Photoblog: Albuquerque

20 Things: Albuquerque

Posting about old Mexico and the impending eclipse reminded me that I never posted about my trip to New Mexico last fall with my parents. The Balloon Fiesta was on their bucket list, so off we went. I have to admit, it wasn’t on my bucket list, but it really is quite a sight to behold! We booked a fab Airbnb & could see the balloons from the balcony. We also had a great view of the eclipse! Here’s some of what we did:

1. Patrolled at dawn
2. Ate at a 2024 James Beard Award finalist restaurant
3. Sampled both the blackberry lavender sorbet and the ginger ice cream
4. Attended the Glowdeo
5. Watched the balloons from the balcony
6. Hiked to the petroglyphs
7. Wondered at the many ballon shapes
8. Including Darth Vader, Smokey the Bear, and Elvis
9. Saw a tribal dance troupe perform
10. Carved some bangles
11. Did not (knowingly) meet any refugees from Area 51
12. Marveled at the sky divers
13. Learned about local art and culture at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
14. Were amazed by the drone light show
15. Bought a seed pot
16. Made connections between O’Keefe and Moore
17. Wandered Old Town 
18. Basked in the burning ring of fire
19. Witnessed the Mass Ascension

Photos to come!

Photoblog: San Miguel de Allende

20 Things: San Miguel de Allende

Last month, I went to San Miguel de Allende to take a painting class with Bryan Jernigan, sponsored by Studio 56 Boutique. Brenda of Studio 56 put together a really great itinerary for us, and Bryan is a fantastic teacher. If you ever have a chance to take a class with either of those folks, do it!!!  I’ve wanted to go there for a long time, and this was definitely the way to go. Here’s some of what we did:

1. Painted poolside
2. Contemplated in la Parroquia
3. Bought a hat
4. Painted on other people’s canvasses
5. Climbed pre-Hispanic pyramids
6. Visited the mask museum
7. Dined with a tightrope walker
8. Had birthday sparklers with dinner
9. Shopped the market
10. Ate fig and prosciutto flatbread
11. Met the mojiganga master
12. Made small collages
13. Watched the sun set from el Mirador
14. Painted the teacher
15. Checked out the local galleries
16. Danced to the dueling mariachis
17. Dined on rooftops (with excellent DJs)
18. Actually did some paintings that I like (a testament to Bryan’s teaching skills!)
19. Admired the murals (at the Institute and on the streets)
20. Got a sense of place

Photos to follow!

Photoblog: Road Trip

Featuring Casey, IL, St. Louis, MO, Hot Springs, AR, Dallas and Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA, and Asheville, NC.

20 Things: Road Trip

It’s been a while, but I think it’s time to bring back the 20 Things.

I took myself on a road trip this summer. Two and a half weeks, just over 3000 miles, 16 states, 15 (I think) museums, 1 space center, and multiple national parks/forests/historical sites/heritage areas. (We have a lot of nationally designated spaces!) I also got to visit with friends and family in 4 states, which was lovely. Here’s some of what I did (and apologies if the formatting is weird, I’m having trouble editing):

1. Went through the Gateway
2. Sampled an amaro flight
3. Saw the Chihulys at MOBOT
4. Hung out with the folks at Gay Fad
5. Ate fig pizza…twice
6. But not at 1000 Figs
7. Contemplated at the Rothko Chapel
8. Revisited history at Apollo’s Mission Control room
9. Stopped at the home of the Tuskegee Airmen
10. Gallery hopped in downtown Asheville
11. Drank at one of the 50 best bars in North America
12. Sluice mined for black tourmaline
13. Ate a democrat and a tipsy chick
14. Observed (and was observed by) the giant eyeball
15. Got Daisy Duked at eggdaddy
16. Saw the world’s largest mailbox (and rocking chair and wind chimes and ruler and and and)
17. Admired both antiquity and modernity
18. Got my hot hot
19. While it was hot hot
20. Stood in the “Aftermath of the Obliteration of Eternity”

Photos to come!

On the Imbolc

Wise words for the new year.

Skull-a-Day #5

And lastly, a t-shirt. Thus concludes Skull Week.

Skull-a-Day #4

Ice, ice baby.

Skull-a-Day #3

Spoons.