We watched a demonstration on paper marbling by our friend Tom Leech at the celebration of our library’s 25th anniversary. Marbling is a process of dropping dye onto water and then carefully laying down paper to create the marbled patterns. Later we visited the Museum of International Folk Art for an exhibition of art coffins from Ghana and then on to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture where we saw a nicely decorated Triumph.
In a bid to shake off our doldrums and take advantage of a relatively smoke free day, we journeyed up to our favorite Holy Ghost Creek. Unfortunately, we found it was pretty smokey the higher up we drove. So we found a nice spot off the road, had a picnic, watched some mule deer pass by and meditated on the sounds of the creek. On past trips, we’ve noticed areas for the road where the hillside is protected by metal fence posts. This is where the rare Holy Ghost Ipomopsis flowers are located (last image below). It’s only found along this 2 mile stretch of road and is undergoing a recovery effort by volunteers and the Forest Service.
Latest collection of smoke plumes, clouds and sunsets.
Smoke from the Frijoles Fire, North of Santa Fe has now crept down to us. The air quality this morning was “unhealthy” for us and “hazardous” for downtown Santa Fe. We aren’t able to open our windows at night to cool the house down due to the smoke. As of now, the fire is over 6,000 acres and is at 0% containment due to the steep terrain and fuel load. Hoping, hoping, hoping for the rain that’s predicted for later this week.
Welp… with high gas prices, high temps and all the fires around, we just decided to go back to our favorite creek and have lunch. And put my toes in the water, of course! Sadly, we caught sight of the latest fire up in the mountains. The Frijoles Fire started (by lightning) on the day we went up to the creek. Luckily, it’s further North and is not a threat to our favorite spot. The bad news is it is 0% contained and now at 4000 acres. I’m posting more water pics and video to call up the rain gods for some badly needed moisture.
The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir – Carl Sagan, The Demon Haunted World
Despite invoking his Constitutional 5th Amendment right not to participate in a conspiracy circus, Senate Republicans voted to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt for exercising that right. Meanwhile, we’re in an endless war that; along with tariffs; is costing us billions. And our planet is burning. An entire party is now meekly following a right-wing play book of mis-information and lies.
I support Dr. Fauci and all those who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to stop the spread of Covid and find a cure. I stand with rationality, sanity and reality. I stand against a stupid, contemptible effort to erase science and knowledge. I stand against a demon haunted world.
For the last few days… there’s been an explosion of hummingbirds; all around one of our feeders. Most seem to be young and are so hungry, they are going through a cup and a half per day. I sit under the feeder and they get used to me after a bit and get back to fighting. At some point, they decide to call a truce so they can all sit and drink but that’s a rare occurrence. I’m also including the greenbelt’s resident Turkey Vulture who regularly soars overhead.
Stuck in the cloud/critter rotation but that’s what’s shakin’ lately (along with the heat!). We had another afternoon visit from a bobcat at the water trough and last night I heard it’s “meow” that sounded more like scream mixed with a growl. Haven’t seen many prairie dogs or pack rats though! Also spotted a Great Horned Owl at dusk up in a nearby tree.
