TENT ROCKS NATIONAL PARK

A short drive north from Placitas is Tent Rocks National Park – another glorious place to visit here. If you love to hike, you’ll love this area. There are 2 hiking trails – one difficult about 1.9 miles uphill with tight spaces between large rock formations, the other a relatively easy 1.2 miles that loops back to the parking area. We encountered several folks on the trail along the way and many ooh’s and ahh’s were heard during the hike. If you head that way, don’t forget to bring water since there is none available at Tent Rocks. The entrance fee to the park is $5 per car.
~Lynn Koch, CRS, Associate Broker

We awoke one morning to find this incredibly intricate nest made from yucca strands on our back patio. Apparently the nest was blown down by the wind. My husband very carefully nailed it to a post among our Virginia creeper vines. A couple of weeks later we heard this chatter to find the Scott’s Orioles had laid eggs and these are two of the baby birds anxiously waiting for food. We watched these babies grow and slowly begin to spread their wings till they were strong enough to fly away.

~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

Michael Prokos bowl with sunflower

Isn't this a lovely bowl!

~Lucy Noyes, Associate Broker

Cabezon Cows

Growing up in Chicago and being quite the “city girl” before moving to New Mexico in 1997 a scene like this one would have only been seen in a movie! The location is near Cabezon peak, a volcanic plug created millions of years ago. It is about a 40 minute drive from our home in Placitas, shorter than my old trek to my office in downtown Chicago. It is truly one of the many magical places we visit frequently and often comment how New Mexico is like living in a geology exhibit. The cows even agreed to pose for us.
~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

From the kitchen table I am looking out to our little patch of grass (there are some things one just can’t give up!) and our old, tall pine tree which must have been planted the first week the original owners moved in over 45 years ago. Birds galore, and bees, hundreds of them…They have been living in one of our canales for several years and one summer found their way into the unused bedroom. What a surprise that was. Neither my husband nor I have ever been stung, and occasionally I wonder if the hummers ever get a sting, but in reality all species seem to tolerate the other. We keep thinking we will call a beekeeper whose name I have, but the summers go by and it just never happens. Maybe we keep hoping for honey!

My husband just came in, having interrupted the journey of a migrating tarantula, which he will relocate outside the front wall. He is encouraging me to come with him to our vegetable garden to harvest beets, beans, tomatoes, carrots, SQUASH – soon there will be melons of various kinds. Until next time, enjoy the rest of summer and the beginning of fall.

~Marilyn Wilkerson, GRI, Associate Broker

Friends of La Puerta at Placias Library Hoedown

~Photos by Lucy Noyes, Associate Broker

Courtyard at Sunrise

This is my favorite time of year. The garden is full of wonderful goodies to share with neighbors. The air is cooling off making for wonderful walks among the Juniper and Pinon trees. I relish sitting in my front courtyard watching the sun come up over the Village while listening to the multitude of birds greeting the day.
I plant me courtyard to produce waves of color each season, these are all low water use plants that go crazy this time of year when it cools down just a little. The grass is buffalo and gramma which use very little water. The colors are enhanced by the awesome glow of the sunrise. Thank you Mother Nature.

~Gail McGough-Maduena, GRI, Associate Broker

Bouncing Baby Girl!

The Rio Grande Zoo is pleased to announce the arrival of a beautiful baby Asian Elephant weighing in at a mere 318-pounds. The bouncing baby girl arrived on Wednesday morning 9/2/09 and is currently bonding with her mom, Rozie. Rozie was the first elephant born at the Rio Grande Zoo, and this new bouncing baby girl is the second. Rozie has been pregnant since November 2007, and has received excellent care during her 22-month pregnancy. Although Rozie and her baby are behind the scenes, spending some private time bonding, they'll be out and about in the elephant yard soon, so keep an eye on the @cabq Twitter account and the BioPark Facebook page for updates!
Lynn Koch, CRS (as read in CABQ.gov – the City of Albuquerque website).

Picking, squeezing grapes a family project.

Yes, grapes grow in New Mexico, and the end of August is a time of harvest.
In 1884 New Mexico was fifth in the nation in wine production with vineyards up and down the Rio Grande. Orchards and vineyards in Placitas date back over a thousand years and were watered by spring-fed irrigation systems still used today by Anasazi Fields Winery in the Village of Placitas. In the early days wine production in the lowlands was always affected by the constant flooding of the Rio Grande River. Prohibition in 1920 was the coup de grace to wine production for almost 50 years. Today, however, thanks to the work of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, which began in the 1920s to reclaim land for agriculture, river flooding has been controlled by1200 miles of ditches and canals, providing irrigation water for farmlands, open space, wildlife, and recreational opportunities. New Mexico is back in wine production with over 20 operating wineries. Labor Day weekend is celebrated in Bernalillo by a huge Wine Festival, attended by most of the wineries with wine for tasting and for sale. There will be music, local foods and art and all our neighbors clinking glasses and having fun.

~Lucy Noyes, CRB, CRS, Associate Broker

Everyone Matters in Placitas

Moving to a new place can be a life changing experience. Where can you go when people take the time to wave to you? When was the last time you had someone start up a friendly conversation O.K. fast forward please…

Paradise does exist here in Placitas. Yes, we have spectacular skies where you can see the stars. Nature appears supernatural, especially in the early whispers of the morning. Jackrabbits, cottontails, wild horses, and even an occasional bobcat seem pretty impressive at times. Placitians rarely complain about nature’s wonderful gifts.

Moving here was an astonishing experience and an easy transition to make. For starters, folks from all paths of life were welcoming, friendly and passionate about their community.

My new found friends wanted to share this ‘jewel’ of a community with us! They opened up their hearts and homes before we could even get unpacked.
A special thanks to all who live here. Your helpful insights, expertise, and knowledge came in handy. I have the utmost gratitude for folks who can take the time to make someone else matter. This is a great place to be and we’re proud of it.

~Pat Turner, Associate Broker