I Should Be

I should be doing the laundry, I should be vacuuming the carpet, I should be replacing the carpet in the kitchen with linoleum, I should be ripping out the 20 year old wall to wall carpet and refinishing the wood floors underneath, I should be weeding the yard, I should be buying groceries, I should be scrubbing the toilet, I should be dusting the cobwebs in the kitchen, I should be raking the fallen leaves, I should be buying a more energy efficient refrigerator, I should be shopping for a new gas oven before our 20 year old one explodes, I should be calling the furnace man to give our gas furnace a clean bill of health, I should be going through all my possessions and getting rid of stuff I no longer need or use, I should be buying a new shed to replace the present one which functions as a Comfort Inn for mice, I should be replacing our wooden fence which is dying one slat at a time, I should be watering the water-devouring spruce in our front yard, I should be using cloth bags for my groceries instead of plastic, I should be using CFL light bulbs instead of incandescent, I should be shopping locally instead of at Walmart, I should be joining clubs and volunteering more around town, I should be spending less time on the computer ...

This list could go on and on but you get the idea.  You probably have a list twice as long of your own.  All the things I should be doing hang over my head on a daily basis.  Some of them I do because I have no choice - have to eat, have to occasionally clean, have to do laundry, but the others, I do gradually or when forced to by circumstances.  The majority of this list is related to the upkeep of the house and grounds (aka, gopher playground!)  Our 50 year old home needs a good remodeling but I'd rather sell the house at a bargain and let someone else remodel it.  Living in a house in the midst of a major remodel doesn't sound fun. My answer is to go on a hike unless necessity arises which mandates paying attention to this hovel, er...house.

Bonita Point or Loco Triangle

A friend willingly went with me today on the Bonita Point or Loco Triangle explore.  We didn't actually make it to the point but had fun trying.  We had to walk through forest impacted by dead log upon dead log, in pickup stick fashion.

It took a long time to even get near Bonita Point but we decided to turn around short of our destination  when we encountered a young aspen forest full of downed logs laying in wait like hungry crocodiles eager to snap our limbs off.  We tried hard to plow through the aspens - there was no easy way around - but we were greatly slowed by all the obstacles  hiding within.

By now, it was late afternoon so we turned around and picked our way again through all the downed wood and yet another interminable aspen thicket.  Trying to break free of that thicket made me sympathize with insects that get caught in a spider's web - we felt entangled every way that we turned!

We were so happy to get back to the bunch grass of Cañada Bonita meadow!  Whoever said that bunch grass is difficult to walk in has never tried to walk in an area clotted with  downed wood!

I'll probably never again be able to talk someone into accompanying me on that crazy hike.  My friend says she'll cross it off her list for now unless I discover a super-highway that leads to Bonita Point!

We saw 3 piles of fairly fresh bear scat.  We were glad we didn't see the bear(s)!!

Nail Trail and Pajarito Canyon

The Tuesday hiking group WAS going to hike the Nail Trail today but they changed the hike to the Cañada Bonita Trail.  Since I just did that Saturday, I hiked the Nail Trail myself today.

The Nail Trail intersects the Pajarito Canyon Trail and the question in my mind was would I be brave enough to walk back through Pajarito Canyon by myself (I was) or would I feel safer backtracking on the Nail Trail.  My imagination assumes mountain lions are crouching behind every shrub, preparing to pounce.

On the the scrabbly trail down into Pajarito Canyon, as I passed through shrubs and in and out of drainages, I thought:  Why do all the instructions on what to do if you meet a mountain lion advise throwing rocks but caution not to bend over?  How can I pick up a rock if I don't bend over?  Am I supposed to carry rocks just in case?

Maybe iPhone or Android could invent a Human Companion and/or Cyber Guard Dog app.  Then while I'm walking by myself, I could fire up my (non-existent) iPhone or Android and scare off malingering mountain lions.

The aspens in the Pajarito Canyon drainage are beautiful!

Husband's Attention to Stock Market Is Depressing

On husband's weekdays off, he can either be found, when I awaken, plugged into the computer, undoubtedly assessing current stock market conditions, or plugged into the cable TV business networks, watching talking heads hysterically take the economy's pulse.  The idea of paying moment to moment, detailed attention to the stock market depresses me. The stock market will go up and down, sometimes with dizzying rapidity, so why distress myself over its daily gyrations?  

Tried to Walk Apache Springs Trail Yesterday

Yesterday, spouse and I drove up the escarpment into the Jemez to the Apache Springs Trail to hike and enjoy Fall colors.  When we got to the trailhead, a fire truck was blocking the parking lot entrance and more two police cars were blocking the entrance across the street to the FR181/American Springs Road and more emergency vehicles were over there.  As we drove by, spouse asked the fireman directing traffic what was going on but the only answer was there was a situation they were handling.  We turned around at the parking lot for the old Girl Scout camp and drove down to Ponderosa Campground and walked the Upper Crossing Trail.  Spouse went as far as Frijoles Canyon while I walked down into the canyon.  I saw two hikers coming up as I was going down.  I turned around after crossing the Rito de los Frijoles' bridge but one day, I'd like to continue on the Upper Crossing Trail to the mesa top above.  That would be a lot of good elevated heart rate!

Quiet Columbus Day

Grandson is here on this Columbus Day.  His Mom and step-Dad have to work and the Activity Center is closed so we're watching him.  He walked with us on the Canyon Rim Trail, giving everyone the Vulcan salute, from Dr. Spock on Star Trek, that means "live long and prosper".  I hope that everyone he gave it to knew it was a peaceful gesture and not some other kind of hand salute!

Looking west from the Canyon Rim Trail at Pajarito Canyon and Pajarito Mountain, the aspen colors are really popping!  

Spouse took Grandson to McD's for lunch and then they enjoyed watching the DVD of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

I'm Really in Aspen Heaven Today

The aspens in the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area are finally turning golden!  I walked from the ski area to Pipeline Road on The Cañada Bonita Trail today.  Husband was not feeling tip top so he stayed home.  I took lots of photos of golden aspens!

From the far edge of the Cañada Bonita meadow, I saw that the backside of the unnamed mountain north of Pajarito Mountain is gilded with golden aspens but the potential is there for lots more color before the aspens finally drop their leaves.

On way back, right where the Nordic XC ski trails intersect the old forest road (which is the official Cañada Bonita Trail), I noticed that someone has roughly cleared a trail that contours above and parallel to the main trail and comes out at the Mother Lift.

When I got back to my car, a lot of Asian families were walking in the parking lot, taking pictures of each other and enjoying the beauty of the Fall colors.

In Aspen Heaven Today

When I woke up, husband opined that maybe WRSC hike on Aspen Vista Trail (aka Tesuque Peak Road 150) would be canceled.  He said it had rained and thundered early that morning.  With my fan on (used for its noise-canceling effect - I'm way too light a sleeper!),  I heard nothing.  As the morning wore on, sunlight and blue skies prevailed so we drove over to the Santa Fe Ski Area to meet the group at the trailhead. 

The aspen leaves were still beautiful but I could see patches up high where the leaves had dropped already.

The group walked up to a major viewpoint that overlooks southern Santa Fe.  They turned around here while I walked further up to the last crossing of the road by Tesuque Creek, for about 4 1/2 miles roundtrip.  After that, it's spruce and fir and the aspens disappear.

Spouse waited for me and then I drove us to Red Lobster for lunch.  Mine was grilled trout (lunch portion), broccoli, baked potato and their garden salad.  I have a system for ordering - please bring out lots of lemon wedges and raw onions and cruets of oil and vinegar.  I ask that the salad, broccoli and baked potato be served plain and a minimum of salt and oil be used on the fish.  I use the lemon wedges for the fish and broccoli, the vinegar and oil and onions for the salad and potato. I tend to save a few bites of fish for the very end (all the while with spouse hungrily eying it!) and that's dessert!!  It's a delicious lunch fit for a pesco-vegan like me!!

Afterward, bought lots of dried fruit and nuts at Vitamin Cottage to use for hiking lunches and as sweet treats!!

Yesterday:  In morning, walked Mesa Trail and downtown to library for 4 miles.  In afternoon, spouse drove us to Santa Fe for his dermatologist appointment - everything was fine.  Then, on to Walmart and Trader Joe's.  Had ahi tuna from TJ's for supper last night and we'll have trout from TJ's tomorrow night.  I love fish!!

Route Last Two Days and White Rock Today

Monday, I chopped down some NM locusts sprouts.  Really, I have to stop - this is getting anal.  NM locusts are going to grow no matter what - I'll never defeat that thorny nemesis.

I went back Tuesday to chop down what I thought was one invasive thistle plant (bull thistle, perhaps) in the middle of the Route.  When I looked closer, there is a whole patch of them growing near the Route.  This is beyond my scope of work.  I chopped off the ones actually growing on the Route but left the others to the tender mercies of the forest service which hopefully has a forest-wide invasive plant eradication plan.

I keep hoping the aspens along the Route change color before they reach their expiration date and the leaves drop.

Tuesday, I started at the Ocean, near the thistle patch, instead of further down.  To rack up my daily 4 miles, I tacked on FR2998 to where it intersects the Nail Trail.  Aspen colors are beginning to develop along that forest road but slowly.

Today, I skipped the LL hike (actually, I skipped all group hikes so far this week) because I had a late afternoon doctor appointment.  The doctor came up with a diagnosis for my calf swelling of last week - Baker's cyst - but I'm not buying it.  I had no cyst on the back of my knee that preceded the calf swelling, no sensation of water running down my leg and absolutely no knee pain!  In reading the symptoms on MayoClinic.org, I can somewhat understand his diagnosis but I don't think it accurately describes what happened to me.

I dropped off a donation at the Jemez House Thrift Shop and then for my 4 miles, walked from the White Rock library to the Potrillo Canyon trailhead and back, along NM4.

I made a vat of tabooley.  It tastes good but I'll be eating it through Sunday.  I can't freeze it so it's eat it from lunch and supper until it's gone.

Rogue Trail and Rice Pudding

Finally took spouse on the Rogue Trail today. We were going to hike up Pajarito Canyon to see some aspen colors and then down the Nail Trail to close the loop but at the trailhead, it appeared that the state highway workers were getting ready to re=stripe the newly resurfaced NM501.  We were afraid they'd overspray our car so we left to walk behind the Walkup Center swimming pool.

I told spouse that I thought the Rogue Trail, out and back from the Walkup Center, would only be 3 miles roundtrip.  The idea of a shorter hike appealed to him.  The Rogue Trail, built by a retired scientist, is an unsanctioned but well- built trail the width of a sidewalk that runs above the south side of Pueblo Canyon.  In places, if you fell, you'd have a long slide down into the canyon.  One hiker described it as vertigo-inducing.

Spouse doesn't like heights and, to boot, a thunderstorm was building and he doesn't like lightning so he  was very game to go along with me.  We turned around where the trail narrows to a single-track - that part scares even me!  It was lightly raining by then and unclear how bad the storm would be.

It may have been almost 4 miles round-trip by going back to the Walkup Center but instead, because of the rain, we short-cutted the hike by going up the old, dirt road (from the site of the former Peggy Sue Bridge) to the Jewish Center and walked Canyon Road back to our car.  I told spouse we would make that hike number one million in our rotation and thanked him for doing it with me.  For a long time, I've wanted him to see it.

This morning, I made another How it all Vegan inspired recipe - rice pudding but I didn't use soy milk and in addition to the vanilla extract and cinnamon, added cardamom and nutmeg.  The "milk" I used was the vanilla almond-date "milk" that I made yesterday. 

The rice pudding is so delicious that I have to restrain myself from gobbling it all up!  I'm amazed how sweet it tastes even though it's only sweetened with 4 medjool dates, the sweet spices and vanilla extract. 

I let spouse taste the pudding but he said it was too chewy.  He doesn't like brown rice but, really, it was the raisins that were chewy.  They softened more as the pudding cooled. Brown rice is not as fibrous as he thinks it is!