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Water Canyon

so today i went to Water Canyon with two friends to search for walnuts.   it was to be a nearby foray before heading out on a much longer trip to Nogal.   what we found was

BEAUTY

but no nuts.  no walnuts, no acorns, no pinion.  and at the end of the time, lucked out by the guy from the Forestry driving through who verified this.  no nuts in New Mex.  he was confident there would be none in Nogal either.  the severe winter temps and then the hard long spring and early summer…actually till just last week's rains;  hard on the trees.               OK.   maybe next year.

but  what there Was, was sheer stunning beauty.  the rains of these last few day causing the arroyos to run, causing so many small elegant streams with surprising little pools of water.  causing mosses and lichen, just SO many native grasses.   lizards,  yearling horntoads.  and

birds

i thought about why it is i don't go up there more often and could not find an answer.  it's about a half hour away, up the mountain toward Magdalena.  and although Mike and Thelma are great,  there is conversation.  there is compromise movement.  i am better at slow going, at sitting long times, watching, listening.  so…here is what i saw today.  i will go again, in just a few days, take the dog and see more.  but today has fed me.  fed my heart and spirit.  i want more.

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28 responses to “Water Canyon”

  1. jacky Avatar
    jacky

    Beautiful, nature after that little bit of rain….so nice to take it slowly, take it all in. I am sure you and your dog will enjoy the quiet and contemplation.
    I love that last photo of the rock formation…all so beautiful, so peaceful.
    Jacky xox

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  2. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Jacky…i know you have these rock formations similar
    in Australia..i will take more pics when i go again.
    they are so ancient they seem to speak. they
    quiet me. yes. me and the dog.

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  3. margaret johnson Avatar
    margaret johnson

    Hi Grace, what a beautifully rugged landscape. I particularly liked all the colours in pic 2, of the gravelly stones, and the luscious rock formation in pic 3. I too love to wonder slowly and sit quietly when in the bush, soaking up the atmosphere of the surroundings, it makes me dizzy with JOY. Isn’t it great to be alive!!! Marg. ox

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  4. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Marg………yes. yes it IS. and it is so so so
    unbelievably
    simple.
    how long has that canyon been there??????
    as it is……..just taking it as it comes.
    “dizzy with JOY”………..yup. dizzy with Joy.
    love to u

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  5. nance Avatar
    nance

    the rock wall has rounded rocks… from the water… even though here( the inspiration photos on my blog) the rocks were not rounded as much..if any. same color though. or close… photography being what it is.

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  6. handstories Avatar
    handstories

    i am noticing the many colors of the pebbles, and the lightness of the greens and the very cool crags in the rocks. happy you had such a day and will go back for more.

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  7. Eva Ucgatwork Avatar
    Eva Ucgatwork

    Hi Grace,
    Those pictures are really beautiful -they generate an impromptu desire to hop on a plane. I love the canyons of the Southwest and we enjoy hiking tremendously. Thanks for the pictures – as I have to leave for work in an hour or so…they will stay with me and brighten up the day (which is going to be a long and tedious one…)
    Those photos make me think of another travel destination:
    We are planning to go to California. Flying into SFO – North CA or south CA??? Any suggestions?
    Enjoy the day…although I think one might say “Have a good night’s sleep” at this time of the day,
    eva

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  8. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Grace- So so so beautiful.
    That first photo…my first thought was “Oh I bet it smelled So Great!!!” I love the smell of the high desert. And that red leaf popping out among the colorful pebbles, gorgeous.
    Oh and that rock wall with all of the variations on color, texture, edges and shape…wonderful 🙂

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  9. KaiteM. Avatar
    KaiteM.

    oh grace i’m so with you there, i’d want to explore it alone and just sit, and watch and listen. i wouldn’t even take the dog, just myself. it looks very beautiful.

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  10. jude Avatar
    jude

    everything seems so crisp and clear. and the sense of another more liquid time in those rock formations.

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  11. Els Avatar
    Els

    Beautiful photos Grace (no “desert”) Sorry there were no acorns or nuts ….
    These locust pods: can you dye with them? (or are they poisenous?)

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  12. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    it’s interesting to see these pics here this morning.
    it really is a totally different world there. and how
    you can leave one kind of world and enter another by just driving UP for a half hour.
    when i first moved to New Mex it was my dream, intention,
    actually, to live in the mountains like this.
    it didn’t work that way and over time, i have thought that
    maybe, really, mountains are places to go to.
    from
    where you live your day to day.
    i think when i go this next time, if i finish the Wendy
    cloth, i will make a really small fragment cloth and stitch it to something there. there are endless tangles of exposed root of all kinds. maybe to one of those.
    maybe to show that place who i am becoming now. an
    update of sorts.

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  13. nance Avatar
    nance

    similar to what acey does. mapping messages.

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  14. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    maybe…but it will be so small, very close to invisible.
    i am sure will be gone by winter.

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  15. Valerianna Avatar
    Valerianna

    Beautiful. And I know what it is like to go “on a walk” with folks… my idea of a walk might not get me as far as others, but I surely SEE and FEEL and KNOW more of the place through looking, listening, being. But it can certainly be a challenge to be this way on an outing with others….

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  16. Tammy Avatar
    Tammy

    Grace, so glad to hear that you went to another place that will give you some food for thought and quiet stillness. I am often drawn to roots and rocks. They always remind me of the edges of things. Sorry to hear that you could not find walnuts. I have three huge bags that a dance friend brought to me. I would be happy to ship some to you if you like. They are a different shape from the walnuts on my trees .. so I’m anxious to see how they will develop. Just let me know and they will be on their way! 🙂 and your comment on my blog .. did I add anything? The answer is no .. everything there was there all along. It was a long post however.. there is so much going on in my world right now that I don’t seem to find time to do as much stitching as I’d like… i’m hoping that will change soon. My daughter and son are about to make me a grandma for the fifth and sixth time… so lots going on. :)Much goodness to you!

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  17. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i thought about this…rounded by water…i think these
    are rounded by Wind. really. i have seen this on the
    rocks here, that i have brought to this Place. Wind
    changes them. i think it’s Wind.

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  18. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    cindy…will report on the “more”.

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  19. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Eva, i know very little about California. really, only
    pretty much what my daughter and i have found out in her
    investigating her move. that would be N. Cal even tho
    that’s not where she is yet. but parts of Northern Cal
    are very similar to here….

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  20. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    red leaf of Mountain Oak

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  21. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    yes. the dog and i are a lot alike. she will keep herself
    busy with her nose. she’s quiet.

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  22. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i commented about these already…???? will wait a while
    to see if it’s just slow coming through……

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  23. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    yes. a fact of life for me. i always kind of want to
    share, but really, what i want to share is actually not
    possible.

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  24. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Tammy…i really thought you had added some photographs!
    it “moves” each time i look……….?! wonderful.
    thank you so much about walnut offer but i’m trying to
    stay “local”. will just wait and see what next year
    might bring. back in Michigan, walnuts are the bain of
    everyone’s existence. i’ve had offers from there too.
    oh well……
    blessings on the babies coming and those who receive them
    and i will look forward to you stitching again…
    love

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  25. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Have you shown this cloth for Wendy? Wondering.

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  26. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i’m not sure. i think so but i am too tired in this moment
    to go look. i think i did?
    BUT
    i just finished the last of the kantha borders. DONE.
    there will be just two birds. i don’t know why. i’d
    thought about making many. Not.
    so..ok. two birds. and as i have been stitching stitching
    stitching, i have “entertained” lots of thoughts about
    What Else i can put on this cloth, but i think, and we’ll
    see what tomorrow brings, but i think that once again it
    will remain very plain.
    there is a really really good feeling to this one. i
    honestly don’t know much about it. as in
    know
    but it FEELS really good. they, the kids, will fill in
    all the spaces with their own experience. They are
    magic at that.

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  27. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    second response…yes, i did, partially…in the
    Wish You Were Here post…a couple back, few? anyway,
    yes

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  28. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Jeez Nancy…of course she did…the Big Circle…remember???!!!
    Funny the way the mind forgets…or remembers…or forgets to remember! Ha. Thanks for reminding me 🙂

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