New Mexico Trip: More Doors

Jewish Center, Albuquerque

Abandoned building, Laguna Pueblo

This helped me to envision how Chaco Canyon dwellings may have looked when masonry was covered with thin layers of plaster.

Chetro Ketl in Chaco Canyon

Lt. Simpson's guide during the Army's 1849 expedition said Chetro Ketl means "rain pueblo."

Door in Albuquerque

At bottom of Acoma Pueblo Mesa

This is my favorite door, with the bushes growing inside the abandoned (and roofless) abode. Life goes on without human habitation.

New Mexico Trip: Gates

Gate in Old Town, Albuquerque

Gate in Albuquerque

Gate in Old Town, Albuquerque

Gate of San Felipe de Neri Church
Albuquerque's oldest Catholic parish

Friday Five: Smiles (or not?)

With the end of RevGalBlogPals' third annual Big Event, I am wondering who went and what it was like. There must be a lot of smiling from the Big Event! Hopefully, the rest of us are not frowning either.

So let us know how your past week was for you.

Write five different aspects of the week
OR answer the following questions:

1. When were you smiling lately?
I have so much to smile about, since I returned last Friday night from my New Mexico trip with friend Nancy. Also, son DC and wife AA are coming to visit this weekend. Their dog Sampson will play with Maisie, which will be fun to watch. AND of course, I am smiling about their baby--the kumquat this week (the size).

And I smiled at the above picture, because when daughter AE was young she liked and collected penguins.

2. What happened unexpectedly to you this past week?
My cousin Margaret in Calgary sent me her deceased daughter's book, which is her published dissertation. I've heard about the research and writing of Beth for years and am excited to have this book: The Search for Salvation: Lay Faith in Scotland 1480-1560 by Audrey Beth-Fitch. (I just learned with that Amazon link that I have a pre-released copy!)

3. How was a catastrophe averted (or not)?
The only thing I can think of is that my suitcase arrived from Albuquerque with me, even though my flight to Dallas was late--only 20 minutes in between flights.

4. What was the most delicious thing you ate?
The desserts I shared with Nancy in Albuquerque at the Flying Star cafe were delucious! How I wish that restaurant was available to me more readily. The caramel cheesecake the chocolate almond petit four (with marzipan!) were memorable and too addictive.

Jan--the last morning in Albuquerque 4-16-10

5. Did you see any good movies or read any books or articles?
A friend gave me an old supplement to the "New York Times" and it had a very interesting article about Jung's Red Book. I know two people who have bought copies of that large book. And you can go here to read this article, which I highly recommend.

New Mexico Trip: Doors

Nancy got interested in New Mexico doors and gates when she had visited with her family in Deming, NM. She kept taking pictures of closed and open doors; soon I also started taking photos of them.

We use the metaphor of a door opening or closing to episodes in our lives, both physical and spiritual. Just like my mother would talk about a chapter ending in one's life, so does a door close. . . and then open again.

Albuquerque door/gate

Home door at Sky City
Acoma Pueblo on top of a mesa

Doors at Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon
I have this same picture on a magnet bought at the park store!

Door on abandoned building in Laguna Pueblo

Closet door in Nancy's room at Los Poblanos Inn
It used to be the dairy farm safe!
(What is now Los Poblanos Bed and Breakfast started out as a dairy farm.)

Jan's jottings

I have had the longest blogging break since I started this blog in 2007 by going to and returning from New Mexico. I have lots to tell you about, but still have not labeled my pictures. And I seem to be rushing around, getting back into the rhythm of life at home.

• My grandchild is now the size of a kumquat. In the past few weeks she/he has been the size of a blueberry, a kidney bean, and a grape. These images help as I pray everyday for this living being within AA. The next doctor's appointment is in one week--when DC and AA are hoping to hear the heartbeat of their future child.
  

• Nancy has given me permission to use her name instead of merely the initials of "NKE." I appreciate that since we have been friends for the past 49 years! (Isn't that a shocking figure for you younger readers??)

• While in New Mexico, Nancy was seeking mountain lion fetishes. Looking with her, I became interested, too, and found that I love the corn maidens. I seem to be collecting them now, as you can see from the picture below:

• I have four corn maidens, plus a storyteller and an Acoma Pueblo pot. I was told that the tallest corn lady is "very Zuni." The coyote was bought from a young man outside a trading post and may be a belated 25th birthday present for son BJ.
  

• I was told that the Corn Maiden represents a good life and happy future. Cornmaiden emerged with the Zuni from the Underworld and assures her people of a plentiful harvest. The story of the Corn Maidens ends like this:

"Ever since these days, the beautiful corn maidens have dwelt in the Land of Everlasting Summer. This we know. For does not their sweet-smelling breath come from that flowery country, bringing life to their children, the corn-plants? It is the south wind which we feel in spring-time."

• "In the Pueblo Indian culture, corn is to the people the very symbol of life. The Corn Maiden brought this gift. The Corn Maiden brings the power of life to the people. As the corn is given life by the sun, the Corn Maiden brings the fire of the sun into the human bodies, making them as the creator designed them to be. The Great Spirit has given man many representations of His love and power through nature. The Corn Maidens are said to have been created by the Great Spirit in the palm of his right hand. Each Maiden brings one seed of corn that is nurtured with love like that given to a child, that this one seed would sustain the entire tribe forever. With love and strength from the tribe, the tiny seeds mature and grow tall and strong, soon offering mature ears of corn for an abundance of crops for the people. The spirit of the Corn Maidens is forever present with the tribal people. The Corn maiden is the ' Grandmother of the Sun and The Grandmother of the Light'." (From here.)

My New Mexico Trip

Jan and Nancy by the chapel behind the Old Town Albuquerque Hotel
at the Richard Rohr conference on "Emergent Christianity"

I downloaded 336 pictures from my digital camera today, all taken in New Mexico. I have not labeled any yet. There is so much organization to do! And Nancy downloaded 550!