2019 Yule Tree and Deep Connection

Our freshly cut Pinon Pine from the Pecos National Forest
a few days after the record early snow and low
temperatures during Thanksgiving week.
This tree was positioned and secured atop Stella. 
Towards home we drove with our 2019 Yule Tree.

Precious ornaments decorate our Yule Tree

in time for Auntie T's momentous visit.

Years and years ago at a Crusher's game in Sonoma County (Rohnert Park, was the actual location) where I first met Tanis. Their stadium was just a few minutes from my home and tickets were cheap. The team had the best ever mascot!!!! And wonderful, feel good atmosphere for baseball for all who attended to enjoy.. During the first ever Crushers game I experienced, Dwight, my now husband, introduced me to Tanis, a long time Cubs fan. She grew up just a few blocks from Wrigley field and went to games that cost only a quarter. I grew up with a father who coached, brought out the best in his players and scouted for Major League Baseball. Tanis and I clicked right away with our long history with and love of baseball. We frequently went to Crusher's game and began expanding our outings to local plant nurseries, lunching, and soon became fast friends weathering the trials and tribulations of living and growing older. 

Alas, Crusher and his team eventually folded. Not to worry, our love of experiencing baseball moved to Oakland. Tanis bought season tickets and I paid for mine with canned fruit and jams. We were fortunate to qualify for the midweek afternoon games with a senior discount. This season ticket plan is no longer available but Tanis still qualifies: "grandmothered in" so to speak. Sad, sad, sad that I am now in Santa Fe, NM, and no longer able to share this season ticket plan with her.

Celebrating my 67th Birthday at an A's game. 

And so our friendship evolved into a deep connection. When I moved from rural, residential West Sonoma County it was difficult for both of us. Changes in life are inevitable but none the less heart wrenching when two friends are separated by half a country. 

Plans were made to once again share some of the A's home games on Tanis' season ticket plan for 2018 but alas illness prevented it. However, Tanis surprised me, and everyone else who knows her, by recently visiting us here in Santa Fe. Shasta was just so happy to see her dear Auntie T who always brings her toys each time she visits. Of course, this recent visit was no exception.

"I love my Auntie T", says Shasta 
with her favorite holiday toy
she picked out at the Holistic Hound 
in Berkeley, California, oh so many years ago.

What a challenge for a person who cannot eat nightshades to go out to eat here in New Mexico, which is touted as the"chile capital of the world". Tanis was a trooper, however, looking carefully over each menu item for the absence of nightshades at each eatery.

The Museum Hill Cafe had a number of wonderful food choices.
AND Tanis got to BE with a cow that was
exhibited in Chicago a number of years ago.
There were many different cows scattered throughout the city.
This particular cow was bought for $3600 to adorn the entrance to the cafe.

And we visited the Chiaroscuro Gallery so Tanis could see some of Rose B. Simpson's work. She was also able to meet the owner of the gallery and learn of the gallery in San Francisco showing the same artist's work.

Dwight and Tanis have their own history and deep connection, as well. While we lived in California, they along with 2 other female friends would frequently have a full day excursion into San Francisco visiting various galleries and museums. So while Tanis was here they visited a couple of galleries and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, both to Tanis' delight!

We had a day outing to Chimayo, visiting the Santuario de Chimayo where Tanis filled a small wide mouth canning jar with healing dirt to place beneath her bed for health and healing. Then we proceeded for lunch to Rancho de Chimayo, where there are the best ever sopaipillas. 

 

After lunch we stopped in Roxanne Swentzell's Tower Gallery. Luckily Rose and Roxanne were at the gallery so Tanis got to meet both of them. Then we walked around to the entrance of the Poeh Cultural Center at the Pueblo of Pojoaque to see the 100 pieces of ancient pottery returned from the Smithsonian to their native Tewa peoples. 

All in all we experienced over the week lovely togetherness and further deepened our connection. Since Shasta's Auntie T loves to 

,

we all had an enjoyable and frequent