Never mind, I'll do it now.

God knows, "I'll do it later" is always a dangerous thing to say.

Balloons and Moon over ABQ

(Way back in October)

A House with a Face in Cambridge, MA

(Slavs sang at a wedding in a cemetery there. That's right, a wedding in a cemetery)

The View from my backyard. In October.

(Now it is gray)

The view from the top of the Art and Architecture Building

(It is tall)

My halloween costume. I was an anteater.

(Yes, it is a lampshade.)

Preparing for the Oye show.

More to come!

News From Yale-landia

I know, I know, I'm a really delinquent blogger.

But this was too funny; I just had to post it.

This was the student reaction when an evangelist visited campus.

I think the photo speaks for itself.

(Photo by Daniel Carvalho)

I will post more pictures of life in general soon, I promise.

Fun Fact of the Day

New Haven receives more rain than Seattle or London!

New Haven: 48 in/year

Seattle: 37 in/year

London: 22 in/year

Santa Fe: 14 in/year.

Yee-haw.

Where've I been?

Oh, delinquent blogger that I am...

Here's where I've been:

Camping on the Chama

In beautiful Abiquiu

In Sunsetlandia

(yes, it is real)

In Moonpielandia

(AKA Embudo, NM)

With my lovely mum.

But that was in August! In the summertime! Heavens!

Now I am here--school, that is. What's it looking like this year?

Well, the farm is lovely.

And, I live in a HOUSE this year--thank God--which means I get to do things like... cook. And sit in my backyard and read when the weather is nice.

Autumn is here, as this little tree will tell you:

I actually LIKE my classes this semester--what a luxury! I'm taking a class called "Wilderness in the North American Imagination," and one called Political Ecology. I'm also taking the famous New York Mambo, about the African origins of, well, pretty much everything, but mostly popular art and music. My classes are making me question my own thinking, which is a good thing.

Meanwhile, I went home last weekend to see Graham, and my family. We went up to see my mom at Ghost Ranch, where it is always beautiful.

Graham and my mom walking at Ghost Ranch

We went to the farmers market on Saturday where, as far as I'm concerned, it's also always beautiful.

Colored corn--oh sweet New Mexico of my soul.

And up to the ski basin, where it's AMAZING at this time of year.

And so... I am well. I took my last midterm for the time being today. Slavs have a concert tomorrow. It is autumn. It is time to breath deeply--how easily we forget.

Good Things to Eat

Cherry Cobbler

Cherry Jam

Yum. 

Good Things to See

Ghost Ranch

Ghost Ranch again

Pojoaque Sunset

A goat

Sunsets

Definitive New Mexico sunsets. These are the things we pine for. 

Foodstuffs

Being at home means I can bake, cook, and eat lovely things. Such as:

Granola

Cherries from my father's tree

Well Water--A simple pleasure. 

MORE Irises

I can't help myself. They are too beautiful not to photograph. 

Irises!

When I arrived at home it was full-blow iris time. These are my absolute favorite flowers! They are purple, they smell fantastic, and they bloom around my birthday, which makes them perfect, in my book. 

Enjoy!

Flashback I

Well, now that exams are over, and I have a life once again, I can get to some unfortunately neglected but very cool things that have happened of late. Like Frank Pepe's. 

Frank Pepe's is "the best pizza in New Haven." It's REALLY famous, in the pizza world. It was featured in a pizza cookbook I got for my birthday years ago. But I had never been. So, when my mom was here for Easter (A full month ago, almost),  we had dinner there.

 

We walked down to Wooster Street, across State Street and the train tracks, the "Little Italy" of New Haven. As promised, the line was was out the door--and down the sidewalk. The man in line ahead of us was a retired Yale Med professor. He verified that it was, indeed, the best pizza in New Haven. 

Despite the line, we managed to get in in about 10 minutes. Over the kitchen hung a neon sign: "The Original Tomato Pie." They sat us in a big booth in the very back of the restaurant, by a window. The wall was lined with neatly framed photos of the original Frank Pepe. From the simple menu--they only do pizza--we ordered a tomato pie, half pepperoni and garlic (whole cloves!), half veggie. They served us water in small glasses, and left the pitcher on our table. They are all about efficiency. 

The pizza was brought out on a big metal tray, with two plates and a pile of napkins--necessary. It was good. Really good. 

But of course more than we could eat (The table next to us, four kids, demolished four--count 'em, four.) 

Was it better than Yale Farm pizza? Well... I'm inclined to say no, but it's apples and oranges, really. Definitely deserving of the fame, no doubt. And a great experience. The Pepe's experience. 

Community Gardens in Santa Fe

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Food-gardens-to-take-root-in-city-parks

Check out the article in today's New Mexican, and get involved. I want to!

New Leaves

The rain brings in something new, 

it whispers summer

Tells you you’re making good time.

Rushing down the hill, air sweet

And full of pending nectar.

In the street, pink petals strewn

Like sunlight through leaves.

It has become all right to go without an umbrella.

This is the kind of rain you dance in.

 

Now is the tome to dance and sleep soundly,

To sit in the sun,

To finally stop waiting. 

Well, it's that time of year again...

Exam time. The library will be open 24 hours a day for the remainder of reading week. Scary. I am so close to being done, and yet can't quite even think of how wonderful that is, because of all that has to get done before then. I've already handed in one 10-page paper, and I'm about to hand in another 12-pager. Then, I have two exams on Thursday, and a take-home exam due that same day. I just have to keep telling myself, Yes, Yes, Yes, I can. I can get this all done in a good way. 

If it's any comfort, I know plenty of people who have far more to do. Hmm... Not really a comfort at all. 

Meanwhile, it's May! Trees have leaves again. Squirrels are frolicking in the tree outside my window, which is adorned with bubblegum-pink flowers. I will be home in 6 days. Inconceivable!

And  Fantastic. 

A portrait of the artist as herself

Tuesday afternoon, 8o degrees, gorgeous. I can still pretend that I don't have to do work. I head up to the new Environmental Studies building, LEED Platinum certified, to have my advising sheet signed, since I am now officially an Environmental Studies major. 

I bike up the hill, wearing chacos and rolled-up jeans, my hair in a braid, a green woven Peruvian bag aver my shoulder. My earrings are made of beans. 

If it dresses like an EVST major, and it smells like an EVST major, and pedals like one... Alright, God. I accept. I accept that I was destined to become this. Almost comically so. Onward!

 

Awesome

A portable hammock!

Way to go, kid. When we get nice weather, don't say we don't appreciate it. 

Now, where can I get one of these?

Meanwhile... RIP Hard drive

Yes, folks, my hard drive has met its untimely end, and with my photos, music, documents, etc. Lesson learned: back everything up ALWAYS. This was two weeks ago, and I got a new HD, which is up and running, but I can only hope that at some point I'll be able to salvage all of my information. Professional recovery services start at $500. No thanks. 

My mother was visiting the weekend it died, luckily, so I was able to borrow her computer, and get an extension for the paper that was lost... I've got an external HD coming in the mail... Know I know. 

Don't let it happen to you. 

Dear Weather part II

Dear Weather, 

Thank you. 76 degrees by 10:30 this morning seems like heaven right now. Trees are leafing out, providing real shade again. I am going to sit outside until I am brown again--my legs have been too long in jeans. Girls ride by on cruiser bikes, skirts fluttering. Everyone is in flip flops. Shade feels good now. The breeze feels good. Classes are over, and for today we can pretend that means work is done, too. In two weeks I'll be home. I am rebuilding melanin in preparation. If I were a horse, I would eat the dandelions blooming. Thank you. 

Dear Weather

Dear Weather,

I am not sure if you have noticed, but today is April 6. This means that it is officially springtime. As such, I am asking that you be nice to us. We have waited a long time for this. We have been pining. We are wearing sandals and shorts in the hope that you will notice, and take pity on us. Flowers are blooming despite the weeks projected high of 54. Easter is nearly upon us. So, please, Weather, we entreat you--help us out a bit; do your part. Be sunny. Be warm. Be Spring. 

 

Be Spring

Thanks.