Leaving Santa Fe!

Hello from me, back here in NC!

Gosh, it’s good to be home. I was up early to catch the 7:30am shuttle that took me, my copious amounts of luggage ((Oh, you should have seen the look on the shuttle driver’s face!)) and several other passengers the hour or so drive back to the Albuquerque airport. So many of us going so many different directions.

It had rained during the night, and the air was fresh. If you’ve never smelled sage brush after a drenching rain, you are seriously missing one of nature’s gifts! It brought to mind so closely the smell of the sage brush from when we lived in Idaho, which is also high desert. I wish I could bottle that!

As we were driving along, I glanced to the west and saw this deluge happening in the distance. Rain comes quickly, and goes away just as fast, but when it dumps, it dumps!

Of course, taking a shuttle sometimes means that you get to your destination about 3 hours too early and find yourself with some time to kill---

Let me just say that some airports are better than others when it comes to shops and things to look at. I could spend a LOT of time in the shops at the Albuquerque airport! And if there is something that you regretted not picking up in Santa Fe, you could possibly find it here!

Besides the obligatory t-shirt purchase, I had a great time looking at the displays that are all ready for the Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead.

I was disappointed that this pic turned out so blurry, because the displays were wonderful! I loved the happy skeleton ladies in all their painted finery! Look at this one:

She looks like she’s all gussied up for an afternoon tea! I just LOVED the colors…the oranges, reds, golds, greens, purple-y blue periwinkles….FUN!

In Albuquerque, Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebrations take place over several weeks, although the holiday is traditionally celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd. Families remember deceased loved ones and honor them by building offering altars (ofrendas) where sugar skulls are placed, along with offerings of pan de muertos. The holiday is festive although the content may not be, as spirits are welcomed back into peoples' lives for another year.

Here in the USA we forget that our customs within this country are so vast! There is such a melding of traditions from different cultures who have settled here from across the world. It was really a treat to be in New Mexico and to feel the build up of not just Halloween, but the important day after it, and how it evolved from the Christian holiday of “All Saints Day” to the customs it has acquired over time through the people of Mexican descent.

Look at that pic above…see that bell shaped thing to the left of the skulls? That was a SKIRT for one of the really large “painted lady” skeletons…isn’t it awesome?

I loved this display of sun faces in the window….and another glimpse of the painted lady’s skirt to the right of the pic. I wish I had room to bring home a happy CHEDDAR face! But my luggage had already been checked, and my carry on was full!

More tiles! I really like the basket one at the top left…but that lizard is awfully cute!

Would your “Quilters Eyes” pick up on these baskets right away? There were so many patterns and colors! I just about had my heart set on one to bring home…..((It was flat, I bet it would fit in the carry on!)) But on closer inspection --- uhoh! What’s this I see???

Hmmmmmmm…..MADE IN……PAKISTAN!???

Well, that’s the way it goes I guess! For heaven’s sake --- most of the big quilt book publishers have their books all printed in CHINA, so why should this be any different?

I’m happy to be a Kansas City Star Author, all of our books are printed right here in the good ol’ USA!

I boarded my flight….and found myself with another 3 hour layover in Chicago! I’d have to say that the Chicago airport probably has some of the best food places as far as airports go. ((Can’t beat the cheese popcorn either! Only it should come with wet wipes to clean the orange off of your fingers so you don’t have to resort to wiping them on your jeans--))

All through the day I’d been in touch with Jason, who is still struggling with the changes in his life. I encouraged him to come home for a long weekend, and after school, he drove up from Columbia, about a 3 hour drive. He met me here last night shortly after I arrived home. We talked and talked until the wee small hours, and then I drug myself off to bed.

It’s just the two of us until Sunday --- DH is off on a business trip. I’m looking forward to a few days of relaxing and spending time with my son.

When I went to unpack my suitcase to gift him with his New Mexico t-shirt souvenir….look what I found!

Oh, my! It’s ANOTHER note from TSA telling me how much they thank me for my business, and to tell me how much they enjoy going through my luggage! LOL!

I’m thinking of having these laminated, and just place them at the top of my luggage myself when I GO somewhere…might save on some paper costs for them, don’t you think?