Don Pasquale, the Lensic, and the Santa Fe Opera.

A good day for local elementary school and homeschooled kids. We took our ten-year-old daughter to see a sweet one-act version of Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Lensic Theater this morning, performed by the The Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Tour Singers. Originally meant by its composer as a mere trifle, the comedic opera's lightheartedness and gaiety seems perfect for kids.

The Santa Fe Opera does an extraordinary job of outreach to area elementary school kids and we often attend these events. The singers: soprano Martha Guth, tenor Aaron Blake, baritone David Giuliano, and bass Sam Handley, who was outstanding in the role of the Don.

As for the Lensic, it was built in 1931 by the Boller Brothers of Kansas City originally as a film and vaudeville palace. In 1999 the theater was completely renovated to both preserve its pseudo-Moorish, Spanish Renaissance style. The Lensic Performing Arts Center, as it is now called, seats 504 in the orchestra and 317 in the balcony. Lead photo of Lensic interior by Robert Reck. All others by moi.

We need more Western kitsch in Santa Fe.

Book covers with a little New Mexico twist.

Modern book cover art in the digital age rarely seems as happily cheesy as it once did (eg., see Matt Helm in New Mexico).

But on the other hand, now graphic design teams at publishing companies often just pick a relevant photo, bleed it to the edge of the cover, throw on text and title, and that's that. Sometimes that works. But my usual preference is artwork, cheesy or not. Here are some covers from the published work of my brother Daniel Lenihan, a talented Santa Fe author of both nonfiction and fiction, that I think manage to be modern and also engaging.

Forked Lightning Ranch...

...is comprised of 5,500 acres within the boundaries of Pecos National Historical Park and was built in 1925 by a rodeo producer, Tex Austin. Designed by John Gaw Meem, it was later owned by Buddy Fogelson and Greer Garson. When you visit PNHP, check out the ranch when you leave the main exit from the park by turning right and driving on that quiet road for about a mile, then look for it on your left.

Went for some fresh air at Pecos NM.

There was some Civil War action going on...

to commemorate the battle at Glorieta Pass.

Valverde 21 February, 1862
Glorieta 28 March, 1862

"Civil War battles occurred in New Mexico that were little noted in the 'States' (New Mexico was then a Territory). In the view of many historians, however, these battles were important in preserving the Union because they ended the attempt by the Confederacy to capture the West (New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado), its people, and its vast resources. Two of these battles were at Valverde, about 29 miles south of Socorro, and at Glorieta, a few miles east of Santa Fe." From New Mexico in the Civil War
by Oliver James Stevens.

Santa Fe fire danger. Hi.

March 2006.

A long way home.

Early four-wheel drive: a covered wagon, with its faithful and stalwart team of horses, crosses a desert landscape. There's luggage tied to the back and wheel ruts on the ground.

sf wheel ruts
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

Because of the dry terrain in New Mexico, you can see wheel tracks that are 150 years old in many places. Some are near the old Santa Fe Trail (search this blog for 'Fort Union' for an example), and we have vestiges on our own property near town. Photo by H.S. Poley, ca. 1900, Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library P-1014.

Palace of the Governors, 1899...

...before the 'Santa Fe Style' brigade got hold of it in the first half of the 20th century. The view faces northeast on the corner of Palace and Lincoln Avenues. Taken at a time where Everyone Wore a Hat.

Because the Palace had not yet been restored (for later pics than this, search 'palace of the governors' in this blog) it still has an ornate railing along the perimeter of the flat roof. Photo by Horace S. Poley. Denver Public Library, Call Number: P-2075

Sunset from interstate, near Pecos.

Clouds driving home through Pecos.
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

Rociada rivulet.

Rociada rivulet.
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

Brown field, green line of trees...

Hill view from Rociada.
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

blue mountain, gray sky.

We prefer driving. However...

....if for some inexplicable reason you ever decide to fly away from Santa Fe, you might first want to check the qualifications of the person piloting your plane. It's also advisable to check your distances beforehand--for instance, the mileage between Santa Fe and Lhasa, Tibet, China, as the crow flies is: 7799 miles (12551 km) (6777 nautical miles). This will help you determine how many hazmat suits and kegs of antiseptic hand wash to pack.

Are cellphones safe to use on board an airplane? How about PDAs, laptops, DVD players, and game machines? Research indicates that anything from WiFi to handheld games can interrupt the normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Two NASA studies support the idea that passengers' electronic devices produce dangerous interference that reduces safety margins for critical avionics systems. (Are there any avionics systems that are NOT critical?)

How do you like the idea of the dopey teenager sitting next to you messing with piloting instruments? Have a nice flight!

Snow blowing against our adobe wall.

March 12, 2006...it has snown!

Goldlight.

Goldlight.
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

Goldlight 2.
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

What is this?

The Santa Fe sky is confused by strong winds and no rain, snow, moisture of any kind for months.

What is this?
Originally uploaded by mdboxer.

Tedo pasa en este mundo....

Where's our water? Santa Fe is in the throes of the driest winter since the late 1800s. The guy on the left is a relatively lucky fellow.

Of course, even in 1937 people were bemoaning the disappearance of water:

"Oh then we had all the water we wanted. Now the water company has all the water, which used to belong to us. You would not believe it but this dry river bed used to have willows growing along its banks from Santa Fe to Clenega. We had good ditches to carry water to all these lands. We raised much corn and wheat. Oh we lived well then, from the land but now that in all past. Only if God to willing to send us raid do we raise anything now. 'Tedo pasa en este mundo.' Everything passes in this world. Aug 11 [1937?], Lorin W. Brown, informant Nicolas Lopez of Agua Fria. Library of Congress collection.

Photo by Arthur Rothstein. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection (LC-USF34-002291-E DLC).

The New Mexico water resources site (Regents of New Mexico State University), provides an excellent homeschooling framework and local context for New Mexico history.

Our town, 1882.

Bird's eye view of the city of Santa Fé, 1882. Drawn by H. Wellge. Beck & Pauli, lithographers. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. G4324.S3A3

Santa Fe sunsets flare up as spring approaches.

"Sunsets are quite old fashioned.... To admire them is a distinct sign
of provincialism of temperament."
--Oscar Wilde