Among the Aspens

Yesterday (Saturday), I decided to do some things I've been wanting to do since I got to Santa Fe but haven't done for any number of reasons. So, after the Saturday morning ritual of the farmer's market (a ginger apple muffin, mixed greens, 8 apples) and a quick workout at Fort Marcy, I drove down Cerrillos Road in search of Jackalope. Jackalope is a very strange store, more of a mercado, where alot of Mexican imports, antique furniture, and huge planters are sold. I wandered around for a bit, and was very good about not buying anything except a few cards. After Jackalope came shopping for the week at wholefoods--I am trying to eat as organically as possible down here--and then I decided to take a drive up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. The Ski Basin ride is a lovely one--about 15 miles each way--and the starting point is just a few quick turns from my casita. The ride is famous in the fall for the explosion of yellow as all the aspens turn. I gather, from my ride up, that I missed the full flowering of the aspens by about a week as many of the leaves had already fallen. It was, nonetheless, an absolutely beautiful ride up a very windy road through the Santa Fe National Forest and a few state parks along the way. Lots of people were out and about--hiking, biking, walking dogs--and next time I venture up, I will check out some of the trails. When you are at the top, there is a lovely view of Santa Fe and the mountains in the distance. The pictures below will give you an idea of what I saw along the way, and some of the stunning vistas. Being from New England and used to all of our lovely fall hues, seeing just yellow leaves was strange, but no less beautiful. I didn't really know what Aspens were, but their bark reminds me of birch trees, and they are just as handsome without their leaves. It really was a lovely day (in the high-60s) and so after my ride up and down the basin trail, I decided to visit another Santa Fe hotspot I'd not yet ventured to--Tara's Organic Ice Cream. Hidden away on Second Street, Tara's was a little hard to find, but worth the wandering. This ice-cream store is famous for its uniquely flavored homemade icecream. I had a combination of Rosemary Pear and White Pepper Chocolate Chip. Savory, and strangely delicious. Well worth the adventures.

Today's adventures will not be so exciting I think. I've just cooked a big pot of turkey veggie chile and am off to the research center for a little reading and note-taking before heading over to Fort Mary for a workout.

Hope all are well. The offer of coming to visit stands until December 21 when I leave!