Month: December 2008

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bright, clear and cold!

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday’s bluster and bucking bronco like drive up the county road (THAT was an experience!) have given way to bright sun and a temperature of 18. Hurrah for the County Road team who was out early this morning…and yes, on a Sunday! Twice yesterday I was stuck on the road behind a city car mired in the 12-14″ drifts blocking the road. It mean I spent more time sitting in the car, going nowhere, than I did at the gallery!

The road was a disaster, and even in my all wheel drive in 1st (low) gear sputtered and spun as the snow ground under my super tires. I’m praying the stillness will prevail the winds will not rise again before I have to go out tomorrow. It’s the winds that made the mess, and I’m happy to be rid of all the positive ions they generate. It’s a much more pleasant and productive day that finds me once again at this keyboard.

Happy sigh and may the weather hold!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Nothing Else to Do but Ponder and Post

I know, it’s a record. I’ve never posted this much in one day, let alone one week! I can’t help it. Look: Remember, there is a lake and mountains normally in this view from my living room window. What else am I gonna do, but post…..laundry? uh-huh. no energy for THAT! Cleaning? Not likely. I did a good once over before our guest(s) arrived yesterday. Actually, only one made it. The other two got stuck and gave up, headed home like wise ducks. The one that came had a delightful dinner, and then got stuck. You’d think I would’ve seen the trend and got the message, right? Not so much.

I have a huge amount of energy and no where for it to go. I know, I know, I could clean and reorganize. It’s not that kind of energy..and don’t mock me for saying so…..i need to create to explode in color and prose and so, since my studio is an utter disaster, I’m writing.

My studio recently became the repository for all things in the “what do we do with this?” category as we work through the house to clear the clutter and make room for freshness and cleanliness. Not funny, just worked out that way. I suppose on some level I loathed it anyway and so it was the natural choice for the chaos it has become. Why did I loathe it? That is the deeper question and I’m sure I’ll come face to face with it soon.

For starters, it’s cold. It’s the room furthest away from the heat sources, on the North side of the house.

It has a great view of Wheeler Peak, and good light. I think part of it is that there is just entirely too much stuff in it. So, see that desk and hutch and chair? I think I’ll sell it. I know, it’s hard to see for all the extraneous stuff. and my painting cart is parked in the middle of the room…I moved it because it has various flammable substances on it and there is now a heater parked in the doorway to, theoretically, warm the room so I can venture in to it to begin the clean up. Of course, the scenario will likely be, that the room won’t warm enough today to begin, so I’ll close the door and it will cool down and tomorrow I’ll (hopefully) be back at the gallery. Ah, the saga continues.

oops, time to go. The stomach is rumbling. Anybody need a desk?

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Got out, White Out, back in.

Wow. What a nightmare! I loaded up and left here at 1pm. It is now 1:44 and I am back home. I got to the road and by the time I’d gotten past the blue dumpsters I knew it was a mistake. By that time there was nowhere to turn around, the plows having left barely one lane and snow piled 6 feet or more high on either side. I made it to the highway in 1st gear. The highway was blocked, littered with vehicles and backhoes trying to get them out. The county road people gave up and were sitting idle. Visibility was at 20 feet when good. 0 during a blinding gust. I backed into the only clear driveway at the last house there at the highway and waited while the two vehicles behind me pulled forward so I could pull out and they could pull in to turn around. It took me 40 minutes to get down 8/10 of mile to the highway, and back up. It was very tense and now I’m here and poured myself a glass of wine. If I had gotten out, I’m not sure at all that I could get back, given the rate of accumulation and wind.

I guess opening the gallery today just isn’t in the cards for me. It looks like I need a condo in Angel Fire. In this economy…what’s cheaper, a condo nearby the gallery or an employee who lives near the gallery? Ack. I think I’ll ponder cheerier things.

Oh, look….there’s the County dozer. Working at it again. Bless him! Still, I’m staying put. Maybe tomorrow is a brighter day for moving around!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Stuck


Woops. Ok, so yes, it’s been snowing and blowing since yesterday morning. I walked out this morning and saw only 4 or 5 new inches, so I loaded up the car and backed out. Ok so far. I pulled around and headed toward the road, in low gear, all wheel drive and slow. As I neared the road I started sliding. I turned the opposite direction, but to no avail, swish, plunk, my right front end slid into the ditch at the end of my driveway.

Sigh. Apparently there is a good layer of ice beneath the snow. Sigh. The day after Christmas and I can’t get out to open the gallery. Sigh. Well, so here I am posting and waiting. Might as well relax a bit. So…Merry Christmas!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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My how the Snow is flying!

I’m at the gallery right now. It’s 3:34 and I’ve been here for an hour. The snow has literally been flying, for hours, nay, days. There is so much snow in my front yard (a combination of accumulation, roof slide and where it is blown and pushed from the driveway clearing) that we can’t see out the windows anymore. It’s at about 5 1/2 feet. Pretty soon it will match the bottom level of the roof line. Uh-oh, what then? Where does the snow come off? hmmmm….I see pulling snow in my future. sigh.

It’s been kind of tough keeping normal hours at the gallery. Ok, nearly impossible. At any rate, I’m here now and glancing outside at the snow flying again. I think I’ll head out around 4 or so if I don’t see any activity here. Go to the website folks…always open…snow or not!

When I get home I’ll take a picture and post it. wow. lots of snow.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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White Out

I’m largely settled in, in the new gallery. I love it…love the energy…it feels warm and elegant. I’d like to think I’m done, though there are still about 30 boxes of miscellanea upstairs awaiting my attention. I was going to do that today but was told to “go home” by the powers that be and many locals who watch out for me. The weather outside is frightful…it took 40 minutes to make the 15 minute drive home! White out. Which is funny because all the weather know it alls say “light snow possible.” In 4 hours Angel Fire village got 4 or more inches (at least, that’s what I trudged through to get to my car. And it was blowing at 40 mph all the way up highways 434 and 64. So much for going to the Rotary Club’s Wine Tasting Benefit tonight…I’ll forego that jaunt and pour myself a glass of my favorite budget red, Concha Y Toro Cabernet/Merlot blend.

I looked at the Resorts Snow total. No way. It said “0” inches in the past 24 hours. I know that there are about 50 micro-climates in 12 miles in this valley, but come on..really? If it was 4 or 5 inches around my car in the village…surely there’s more new powder on those slopes!

Anyway..the wind is still sending the flakes flying against the screen doors, turning them from black to white checked images reminiscent of a greeting card. Speaking of which..I haven’t got there yet. Sorry friends…maybe you’ll get a New Year’s card from us!

In the meantime, I think I’ll light a fire. Sounds toasty. Stay warm!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Winter storms and contemplations


Good grief. The photo at the top is what it looked like out the living room window last evening. The skies had cleared to a crisp cold 5 degrees and we were huddled by the fire. Sometime in the middle of the night the storm swirled back down….and this is what it looks like now….. Gone are the lake and the mountains behind it. It looks like a dense white cloud…but it’s snow, and lots of it. The temperature is hanging at 23 and the heat is working overtime. No solar help today!

Just learned the Girls Night Out dinner has been canceled. A wise choice, I’m sure, but a bummer! Guess I’ll thaw some chicken and make a good green chile chicken stew. It’s a good night for it and it will make John feel better. He’s been achy and down all day. Weather and temps like this do that to him. Makes me pine for Puerto Vallarta, and this view:

Ahhh…

Soothing….but now the washing machine is calling me and tomorrow I’m back at the gallery and praying for customers!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Home for sure and brrrrrr!

23 degrees and snowing. Yup, tis’ looking like Christmas. Indeed, we drove home in snow with John leaning out the window to tell me where the edge of the road was! Believe me, it was tempting to put it in reverse and get back on that airplane! We’ve been home for a couple of weeks now and the snow is back. I can almost hear the cheering coming from the Resort! Speaking of the Resort….You gotta come take a look at the renovations. The hotel is now downright beautiful….on the outside. The inside comes next, and not soon enough…but it’s all very exciting. Feeling optimistic about the Resort and Angel Fire..it’s a great feeling and not one most of us are accustomed to! They also have a great line up of entertainment and fun planned for the Holiday season. Check it out at www.angelfireresort.com

So, since we got back I jumped in to getting the gallery prepared and open. We (my volunteers Al, Jacqui and Sylvia and I) painted ceilings…I painted the walls too, got the track lights installed (thanks, Doug!) and phone and DSL now work! The Gallery opening on Friday Nite was a blast and packed….YAY! Now that people are finding me in the new space I’m eager to get busy! I’m closed today and tomorrow (gotta get some laundry done!) so I’m trying to get back in sync with all the stuff of life that I have to keep up with! Oh if only I could clone myself! I must say, my roomba helps though! Wonder how I ever lived with out it!

So lets see, the next special event will be a “Shopping Extravaganza” in Angel Fire. Monday, December 22. Officially from 5pm – 8 pm but at the INN Center we’ll be serving up tasty food starting at about noon. The Corner Bookstore will host the food and you can catch some cider and mulled wine at the Galleries. We’ll have door prizes and specials, so if you’re going to be in Angel Fire, put it on your calendar and set your iphone to remind you! I’ll see you soon!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM