We are beginning our new life in New Mexico or "The Adventures of Harley the Beagle".. (Santa Fe: hotel, school)

[bacich]

We went to Gallup sat. for the garage sales and to see the parade. The dancing and clothing were amazing. I have so much to learn. I saw real Code Talkers. I met Zonnie Gorman in Phila. She gave a talk about the Code Talkers. Her father was the oldest Code Talker. Her brother was RC Gorman a famous artist. We ate at Earl’s dinner for breakfast. Our waitress wore an amazing outfit with bells. The babies couldn’t take their eyes off her. Her mother was Inuit and her father Navajo. They met when her father found a lost legging and returned it to her at a PowWow.
Harley and Thai met the new puppy next door today. Harley was fine, but Thai barked way too much. We let them smell each other, but Thai has head of the pack issues. They seem to be adjusting well to their new home. The Zuni wild dogs are still not popular with them.
Today we went into the Pueblo and saw beautiful art displayed outside of the Visitor’s Center. There was dancing as well. I met several fab potters. I can’t afford their work just yet. I did meet a furniture maker. Possibly a table in our future to treasure forever!

Upon returning to Zuni-Land from Gallup today, we came up a rise and saw forever. The view is amazing. We are living in such a beautiful place, that just driving to work is a pleasure. Bacich

[ziaAirmac]

Bacich, it's interesting that you went from being with Tuskegee Airmen to being with Navajo code talkers. Completely different units, but many parallels in their experiences. My Great Uncle was a friend of RC Gorman's. We were just talking about a National Geographic article in another thread that includes a picture with the two of them. With your meeting Zonnie Gorman, that puts us at just a few degrees of separation. Small world!

Great stories. I love the one about the legging at the pow wow. I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot of them. How is your furniture search going?

When you get really settled and are ready for some exploration, check out Acoma Pueblo. It's beautiful.

[clairz]

Hi, Bacich. I am so glad that you continue to give us updates about your new life there.

I happened to pick up a brochure at a museum last week. It is titled "New Mexico's Ancient Way" and has a photo on the front of the Dowa Yallane mesa in Zuni. It's a scene that has become familiar to me as I have spent quite a lot of time on the Zuni Public Schools website, ever since you told us about it.

The brochure gave some information that I didn't know. It says that the Pueblo of Zuni is the largest of all New Mexican pueblos, and that is was "the site of first contact between Europeans and peoples of the Southwest. Conquistador Francisco Coronado discovered the ancestral village of Hawikku, one of the fabled "Seven Cities of Gold," in July 1540."

Thank you for remembering us with your continuing messages. I can't tell you how exciting this adventure is for me, even though I am experiencing it second hand.

~clairz

[bacich]

Hi all.
Well another week has passed here at Zuni. School brings new friends, adorable children, and lots of information on Zuni food and customs. There are at least 2 kinds of Zuni bread. They include a yeast bread, and sour dough. I haven’t tasted any yet. It’s baked on Thursday and Friday outside in those Kiva ovens. They also make a mutton stew in the oven. After cleaning the oven, the feed wood until it is white hot. After putting the stew pot with a lid in, they wall it up and it cooks over night. I was told they use crock pots a lot here too. The stew includes meat or mutton, spices, onions, and corn. This is another thing to look forward to.
There is a festival coming and I'm to dance a corn dance in costume with other teachers. I bought very large size mocs for me and tiny ones for my new grandchildren in Gallup. No one here wears a woman's size 11. My family was blessed or cursed with large feet. My mother always said we had a strong underpinning.
We gave a ride to an old Navajo on the way back from Gallup. I got to practice my Navajo on him. He was very funny and encouraged me to keep trying. He said that he was in Gallup looking for his wife. He walked almost 30 miles. A lot of people walk great distances here. We are very spoiled. We need to walk more and are doing a health walk on the rez with other teachers on Wed. evening.
Our plans to visit the Acoma Pueblo this weekend fell through because of threatened rain. We will have to go another time. Next weekend is the Indian Market in Santa Fe. I’ve have been wanting to go for years. My husband said we can’t afford the work so why go. I said why go to a museum and see great art. Also you get to meet the artists and talk to them. Maybe we could take their card and buy latter (I hope).
We saw hot-air balloons out our front door this morning. I can’t wait to go to Abq. this fall for the festival. So many things to see and do and for once I’m here to do them. Bacich

[Portia60]

Bacich, I love reading about your new life in NM and all the exciting things you are doing/seeing! It sounds absolutely wonderful. I visited Abq and its surrounds in April and just fell in love with the place, the people, the culture, the landscapes, and (last but not least!) the food; am missing it all so terribly much. I hope to retire there some time next year, so I must say I am rather envious of you and other people who have already moved there! I wish you and hubby continued happiness there.

[clairz]

Originally Posted by Portia60

Bacich, I love reading about your new life in NM and all the exciting things you are doing/seeing! It sounds absolutely wonderful. I visited Abq and its surrounds in April and just fell in love with the place, the people, the culture, the landscapes, and (last but not least!) the food; am missing it all so terribly much. I hope to retire there some time next year, so I must say I am rather envious of you and other people who have already moved there! I wish you and hubby continued happiness there.

Portia, how wonderful to see someone posting all the way from Saudi Arabia. I hope you've seen the thread "Coming to New Mexico, What's Your Story?" as it is turning into a pretty amazing collection of accounts about why people want to come here and how people have felt drawn to this place. I hope that you will post there too and let us know how your journey unfolds.

~clairz

[Portia60]

[quote=clairz;4926148]Portia, how wonderful to see someone posting all the way from Saudi Arabia. I hope you've seen the thread "Coming to New Mexico, What's Your Story?" as it is turning into a pretty amazing collection of accounts about why people want to come here and how people have felt drawn to this place. I hope that you will post there too and let us know how your journey unfolds.

Clairz, although I live in Saudi, I'm actually Australian - working here to pay for my retirement. After being here for eight years, I vowed to NEVER live in a dry/desert country again; I wanted rain, snow, rain, greenery and more rain. However that was BEFORE I went to New Mexico and was bewitched! Thanks for pointing out that thread too, will check it out.
Portia

[bacich]

[quote=Portia60;4926740]

Originally Posted by clairz

Portia, how wonderful to see someone posting all the way from Saudi Arabia. I hope you've seen the thread "Coming to New Mexico, What's Your Story?" as it is turning into a pretty amazing collection of accounts about why people want to come here and how people have felt drawn to this place. I hope that you will post there too and let us know how your journey unfolds.

Clairz, although I live in Saudi, I'm actually Australian - working here to pay for my retirement. After being here for eight years, I vowed to NEVER live in a dry/desert country again; I wanted rain, snow, rain, greenery and more rain. However that was BEFORE I went to New Mexico and was bewitched! Thanks for pointing out that thread too, will check it out.
Portia

Dear Portia,
I've dreamed of coming here for years. I know that I'll have stories to tell for some time.
Today for example I got a written apology from a young student. He caught a grasshopper in my class yesterday and tried to throw it out. I just happened to bent over and he hit me in the head with it. He said that he was sorry. I've been hit with many things over the years as a teacher. Some of the schools that I taught in were very rough, but this is a first. Bacich

[clairz]

[quote=bacich;4947682]

Originally Posted by Portia60

Dear Portia,
I've dreamed of coming here for years. I know that I'll have stories to tell for some time.
Today for example I got a written apology from a young student. He caught a grasshopper in my class yesterday and tried to throw it out. I just happened to bent over and he hit me in the head with it. He said that he was sorry. I've been hit with many things over the years as a teacher. Some of the schools that I taught in were very rough, but this is a first. Bacich

Bacich, my mother, when substituting in 8th grade, found a live tarantula in her desk drawer--and that was in California! Not sure where the kids found it...

I can't wait to hear more of your Zuni classroom stories.

By the way, my well-thumbed Zuni Country brochure mentions the annual Ancient Way Fall Festival, coming up in October. Have you heard anything about it?

~clairz

[bacich]

After getting over a bad cold I'm back. This week in class, a grandmother volunteer said "The sky is blue, the earth is red, and all the directions have a color. This is part of our culture." I was blown away. I've been instructed to make sure I teach proper design for the pots made by my students. Now I'm researching like crazy. I've joined the library in Zuni, but most Zuni books on art can not be checked out. On line I found several used books. The kids are too adorable and I often am hugged by the little ones. I've incorporated some Native American stories and books into my lessons. The many varied art materials available to me inspire the lessons.
The Acoma Pueblo Casino was recommended for Friday night seafood. has anybody tried it? Bacich