Pinon-Juniper Forest and Thanksgiving

Image  "The Pinon Pine Tree"
2016 ©, Santa Fe, NM, C. Sullivan
"New Mexico's State Tree is the handsome Pinon Pine
which grows widely in the Southwest's mountain foothills."

For many years, beginning with my very first trip to the Eastern Sierras, I have been enamored with the Pinon Pine tree. During our many trips in November we would pay $5 to cut a Pinon in the Toiyabe National Forest for our Yule Tree. The fragrance is wonderfully earthy and long lasting.

Now that we have relocated and are putting down roots in the high desert, I have purchased a live, locally grown Pinon Pine (Pinus edulis) for this year's Yule Tree from Payne's Nursery just a few short blocks from where we are temporarily staying in Santa Fe. The young tree is a mere 4' tall but beautifully shaped. It will remain in the ground until early December then be lifted, root ball and all, up from the soil and placed in a large tree pot. Rather than covering the root ball with "potting soil," earthworm castings and mushroom compost will be mixed to cover the roots. Both of these "amendments" will support the tree's immune system thus providing for a long life. "The Pinon can live to 500 years and its dry-environment survival kit includes 20 foot long taproots." This year's Yule Tree will remain outdoors so as to not unnecessarily tax its well BEing. The plan is to plant it in the ground this Winter season barring frozen soil. This native tree will eventually be surrounded, for a long life, with a community of native Juniper (hopefully One-seed), native grasses and native flowers.

These pictures were taken at the "dog park" in November, 2017. It is not Wintery yet, no freezing nighttime temperatures and unseasonably warm in the daytime and dry. 

Only one light skiff of snow on the mountain tops
since we arrived the day before Halloween.

However, the plants are aware that this is the dry cycle and are entering their dormancy.

Shasta running towards her new found friend, Lilly, a Portuguese Waterdog.
The Pinon Pine and One-seed or Singleseed Juniper (Junipers monosperma)
abound on either side of the path.

Shasta off to investigate smells amidst the Pinon - Juniper desert forest.

Most of our out of doors time presently is spent each morning in the Frank Ortiz Dog Park. Shasta continues her energetic and exuberant exploration of humans, dogs and the terrain always finding a familiar dog friend . . . or a new fast dog friend.

Thanksgiving is a momentous day for us, especially in 2017, since we met at a friends gathering in Santa Rosa, California. I had recently moved to Santa Rosa and was a long time friend of the hostess; Dwight, exiting a 25 year marriage, was a friend and business associate of another in attendance. Each invited one of us because we would each otherwise be spending the holiday alone. So 30 years later we both are blessed with one another's love and companionship, and have much to be grateful for as we embark on the next chapter of our lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Creator, open our hearts

to peace and healing between all people.

Creator, open our hearts

to provide and protect all children

of the earth.

Creator, open our hearts

to respect for the earth, and all the

gifts of the earth.

Creator, open our hearts

to end exclusion, violence

and fear among all.

Thank-you for the gifts

of this day and every day.

Mi'Kmaq prayer

As we each express our gratitude, may we also

Releasing and Embracing

RELEASING: Today, Tuesday, November 07, 2017, Leslie Resnick becomes MuRefuge's steward. Sage and the ducks have relocated about a third of a mile North of MuRefuge where they are integrating into a wonderful space with humans that appreciated their BEingness.

On Tuesday, October 24, we began our transition from Northern California to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We chose to drive through the Sacramento Valley into the mountains, then South on Highway 395 through the Eastern Sierras we love and have frequently visited throughout our lives together.

The predominate Fall color was Arizona ash or "velvet ash"
(Fraxinus  velutina) in Bishop, California.

Mt. Whitney viewed from the Visitor's Center at the first turn off
from Hwy. 395 into Death Valley. We enjoyed a lovely picnic
lunch in the shade of a ubiquitous Chinese elm tree and
carried out business related to the selling of
MuRefuge before continuing onto our next
overnight stop in Barstow, California.

Stopping at this same location in March, 2017, we could
barely push open the car doors and stand. The
wind was fierce and the air filled with alkali
dust from the desiccated Owens Lake.
Mt. Whitney was barely visible. 

Tuckered out travelers from MuRefuge to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

EMBRACING: With the releasing of Sage and the seven female Indian Runner ducks, our pack is markedly smaller. Two two leggeds and one four legged are in Santa Fe, New Mexico residing in a HomeAway house a half a block from the Santa Fe River Trail.

Every morning our diminished in size pack heads for the Frank Ortiz Dog Park. Shasta exuberantly embraces the experience. It is a wonderful sight to see her connect with a welcome playmate: one day a Great Pyrenees, another a sight hound, yet another day a smallish medium sized "New Mexico mutt". Monday when she greeted and played with her special friend, Shanti. She zeroed in on him in September as a special and fun playmate, as the picture below shows!

The vegetation looks different from our September visit since most of the trees have shed their leaves and the native shrubs with their previously glorious yellow flowers are now dried to a stunning pale brown.

Chamisa (Spanish name ) or Rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseous)

The deep, vibrant green color is
Pinon pine ( Pinus edulis)
and Juniper (Juniperus species not identified)

Still a wonderful walk experience with abundant opportunities to connect with both local and transplanted humans who all so love dogs of any sort. All seem to enjoy Shasta, embracing her jumping up on them as not only a natural way of dogs but a a way to connect with her.

During our September Santa Fe exploration we found a house we wanted to make an offer on. The first buyers of MuRefuge did not work out so we were unable to do it then. Once we identified the next MuRefuge steward, we found that the house we wanted to buy was still on the market.

 Pueblo style Stamm home in Casa Alegre.

This house is considerably smaller, a bit over 1400 square feet, on a lot also considerably smaller, about one third of an acre. During the initial phase of online searching for a home in Santa Fe, I was drawn to the Stamm homes because they are a piece of the city's history. During our whirl wind survey of Stamm homes on the market, we found most "upgraded" in a manner we were not comfortable with or in total disrepair. This Stamm home was advertised as "a pristine Stamm . . . located in a superb cul de sac location." We were fortunate enough during our initial viewing to meet the delightful couple who live across the street. They shared that the neighborhood is composed primarily of professionals who are friendly and welcoming of transplants like us.

There is work to be done on the house but the roofers and contractors who have looked at the house with us, assure us it is sound. Our realtor emphasizes the enormous advantage of increased resale value. AND Shasta will have a large "back" yard, and she has already given her stamp of approval on her walkabouts of the property.

For those of you still living in Sonoma County, the property taxes will be about a quarter here in Santa Fe compared to what we paid on MuRefuge. The cost of living was one of the many reasons for our choice to embrace Santa Fe and release MuRefuge.

Hopefully we will enjoy a belated anniversary (which is on Thanksgiving) present with escrow closing on November 27.

Saturday past was the first cloudy day since our arrival.
The Farmers Market has considerably fewer
vendors than when we shopped here in September;
still many choices of seasonal, locally grown organic produce.

New Mexico is touted as the pepper capital. A vast array of peppers, both dried for decorative use and roasted for a tasty addition to any meal, are in evidence throughout the Farmers Market.

To maintain our equilibrium and discharge emotions, during our transition of releasing and embracing, which is fraught with glitches and annoying issues, we