May 3, 2023: Missed another anniversary!

March 29th was Alan’s and my 34th anniversary. (Phew!) Given everything going on right then, neither of us remembered, which happens more years than not. That said, once we DID remember it a few days ago, we used it as an excuse for a night out in Abiquiu. We stayed at the Inn, had a fabulous dinner, and took a hike near Ghost Ranch. Found this arch in an unnamed canyon, although called “Cat’s Eye” on my OnX Hunt app. The hike led up a dry wash, with a scramble up, under, and over a bunch of large boulders, then winding through a wide, high desert valley just east of Ghost Ranch.

Our propensity for taking days off to play slows down our progress on projects around 4Fords, but that’s ok. We have plenty of projects to keep us going for as long as we live. Alan and I are definitely project-oriented folks….even if there’s nothing to do, we’ll FIND something. Who’s in a hurry, anyway? The point is the process, not the finished product (although having hot running water in the bathroom will be a wonderful thing!). Right now, Alan is starting on the complex plumbing job, installing 5 large filters and a second pressure tank. I am building a stone patio in front of the house, using rocks we haul home from down in the arroyo. After every flash flood, there’s a whole new batch of great flagstones laying around. All that said, we look forward to a time when these big jobs are finished and we can focus on more fun activities like painting the doors and putting in a new kitchen counter.

The hike by Cat’s Eye Arch must have exhausted the dogs, as they’ve mostly been taking naps on the couch since we got home. When we take hikes, they both get the zoomies, and chase and play-fight for many more miles than the 5-6 that Alan and I might walk. They live for our hikes, and the second they see one of us taking out our hiking boots, they start howling and jumping about. Zane also lives to bark at cows and chase rabbits.

Talking about hikes, last week we climbed an old, old road down-valley from our place. It wound up to the top of the mesa to the west of our house, probably 800′ above the valley floor and crossing the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in spots. It ended on a narrow point sticking out into the valley, with wonderful views all around of the San Juan mountains from Telluride to Chama. Lovely to see all the snow still up there.

Other home improvement projects include covering the garden in cardboard. I think I won’t grow a big garden this year, and let the main garden lay fallow, instead just growing some things in the greenhouse. I’m also building a path to the outhouse and planting some more trees and bushes.

A lot of what I planted last year died over the winter, very unusual for me, so I need to replace some shrubs. The Butterfly Bushes and Lilacs did fine, as did the Apple, Plum and Aspen tree. But the Lavender, which should grow well here, all died in the winter, as did the Oregano. It did get to -20 degrees, though….

We’ve found 2 sets of beautiful sheds this spring. One pair lying right in front of the house. I hope the elk didn’t use our walls to rub them off!