I must admit that I am only in first gear with my William Project, and need to get into second and third gears! However, I did go through all my papers on the Atwell/Hawley families, and sorted them out, and got them put away, all except anything having to do with William and his family. In doing so, I reread many things, and now feel that I have a better idea of how William and his siblings were raised. Now I can write something about that aspect of his life, which he refers to in his letters.
Last Friday afternoon, I drove to Anne's ranch in Datil, and then she and I met up with a friend of hers. We drove to Quemodo and the senior center there, for dinner and a Chautauqua series production of ALL IN, DOWN AND OUT, about the Depression in song and words. Jane Voss and Hoyle Osborne met in San Francisco in the 60's, and are partners on stage and in real life. They perform all over the country. Last year they came to Quemodo to present a program about the 1920's. Anne is responsible for getting these performances, two or three times a year. Jane does most of the singing, Hoyle plays the piano, plus guitar, banjo, and other instruments. By the way, if you have seen the movie COWBOYS AND ALIENS, Hoyle was the piano player in it.
It was a wonderful show, with great music from the Depression, as well as spoken accounts of those who lived through the Depression.
While there, I saw this sign, and had to share it with all of you, especially anyone who loves to quilt...
Seeing the name Chautauqua Series, brought me back to my childhood, when that very same series used to come to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Mother would get us all tickets, and we would go to the Fort Dodge Junior High School, and enjoy such things as the Vienna Boys Choir, or Lowell Thomas, a world renown traveler, who talked and showed slides about various places he had visited.
Afterwards, I picked up Matilda, and on a very beautiful starry night, drove back to Lemitar. I must say that the stars here are incredible. The Milky Way is so bright that it looks like a celestial highway. The same was true in Molokai. The constellations that I know are very clear. Most I don't remember. Mother used to take us out in the back yard, spread out a blanket, and on our backs, would point them out. That was the summer sky. Now, of course, it is the winter sky. I feel like I could just reach up and touch them.
There were many events going on Saturday and Sunday, so I took Saturday as the day I would try to fit everything in. First I went to Socorro to the Arts and Crafts Show at the Garcia Opera House, a beautiful old building, where there were lots and lots of artists and craftspeople showing their work. I bought some tinware, a lot of cards (a weakness of mine) and another handmade coffee mug. It was definitely a great show, with many beautiful paintings, jewelry, pottery, and other hand crafted items. I hope that everyone did well.
Then I went down to the Bosque, to the Festival of the Cranes. Set up in a huge tent near the Welcome Center were more artists and craftspeople. At the other end of the area, in the open, were booths set up for different groups who were involved with wildlife, the environment, and safety. There was a blacksmith demonstrating his trade. But what really grabbed my interest were the birds and two wolves! Three or four different groups who rescue and permanently keep hurt, abused or abandoned birds and animals, had brought some of them to show and to talk about. First the birds - most were injured and can never be released into the wild again, so they have a permanent home in these refuges. Those who are good around people are taken to schools to educate students. They have been shot, or flown into high wires, or been hurt in other ways. Some are sensitized, which means they were raised by individuals, and can never go back into the wild, as they can't hunt for themselves.
This is a turkey vulture or buzzard...
There were two Great Horned Owls, at two different booths. What beautiful birds they are. I wondered what those wise guys thought about all of us gushing over them...
This little guy is a Saw-Whet Owl. He was so funny because he keep swiveling his head around, first to one side and then to the other, checking everyone out ...
Four dead white mice were laying below this Swainson's Hawk who was ignoring them. His handler said they were her breakfast, but she wasn't one bit interested. I wouldn't be interested, either!! This beautiful creature has nothing wrong with her, except that she has been sensitized, and doesn't know how to hunt for herself. Now give her McDonald's and she will be happy!
There were two Burrowing Owls - one was in a cage, as she was too feisty to be taken out at that time. The other just sat on its perch and watched all the funny people staring at him. Burrowing Owls have longer legs than most owls, and they especially like to nest in Prairie Dog homes...
I believe this is a Harris Hawk...
I know that there were several Peregrine Falcons being shown, and some Sparrow Hawks, I am quite sure. So I am grouping these together...if any of you know for sure, let me know...
This big black guy is of course a crow...or a raven...
This little guy is a Screech Owl, I am quite certain, trying to trick us that he was sleeping, but really he was watching us watching him...
This proud guy is a Ferruginous Hawk...
His buddy sitting next to him, and with his back to everyone is a Red Tailed Hawk. I have seen them flying both here and in Iowa and other states...
Members of the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary (www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org) had brought with them two wolves. One was out with his handler, letting people pet him. His parents were rescued from a wolf puppy mill in Oregon or Washington, and the mom was found to be pregnant. This is one of her pups. Of course, he was on a leash, and when a mom came up to let her child pet him, the handler backed her away, saying that people should always ask permission of the person behind the leash, and that he wasn't comfortable letting children pet the wolf, that they just smelled too good!!! He also asked that people let the wolf come up to them...one guy got a big kiss from the wolf!!!
The other wolf was in a fenced area, sleeping away, without a care in the world. His handler was in there with him, talking and answering questions. The wolf's name was Zorro, and he was big and beautiful. I plan on going over to the Sanctuary at some point. It is about a three or four hour drive from here and from the brochure it looks like a wonderful caring place...
As I was leaving the area, look who I found and had my picture taken with...
This is the Refuge's trailer, which I am guessing is taken to schools and events, to educate people - what a beautiful mural it has painted on the sides...
I walked to Matilda and we turned left out of the parking lot, and took off, going south on NM 1 (El Camino Real) for twenty miles. We were headed to another event. On the road, after leaving the Bosque area, I was fascinated with a cloud formation in front of me, and just had to get out and take a picture. It looked like a giant bird was going after the clouds on the horizon...what do you think?
Now this is a mesa! I passed several of them...
The first sign that we were close to our destination was this huge sculpture...
We turned and three miles down this road, was the El Camino Real International Cultural Center...
There was a centennial being celebrated, and there were re-enactors set up outside in tents - I was thinking the Mexican-American war, but no, these were Union and Confederate Re-enactors! Yes, my friends, there were two battles in New Mexico during the Civil War, one not far from where the Center is. Since it was late, I missed a lot of goings on, including a mock battle. But I did talk to some of the guys, one of which was a woman. There was also a couple in period clothing, cooking over a fire, with a huge pot hung over it...
I really just walked through the Center, not going into rooms. I can come back later, and take my time. The Center celebrates the history of El Camino Real and the people who traveled this 1200 mile road between Mexico City, Mexico and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
When I was leaving the Center, I noticed this piece of sculpture by a window. It was quite fascinating...next time I am there I am going to find out what the Indian word means...
Before Matilda and I took off back to Lemitar, I took a photograph of the landscape around me. I love to look at it. The way the hillsides make patterns. The erosion of some places, where and when water runs. It is quite beautiful.
Anne and I are meeting in Magdalena, tomorrow, at a little cafe which is serving Thanksgiving Dinner in two seatings. We are at the first seating. That will be fun, and thank God I am not cooking!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
A hui hou,
I love you all,
Sally
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