Tsankawi Ruins is about a 30 minute drive from our property. Here, you can visit the ancient cave dwellings, and hike the paths that have been worn into the rock.
Tsankawi is near Los Alamos and White Rock. It's definitely worth the drive, too, and offers a good half-day hike once you arrive. Be sure to pay close attention to the rocks, and you'll see an excellent assortment of petroglyphs.
And don't forget to look down, too, as you hike the ruins. Pottery shards are in abundance there.
Between Tsankawi and Medanales (where we have ~12 acres for sale!) is the Pojoaque pueblo. There are a number of things to see and do at Pojoaque, but my personal favorite is Roxanne Swentzell's Tower Gallery. She doesn't charge for admission, and the gallery was built by her and her family. It's absolutely gorgeous. Best, though, is a chance to see her artwork up close. She's my favorite living artist, so I often took advantage of the opportunity to stop in and see what's new.
Just north of our property, about a 5 minute drive away, are the Poshuouinge Ruins. This is another fun hike (take your hiking stick!), and very rewarding once you get to the end of the trail, which sits atop a mesa. From this point, you're able to look down and see the remnants of the pueblo walls from long ago.
Also at the top, is a place that Erica and I call "the quiet place." It's a circle, where the signs indicate that tools were probably made. But that's not the cool part. What's really amazing is that when you step inside the circle, it's completely quiet and still. The wind can be blowing and howling, and when you step inside the circle, there's complete silence--no wind whatsoever. This is a favorite place of mine.
And if you drive a little further north (approximately 10 minutes from our property), you'll come across Abiquiu Reservoir. It's spectacular, and has a number of places to stop for a picnic. Take your boat, too, if you have one; or a canoe. There are also designated swimming areas, and the water is crystal clear. Yes, that's Georgia O'Keeffe's beloved Pedernal rising up from behind Lake Abiquiu!
Snow was a rarity during the time we lived in northern NM. We did get one "good" snow, though, so it was worthy of a trip outside to take photos. Within a couple of days, it was history.
The most beautiful skies I've ever seen are in New Mexico. Every day, every evening, is like a Maxfield Parrish painting!
Nearby, in Abiquiu (which is about 10 miles from Medanales), is the Penitente Church. To get there, turn into Abiquiu (across from Bode's General Store), and take the first left up the hill. Go past Georgia O'Keeffe's old house (on your left) and continue around the corner. You can't miss it.
During the "rainy season," which is in the Spring, I took lots of photos. There's nothing more beautiful than a late afternoon rain in the high desert.
That beautiful landmark is Sierra Negra, which I like to think of as my own "Pedernal." I loved looking at it from my office window, or while I lounged on the front porch of our home. Incidentally, the land that's for sale is visible there to the left. Right where the driveway takes that strong turn to the right (behind the vehicle), is where you would put the driveway to the land. There's actually a drive there now, but it's not visible because we didn't use it.
If you drive over to Las Parras de Abiquiu, be sure to pick up some fresh horno-baked bread. Nothing tastes better! There's a lady who lives at Ohkay Owingeh (formerly known as the San Juan Pueblo) who gives horno cooking lessons. Her name is Norma Naranjo. She's the one who made these beautiful loaves below. She often bakes at Las Parras during the Abiquiu Farm Tour.
These hoodoos are nearby, too. From the property in Medanales, take 142 toward Abiquiu, cross over the "El Rito road" and continue on 142. These will be on your right, near the Abiquiu Mosque. They're even more amazing in person!
Most people are familiar with the celebrities who live in New Mexico, and there are a couple who are local to the Medanales & Abiquiu area. Shirley McLaine is just a short drive away (though I've never been to her house), and Marsha Mason lives even closer. Mason has a gorgeous, organic farm next to the Rio Chama. She makes all kinds of organic herbal products (her "Magical Soap" is my favorite!), and sells them online. She also opens up her home once a year during the Abiquiu Farm Tour. In addition to her beautiful gardens, she also keeps bees. Isn't that just the prettiest bee hive you've ever seen?
When my girls would visit, we enjoyed hiking the arroyos and land around our home, where we would pick up interesting looking rocks, and animal bones. What fun!
Another view of the area that's for sale. 12 acres of paradise!
From Highway 84, you must pass over the Rio Chama before arriving at the property. On this particular day, the water was low. We have some friends who live next to the river. They have all kinds of "wild" visitors at their home, and we would often drive down to see them and enjoy the wildlife.
Another mesa-top view. It's really hard to do the area justice in photos. There's just nothing like seeing it in person.
Aside from the junipers, cacti, and pinon, there's lots of beauty that grows up on the mesa . . .
But at the end of the day, there's nothing better than the Sunset. I used to make a special trip outside, every day, just to watch the Sun go down . . . .
Well, it's been a year since I last posted here. My, how time flies! We're living in Colorado now, after selling our gorgeous home here. There's still 12 acres of land for sale here, though, and it has
a well (about 400 ft.), so if you're interested in building a vacation home, or retirement home atop a mesa--on horse property (!!) with breathtaking views, now's your chance!
Email my dear friend, Don Cavness (don@doncavness.com). Or visit his website at:
http://mls.gildedvillage.com/featured.htm
