Welcome to
Collectors Corner!
Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter
119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571
edsandovalart@gmail.com
(575) 770-6360
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The Most Boring Holiday Story Ever Told? |
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Winter in Los Alamos: Early 1950's |
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I want to tell a beautiful, inspiring tale of my holidays as a kid, but I can't really remember anything! It's odd that I see some events in my mind so clearly, but when it comes to holidays... not so much. Well, all my stories can't be riveting (or even good). LOL.
I'll start with the ONE interesting thing I remember. I've talked before about living in Los Alamos in the early 1950's, back when it was more of a military compound rather than a town. There was a guarded perimeter, complete with gun-bearing soldiers, and you couldn't enter or exit without going through the guard gates, giving them a pass and being cleared.
Our house had dark, heavy curtains, and every now and then we had to close them completely to block out the light coming from our home. At the time, I didn't know why, but looking back I'm sure it was to hide the town from a possible air attack.
So you can imagine what holidays were like. Family that wanted to visit had to apply a month in advance to be checked and receive a pass. We had relatives visit, but not often. Mostly it was just our family.
Nothing else stands out. Of course we went to mass on Christmas Eve (mom was VERY Catholic), and the next morning each kid had maybe two presents to open. They were practical (gloves, socks, etc.), so we never got that excited. I can only remember two gifts over the years: a cowboy hat and cap gun when I was really little and a bicycle around 5th grade.
Of course Christmas is about more than gifts. Like most families, ours didn't have much money. We cut down a tree and strung popcorn as garland, and the ornaments were handmade too. We hung socks by the fire, which were usually filled with apples and candy canes (no liquor - ha ha).
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I don't even have any pictures of holidays as a kid. I do have a few from the 60's and 70's when we celebrated at our house in Nambe, but nothing from my early Los Alamos years. |
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Dad, Pita (Sister), Mom & Me at Thanksgiving |
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Gwen tried to prompt my memory by pouring some wine (I think better with a few glasses of wine) and asking a thousand questions. Didn't help. No....nothing interesting. I asked, "Well, do YOU remember anything?" She blinked and started talking a mile a minute:
- "Off the top of my head, there was the year mom about had a mental breakdown because the grandparents bought us prototype gasoline-powered pogo sticks that bounced us way up in the air above the cement sidewalk, and she had visions of exploding gas tanks, broken bones, third-degree burns and cracked skulls while running around screaming at us to be careful.
- Then there was the year dad cut down a huge cedar tree in the horse pasture, but it was so big that it kept tipping over the tree stand, so he got totally ticked off, took a bunch of long nails and hammered that tree into the living room floor, which made for a very prickly, dry tree since it didn't get a drop of water all season.
- Then of course the year mom thought it would be a great idea to adorn the tree with homemade sugar cookies, so we hung dozens of cute, frosted, decorated cookies, but after a week they were lopsided and all of the backs had been eaten completely out because of course the mice (we lived in the country on a farm after all) climbed up the tree and had a nightly party gnawing on them.
- And there were the MANY years where people would come wandering up the driveway nearly half-dead of hypothermia who had gotten stuck on our country mud roads, spent the night in their trucks and wandered to the closest house for miles and miles - so we gave them hot coffee and went to pull them out with the tractor."
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Wow! Seems like our holidays were pretty tame in comparison, but that did help me recall a few details. When it snowed (and we had a LOT back then, unlike now), we were outdoors skiing and sledding. In Los Alamos, we lived near Central Elementary School, and there was a big hill where the kids brought their sleds to have races.
Buddy Garcia and I bet on who could reach the bottom first, and we took off. Whee!!! Down down down we went, but after a few seconds I hit a patch of ice and skidded in front of Buddy. His sled ran right over my legs, which started bleeding....
I seem to have my legs run over a lot. If you missed that story about the car when I was six years old, click HERE.
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Me Getting Ready to Ski (Teenage Years?) |
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That's all I've got, folks! I even called my twin brother Danny, but he couldn't remember anything of note either. Anyway, I hope everyone has a lovely holiday and makes great memories. This year is one for the record books, and many of us won't see our loved ones. We feel the loss, but here at home we've been talking about it - "great" memories aren't just about exciting events, but also about the love we hold in our hearts for others. That said, I rather do wish I had a gas-powered pogo stick as a kid. :-)
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"Spa" the Backyard Hot Tub Bunny |
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We have a pet! This little guy showed up one day, and he wouldn't leave. We put out carrots for him, but I think the REAL reason he stays is he discovered the hot tub. He dug a hole under there and moved right in!
That's one smart bunny! His hole must be the warmest, toastiest, most comfy-cozy bunny abode in Taos County! As a result, we named him "Spa."
Spa is now a pet. He's pretty used to us by this point and doesn't run when we wander about getting firewood. We bought a bag of rabbit food and he loves it. I think he also feels safe from coyotes under there, and he sticks pretty close to the house. With all this warmth and food, he's getting fat!
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Favorite Places: Camping at Morphy Lake |
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Since we can't travel much, I'm doing a series about some of my favorite places. This month: Morphy Lake!
Heading to Mora and entering Ledoux, you'll turn right on Morphy Lake Road (which is very...rustic). This adorable lake near the Pecos Wilderness is my favorite camping spot. A hidden gem, it sits at nearly 8,000 feet in elevation and is surrounded by woodlands. So many families come to camp, fish and canoe - and the park rangers keep it extremely clean.
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My 1974 Dodge RV at Campsite |
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View Hiking around the Lake |
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Morphy Lake on a Stormy Day |
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Sadly, we haven't been able to camp there since 2017. In 2018, they drained the lake to make improvements to the dam, which took much longer than expected. Repairs continued through 2019 (boo!) but were finally completed at the end of the year. Yes! We were so excited to camp in the summer of 2020. Well...you know what I'm about to say... Covid hit and the park remains closed to this day. Maybe camping will be an option in 2021. |
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Featured Paintings
To inquire or request a high-resolution photo, contact 575-770-6360 or edsandovalart@gmail.com. For all available paintings, click HERE
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"To the Pueblo" (48 x 36) |
"Healing Tree of Life" (36 x 48) |
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"Through the Forest" (20 x 20) |
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Christmas Wassail
Now for a delicious party drink, but you might need to scale down the generous portions. This cocktail comes from the Vickery family, and they report that it is absolutely essential to have a bottle of brandy next the punch bowl to add the "holiday cheer."
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Christmas Eve Bonfires at the Taos Pueblo
Of all the holiday events that have been cancelled this year, I'll miss the bonfires the most. During this magical and spiritual evening, the Procession of the Virgin Mary files out of the church while rifle salutes ring through the cold winter air. Then the 30-to-40 foot bonfires are lit from the top down (there are about 15-20 of them made of pitch wood). The fires warm visitors as they celebrate next to the historic 1000-year-old adobe buildings.
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER? ALL PAST NEWSLETTERS HERE.
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Would you like to be a featured collector?
If so, please send your personal story and photo(s) to edsandovalart@gmail.com.
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Contact
Ed Sandoval Gallery
119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571
www.edsandovalgallery.com | (575) 770-6360 | edsandovalart@gmail.com
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