"I go to nature to be soothed & healed,

 and have my senses put in order."

~John Burroughs

And boy did I need to put my senses in order! Today was my first opportunity to get out in nature in far too long! I've been busy as usual, with work and finally with unpacking. It has been a stressful transition, my moving to Santa Fe. Finding affordable housing was the hardest part. I thought I had found a place and had my car packed after moving out of my little temporary casita... only to find the place filthy when I got there. The whole interaction I had with the owner of the place had been odd from the start (she doesn't live in town, and I was largely dealing with her friend here, it took a week to hear back on my credit & ref check, and there were some odd things written into the lease.) To find the place a mess the day I was supposed to move in (with my car loaded with all my belongings) was the final straw! I certainly did not want to be in a lease situation with a flaky landlord. At this point, I was beyond stressed... work had been extremely  busy, and to not have my own place to come home to was pushing me toward the edge! "Things are not supposed to be this difficult," I said to myself... so I gave it a timeframe. 1 week. If I didn't find a decent place in one week, I was packing up & heading back to San Diego for a re-group, and then likely back to the travel job. Well, thank goodness, I found a place 2 days later. Whew! So, after almost a month here, I finally have a cozy little place. It's very cute... and at roughly 450 square feet, very tiny!

It's also a bit more than I had anticipated, which means I may have to pick up a few more shifts at work, but I suppose a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. The really good news is my ceramics classes start next week, and for that I am excited! That is really one of the main reasons for moving here, you know. Well, that and the close proximity to the most beautiful (see above) escapes in nature which soothe my soul, feed my spirit, and put a little joy in my heart!

(Ok... maybe the red chile has a bit do do with it, too!)

Hope you are all doing well!

:)

Miraculous Sunsets

Sliver Moon at Sunset

Lights of Santa Fe at Dusk

Fiery Sunset

"Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle." 
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Life's an Adventure

... at least that's what I try to tell myself! I still haven't found "my place" to call home yet. Figuring that I was coming during the winter season, I thought I'd have no problem finding a cute little inexpensive rental. I didn't really take into account the fact that it was the holidays, or that it's kinda tough trying to schedule times to go look at a place when you're working full time! Silly me. So, I have in fact moved three times in the past 18 days!! When I first drove into town, I rented a cute but noisy little place for the weekend near the Plaza. From there I went to a friend's house, thinking for sure I'd have a place by the first. No such luck! (Some of the cheaper places seem a little scary, and the more expensive ones are, well, expensive. Though I am starting to come to the conclusion that my idea of reasonable rent may be stuck somewhere in the early 1990's.) Anywho, not wanting to wear out my welcome, (and needing some personal space in a house full of people,) I found a little casita to rent for the week, and moved over here on New Years Day. It's a bit more than I wanted to spend, but it is cute, quiet and peaceful. And given that it feels as if my life's in the air & things are not going exactly as planned (and I was on the verge of a total meltdown,) having a quiet place to come home to after a long day at work is quite frankly, priceless. Now, in the midst of working, looking for a place & moving my things around Santa Fe... don't think for a moment that I haven't squeezed in a little hiking! Just before the New Year, we got ourselves a little snow, and freezing temps! (In the teens during the day & as low as -1 at night... brrrrrrr!) Here I am on what I call the 18 degree hike on New Year's Eve.

Though it was quite chilly to start, I was layered up like the kid from the Malt-o-Meal commercial & was just fine!

The mountains were beautiful in their fresh winter coats!

The cold air and amazing views refresh my soul.

I temporarily forget my worries... taking in all the detail & beauty in the winter landscape.

My temporary home... I actually needed chains on my tires to get up the driveway... see, I told you it's an adventure!

And last, but certainly not least... the first New Mexican sunset of 2011.

Here's hoping your year is off to a good start!

:)