon Pub on September 9, Mandy's birthday. I've learned so much from them in just 12 weeks of lessons. I can actually play any song now, using power chords. Admittedly, with power chords, you use the same fingering shape on only three of six strings. But on my electric, the sound is strong enough. In typical inclusive Mandy fashion, she passed out homemade chocolate chip cookies to everyone--students and Saxon Pub regulars alike--before the show.