Woke up, read (reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog - looking up words as I go - love it!) and conducted a short yoga stretching class. Had Royce's signature breakfast - a bull's eye - and started our day full 'o eggs and coffee.
Our first adventure of the day was to be visiting the Taos Wool Festival at nearby Kit Carson Park. It's only a 10 minute brisk walk from our adobe abode, but we were waylayed at a new shop called the Batik (on Kit Carson Rd.), owned by Gary Fey, a gregarious artist who seems to love what he does. His batiks are wonderful. I'm particularly fond of his Frida Kahlo. For $40 one can go in and create his/her own batik. I can't convince Royce to do this, but I'll be coming home with an original something-or-other.
Tearing ourselves away from the Batik, we turned the corner onto Paseo Del Pueblo Norte (a long term for highway 64) and walked the couple blocks to the park and its wooly wares. It was a pretty hot day (low 80s), thinking about even touching a woolen piece gave me prickly heat. But there were some wonderful wares there - a heart stopper for weavers, knitters and lovers of sheep, alpacas and the cutest angora bunnies you've ever seen in your life. I looked for a friend I know at Westwood at booth #15 but she wasn't there. Our landlady, Lise Poulson, was at her booth #64. We introduced ourselves to her mother and Barbara Ann, a fellow wool aficionado.
Royce's two bits: If any guy reads this blog, take my advice: If your spouse/significant other/lady friend wants to take you to a wool fair, step off the curb and twist your ankle. It'll be worth it.
Back to Barb...
On our way back to the Plaza, my eyes were drawn to a place called the Skin Sanctuary of Taos. Not only do they do rejuvenating skin infusions, they have a masseuse with whom I scheduled a 90-minute massage the next day. My back is injured from my power plate classes, and I'm in dire need of relief. Brant St. Clair is to be my healer. The space is serene and I was very much looking forward to indulging myself.
Onward and upward - passed the small Taos Convention Center (120 Civic Plaza Drive), which is exhibiting local artists. Great work in a low key venue - too much fluorescent light for me but good space nonetheless.
From there a short jaunt to Antonio's and a mid-afternoon cerveza and guacamole. We sat outside and enjoyed a cool breeze in the shade. Our plans were to go back the next evening (Sunday) for dinner. From Antonio's, down the street, we walked into an hole-in-the-wall antique store, Red Cat Antiques. There are many surprises lurking in the cramped quarter, including walking out a door into what is too small to qualify as an ally. But the owners have decorated it with outdoor decor that makes you want to buy most of it. Good marketing. In the back, they've decorated a tree with Mardi Gras beads. Unfortunately, neither of our pictures did it justice.
Then to the plaza, where much to our surprise, there were tents with folks selling everything from jewelry to furniture to fun and fanciful articles. The latter is the first booth we saw and the booth we camped out at - it was the gaggle of ladies, their energy, wit and wisdom that kept us talking and laughing and me buying one of their group projects - a picture of Guadalupe, surrounded by glue-gunned rick rack, lace and fake flowers. You just can't go wrong with that combo.
The group: Patricia Padilla is a curandera (healer - curanderapadilla.wordpress.com), who is also a writer, artist and mother of Aponi Kai (aka Ana Emilia - a fantastic singer - anaemilia.com). We also met Janie Cutliff, a California girl by way of Dallas and now full-time Taos resident. Last, but not least, is the cowboy-hat-wearing Marlena Freelove who created my picture and a fabulous refrigerator magnet of Guadalupe which says on the back, "Love your Mama"......ladies, if you read this and I didn't get the information correct, just post something and set the record straight.
Royce's two bits: Barb's right: A lovely bunch of ladies. If there were no Barb in my life, I'd be looking for one of these gals!
Back to Barb...
We walked away happy to have met such an energetic and inspiring group of ladies. I told Royce that if I were to ever move to Taos, I wouldn't do it unless they promised to be my friends. I think that says enough.
Home to sip wine and watch "Sylvia" - a film about Sylvia Plath - a weirdly happy ending to great day!
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