During a recent trip to New Mexico and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, we searched for deer. Every time someone in the family saw a deer, we cheered. We called to them, hoping to pet them or maybe feed them some leftover crackers. The deer are a special fixture in the mountains, a cherished part […]
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During the Creatives Conference in Santa Fe (circa 2018), I was struck with the beauty and acceptance of New Mexico’s racial diversity. But a different type of diversity also encouraged me, humbled me and taught me to be more open to those around me. During my week in Santa Fe, I met writers who were
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My family draws names each Christmas. We hail from a frugal background of farmers. No extra fuss for the holidays. Everyone buys just one gift. So it’s always fun to see who has our names and what they have chosen for us. For our 2021 Christmas get-together, we decided to open gifts when everyone was
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As I walked out of Hen House with my groceries, he was loading his trunk with food supplies. He smiled, then asked, “Are you from New Mexico? He pointed toward the tag on my car: “New Mexico — Land of Enchantment.” “No,” I said, “but I’d like to be. It’s on my bucket list to
During a recent trip to the New Mexican mountains, we searched for deer. Every time someone in the family saw a deer, we cheered. We called to them, hoping to pet them or maybe feed them some leftover crackers. Deer are a special fixture in the mountains — a cherished part of the wildlife. But
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So many photo albums. Boxes and boxes of memories from the beginnings of a life to the present. Photos of my son – even his birth certificate – preserved in plastic sleeves with descriptive tags to indicate his growth: 8 pounds, 3.5 ounces, 19.5 inches long. Preschool. Kindergarten graduation with a mortar board and tassel.
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Because life is easier when it’s simple, I have decided to merge that principle into my holiday celebrations. What used to be a November and December filled with activities and the traditional holiday set-ups, I have now prefaced with the following questions: How can I simplify the holidays? What gives me the most joy about
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For one glorious week, I lived the unplugged life in Santa Fe, NM. No social media. Even turned off my phone. Wrote long hand on a legal pad. My purpose for going to Santa Fe was to attend the Creative Reboot Conference – an amazing weekend of workshops for the sole purpose of tapping into
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This series about the Saturday Sisters cannot end without a post that features Deb. Although I have written about her numerous times since that horrible day she died – she is still included when the Saturday Sisters meet. Susan makes the guacamole Deb loved. Janet often dresses the table with the quilt Deb made for
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A national magazine asked me to write an article about becoming emotionally overwhelmed. So I hammered out 1600+ words. Yet, even as I wrote, another reminder of self-care interrupted my busy life. It has taken me so many years to write this truth and believe it: Self-Care is a spiritual discipline. Somehow we think if
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