We're ready for winter weather here.

Got a new supply of oak for our fireplace last week:

Protection of Property.Religion.Language

This very cool mural is in the chambers of the Santa Fe County Commission, behind the desk where the County Commissioners sit. I would like to find out more about it - who painted it, who designed all the art work and symbolism and history on it:



The interesting thing to me were the words "Protection of Property, Religion, Language."

We went to a public hearing on Nov. 9 concerning the proposed Sustainable Growth Management Plan for Santa Fe County, and, after many county residents spoke opposed to what the plan could mean for the county, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the plan. In the view of many of us, this plan will gravely decrease the property rights of county landowners, and violate the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. And yet their own mural says they are going to protect property.

I don't see that this plan will have ANY positive effect on property rights in the county, so if they violate their promise to protect property, how long will it be before they violate their promise to protect religion and language as well?

The pledge to our New Mexico flag

Who knew we had a state pledge to the flag in New Mexico?

I have live here for 2 1/2 years now and just learned this last week.

Anyway ~~ here it is:

“I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.”

Brujas, Bultos, and Brasas

There are many interesting books about New Mexico. I have read Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, and Bless Me, Ultima and other novels by Rudolfo Anaya. And I have read all the Tony Hillerman and Michaer McGarrity novels. Each one is completely different, yet each presents an interesting facet of life in New Mexico.

Last night I began reading a book that has been on my list for a long time now: Brujas, Bultos, y Brasas: Tales of Witchcraft and the Supernatural in The Pecos Valley, by Nasario Garcia (1999, Western Edge Press). I believe this one will prove to be the most different of all. Mr. Garcia has compiled a collection of stories he gathered from elderly Hispanic residents (los viejos) of El Valle, a 25 mile stretch of the Pecos River from San José to Villanueva, New Mexico, south of Interstate 25, and between Pecos and Las Vegas, NM.

The stories are not merely tales of growing up in the early to middle 20th century in La Valle, but mainly the recurring themes of magic, superstition, and folklore. There are stories of brujas (witches), bultos (ghosts), el Diablo (the devil), and el mal ojo (the evil eye). There are stories of animals with supernatural powers: el burrito (the donkey), the coyote, and el tecolote or la lechuza (the owl).

Mr Garcia’s intent in writing the book was to interview the people and capture the stories from los viejos before their generation is gone, and those stories disappear. To me the stories present the folklore of a people I want to learn more about.

La Valle is within an hour of our house, and we have driven down winding New Mexico state road 3 and through these villages. It is an area of incredible natural beauty, and now as I am learning, an area rich with the northern New Mexico Hispanic culture.

Here are some pictures we took along the Pecos River Valley between San José and Villanueva in October 2007:

Congratulations to Brian Moore

Brian Moore from Clayton, former New Mexico Sate legislator, former candidate for Lt. Governor, one of the nicest men in NM state politics, and one of our dear friends, has been named to work on Governor-elect Martinez's transition team as Director of Policy Planning.




This just demonstrates to us that the governor-elect is making some very wise choices in setting up her new administration.

Congratulations to Brian!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Tonight we have three Republicans who were elected statewide in New Mexico and one new U.S. Congressman. I would say it was a good day for our small but enthusiastic party here.


SUSANA MARTINEZ, OUR NEW GOVERNOR, AND HER HUSBAND CHUCK FRANCO:



JOHN SANCHEZ, OUR NEW LT. GOVERNOR:



DIANNA DURAN, OUR NEW SECRETARY OF STATE:



STEVE PEARCE, THE NEW REPRESENTATIVE IN NEW MEXICO'S 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Today is November 2 ~ Election Day

BE SURE TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

It is your precious privilege as an American citizen.

Oh Susana la Americana!

Susana Martinez's opponents in the 2010 Gubernatorial campaign here in New Mexico have tried to belittle her by calling her a "tejana". They do this to accuse her of being an outsider, though she has lived in New Mexico nearly all of her adult life, and has been a successful prosecutor in Doña Ana County for 13 years, during which time she defended the law in New Mexico. Many of us, including some of our recent former governors have come to New Mexico from other places, so the attack that Susana is a "tejana" is unfair. Susana herself, at a rally in Santa Fe in early October, called herself "la Americana". I like that!

On Sunday, Halloween afternoon, Susana came to Santa Fe for her last rally of the campaign season. With her were Matt Chandler, Matt Rush, John Sanchez, and Dianna Duran, all candidates for statewide office. Also in Santa Fe for the rally were some of our local candidates, and Tom Mullins, the District 3 candidate for the U.S. Congress.

What an afternoon it was! Exciting, joyous, upbeat and optimistic, as we celebrated a remarkable team of candidates that we can be extremely proud of.

John got these wonderful pictures during the rally:


CHUCK, SUSANA, DIANNA DURAN, DEBRA AND JOHN SANCHEZ:


CHUCK, SUSANA, DEBRA AND JOHN SANCHEZ:



CHUCK AND SUSANA:



THE CROWD:






ROSE FROM LOS ALAMOS:



DIANNA DURAN:



TOM MULLINS:



MATT CHANDLER:



MATT RUSH:


TOM MULLINS, DIANNA DURAN, MATT CHANDLER:



JOHN SANCHEZ:



JEANNETTE WALLACE:



BRIGETTE RUSSELL:



LEROY CANDELARIA AND PAUL MORRISON:



SUSANA AND CHUCK WITH THE SANTA FE VOLUNTEERS:








MATT RUSH:



TOM MULLINS AND MATT CHANDLER:



DEBRA AND JOHN SANCHEZ:





DIANNA DURAN:



BRIGETTE RUSSELL:



MATT RUSH, TOM MULLINS, MATT CHANDLER:



ME with LEROY CANDELARIA:



BRIGETTE RUSSELL AND TOM MULLINS:



TOM MULLINS, MILES LITTLEFIELD, AND SUSANA:


ME WITH SUSANA: