Cross of the Martyrs

On top of a hill overlooking downtown Santa Fe, near Otero Street and Paseo de Peralta, is a simple white cross which commemorates the 21 Franciscan priests killed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

My visit there with Jake and Debbie several weeks ago was the first time I have ever visited this place. I was really impressed with the spectacular views of the city. The Jemez Mountains are to the west, and I have heard the cross is a great place to view the Santa Fe sunsets.

Santa Maria de La Paz Church

This is our local parish church. Today was the first time we have attended Mass there.

What a beautiful church - inside and out. The style is Santa Fe Pueblo, and has every single appropriate touch. My favorite part were the statues and other artwork, all done by local sculptors, wood carvers and other artists. The church is exactly 20 years old this year.

Maybe I can get some inside pictures next time. Here is the exterior:

The Whole Hog Cafe

By Santa Fe standards, the Whole Hog Cafe on Cerrillos Road is the best place in the city for barbecue.

We eat there quite often, because we have so many tea party and Center Right Coalition meetings there...and maybe the best part about the meetings is getting a plate of good barbecue.

Bo the owner and Manuel my favorite waiter there are really good to their customers, and the pulled pork is awesome and tender. They have a variety of sauces to put on your barbecue, even a couple that taste pretty similar to Kansas and Texas.

Two thumbs up for barbecue, Santa Fe style!

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains today

We had snow for nearly the entire past week, and the cloud cover on top of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains never lifted until yesterday. Then we could see how much snow the highest elevations in our area got during those snow days.

We took these pictures today from a high point in the northern part of Santa Fe.

Inside the Cathedral

The interior of St. Francis Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe is an architectural and artistic wonder.

When we were there on Dec. 22, the mood was festive inside the cathedral - tourists looking around, workers putting final touches on the Christmas decorations, children practicing for their Christmas performance at Mass.

The new renovations/restorations as well as the Christmas decorations looked amazing.

When we returned for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the mood was much more formal, worshipful and joyous.










We wondered about the Chihuahua in the nativity scene - sure there is an interesting story behind that!

Upper Canyon Road

The Upper Canyon Road eastside neighborhood of Santa Fe is really cool, with old adobe homes loaded with charm.

John got a couple of pictures yesterday of homes just across the street from Cristo Rey Church:

Snowy Sunday in Santa Fe

We had several inches of fresh snow in Santa Fe Saturday night and Sunday morning.

We drove around Santa Fe, showing the city to John's cousin Peter who is visiting, and the snow made a lovely setting for the following pictures:

November

The very last of the fall color in our yard.

An approaching winter storm.

Sure looks like November here this morning.

Looking at Santa Fe

We were out in the BLM land west of Santa Fe at La Cieneguilla yesterday, and took a few pictures looking towards Santa Fe. We've never seen the city from this viewpoint before, and it gives a different perspective of the view. Beyond the city are the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

John's snowy birthday

Today was John's birthday and we planned a picnic up in the mountains. The weather report was calling for temperatures in the 50s in town, but up on the mountain it was windy and bitter cold. We ate our picnic lunch very quickly. LOL. Then it started to snow, just flurries at first and then pretty heavy and by the time we left it was starting to stick to the ground. The pictures don't really show it well, but all the real hazy pictures here are where the snow was falling. And the pictures with white spots are actually snowflakes. Maybe winter is here!!!