Taos II

So after touring the pueblo under the direction of a cute, knowledgeable young man (aren't all youngsters cute?), we did some shopping and eating.  It is absolutely essential that Fry Bread with honey be eaten at every opportunity which Wild Thing, a pueblo dog named Rollie and I did.  Yum!

We visited the studio of artist David Gary Sauzo.  He paints vividly colored scenes of the pueblo and Taos area.  Luckily, Mr. Sauzo was at the studio and we got to talk with him about his art--inspiration and techniques, how he promotes his work and his children.  "Pueblo Stars" is now a part of my art collection!

Acrylic on handmade paper.

It was time to leave Taos and continue on to our destination, Canon City, Colorado.

Looking for Highway 64 we found this local cemetery (believe me I am not obsessed with cemeteries).  Doesn't it looking like a picture from the Old West? There was even a gentleman tending the graves.  After a little wandering and backtracking we found Highway 64 and were on our way to Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, and Cimarron, and the treat of beautiful mountain scenery.

Taos, New Mexico

After leaving Gallup our next stop was Taos, New Mexico.

 The highlight of the Taos stop was touring the Taos Pueblo.












Join me on a short pictorial tour.

The tour begins at the St. Jerome Church.

Stained glass window from the
exterior of the church,
no pictures are allowed of the
church's interior.

The original church (built in the 1600s).  All that remains
is the bell tower.  The church now sits in the middle of the
cemetery.

Adobe ovens are still used to bake bread
especially for feasts.

The creek that divides the pueblo into east and west.
The creek is, of course, very important to the pueblo as the source of
life for the people, their crops and livestock.

Gallup II

After breakfast we walked along I-40 Frontage Road window shopping.

We chose a large gallery store to go into...wow...such awesome jewelry, rugs and pottery.  I could have spent my life's savings here.

However being a somewhat frugal woman of Scottish heritage I bought one pot, an etched horse hair pot signed Heather Sam, Navajo.  I picked it for the blue and green colors and the fine etching.

Happy Independence Day 2011

Wild Thing at the City of Ontario
California 4th of July Parade 2011

How are you celebrating our declaration of independence from taxation without representation?

Gallup, New Mexico

Our first stop during the trip was Gallup, New Mexico.  We started with breakfast.  Wild Thing picked a cute straight-out-of-the-1950s diner.  One of our goals for the trip was to eat as much local cuisine as possible.

One might think that mexican food was the same throughout the southwest US but it is not.  California mexican food is very different from that of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.

Wild Thing with blue mush

So back to our breakfast.  On the menu was "blue mush".  We questioned the waitress "What is blue mush?".  Turns out it is a hot cereal made of blue corn.  We could not pass up the opportunity to give it a try.

And...after adding lots of sugar...we gave it a thumbs up.

Sterling silver and Kingman
turquoise by Al Lasiloo

During our breakfast we met Zuni carver and jeweler, Al Lasiloo.  Mr. Lasiloo showed us this beautiful sterling silver and turquoise cross which, of course, I had to buy.  Mr. Lasiloo's Zuni fetish carvings can be seen here.