Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Stay warm, y’all!
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
Today’s rain showers missed us by inches, but we did get a double rainbow out of the deal.
If you look closely, you can see the second rainbow – very faint – in the upper left of the picture:
Should I tell the neighbors, or just sneak over to dig up the pot o' gold from their yard?
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
We had an energetic thunderstorm this afternoon (August 19). When I walked out on my back porch to admire it, here’s what I saw:
I’d guess it was about half a mile to the north-north-west of us.
And then it got closer:
Mind you, here in Sandia Park (NM) we’re at almost 7,000 feet elevation. I didn’t think we got tornadoes … so what the heck is it?
A neighbor who is meteorologically sophisticated told me it was a downspout. According to the National Weather service, it was a funnel cloud. By definition, a funnel cloud isn’t a tornado unless it touches down and wreaks some havoc on the surface. I watched this one for 20 minutes or so and never saw it touch down.
This phenomenon was unusual enough to make our local news:
I didn’t realize that "tornadoes can and do occur at high elevations" - this summer, one was spotted at almost 12,000' in Colorado.
But they are rare - either because so few people live above 5,000' that the tornadoes that do occur aren’t seen and reported, or (according to MSNBC), because mountains like ours break up the large-scale weather systems that give rise most tornadoes ...
What a long, strange summer this has been!
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
Yes, we’ve listed our East Mountain “ranchito” for sale. And I know this will be somebody’s dream home, just like it was ours!
This is a custom 3 or 4 bedroom (2 masters, one up, one down), 3 bath, 2,520 sq ft Pueblo-style home on a 5-acre horse property … passive solar … part fenced pasture, part wooded with pinon and cedar.
We added 700 square feet to the existing home, including a ground level guest suite (or second master bedroom) …
and a home office/4thBR with floor-to-ceiling bookcases & captain's bed … Sliding French doors open to the back patio and deck.
The home is heated with in-floor radiant heat and a massive kiva fireplace with heat returns.
Thanks to the kiva, the open floor plan, and the passive solar orientation, our propane guy told us we had the lowest propane usage in the whole neighborhood.
We installed Saltillo tile throughout the downstairs, which looks great with the tongue & groove ceilings and Southwestern wood detailing.
Kitchen has granite counters and a fabulous 29-cubic-foot French door Samsung refrigerator that I’m crying to leave behind …
The garage is an oversized 2-car with custom storage cabinetry & a workshop.
The outbuildings (2 barns and 2 coops) have electricity, and there are 4 freeze-resistant pumps for irrigation (reduces your fire insurance, too). And the entire perimeter is “Invisible Fenced” for dogs.
Beautiful views of the Sandia Mountains and the Sedillo valley …
We’re asking $349,900 for our dream ranchito … you can see the Keller Williams listing with more pictures here http://bit.ly/McXiBH …. and take a virtual tour here http://www.pfretour.com/7921 !
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
We are hosting a one-day-only, everything-must-go, whole-house yard sale at 14 Digby Lane, Edgewood, New Mexico, this Saturday, February 18, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
And you're invited! Bring friends! ;) The current weather report says Saturday will be the prettiest sunny day of the week, and we believe it, ahahahaha.
This is a "whole house" yard sale, including items for every room. Here's just some of the stuff we've got for sale … click the linked items to see a full description on Craigslist Albuquerque:
· Oval dining room Table & 6 Windsor-back chairs Table $150, Chairs $40 each, or $300 for the whole set!
· 2 Kitchen Bar Stools Ready to paint or stain. $25 each or $40 for both.
· Upholstered Chairs
· Glider Rocker (needs repair) $30
· Full-size Futon couch
· Media Center & Cabinets Low media stand table $75, two cabinets $30 each, or $125 for all three
· Contemporary home office Desk, Chairs & File Credenza $100
· Dishes & Kitchen gear
· Men's & women's Jeans & Clothing
· Kids' stuff (clothes, toys, books, games & DVDs)
· Color TVs (not HD)
· Assorted Hand Tools,
· Universal Gym
· Large wooden Dog House
We hope you can stop by on Saturday to say "hello" ... and please feel free to forward this link to everyone you think might be interested!
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
Living in the near-wild as we do, backed up to the Sandia National Forest, we hear and sometimes see a lot of wildlife. Specifically, a lot of coyotes.
Our goal is to avoid conflict with these coyotes, and to protect our dogs. The foundation of our plan is to “know thy enemy”. So last week we purchased and installed a wildlife surveillance camera.
Here’s our first capture:
That’s right, it’s the infamous Wild Weimaraner. *sigh*
We’ve got lots more photos like this one of our dog … and several of our cars … and of us changing the storage card, etc.
It wasn’t until last night that we got this one:
Yep, that’s a coyote!
At the bottom of the frame you'll see that he cruised by last night about 11:30 pm - the camera automatically records the date, time, temperature and even the moon phase of each photo. (We love this camera: it’s a Primos TruthCam 46.)
But because the nighttime shots are infrared, the detail isn't great. I've edited the photo to brighten & sharpen it, but I still can't tell what he's got in his mouth - and not sure I want to know anyway - it looks like a femur!
Stay tuned for more as we catch them!
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Cream for Knitters
Sandia Park, NM
We’re always amused when Albuquerque TV reporters set up their cameras on Sedillo Hill – our highway exit – to report on snow storms. They’re always kitted out for an Everest ascent!
But of course we do get considerably more snow than down in Albuquerque. Here are the results of last night’s snowfall …
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Creator, Happy Hands Hand Creams for Fiber Artists
(Sedillo Hill), NM
Oh dear, never a dull moment up here in the East Mountains. I discovered this snake waiting for me at my back door this morning.
I didn't see it when I stepped out the door – it’s actually lying on the threshold of the full-length window NEXT to the door, thank goodness - but one of my dogs went into a whimpering, curtseying dance at the threshold and refused to go out.
Then I heard the rattle ... a sound I'd never heard before, but made my hair stand on end.
The dogs and I ran away; I came back with the camera.
I assume from the sound that this is a rattlesnake? It was about 2 feet long, but only an inch or so in diameter. I’m guessing from the size that if it’s a rattlesnake, it must be a young one.
The weird thing is, the head isn't as strongly wedge-shaped as other pit vipers I've seen (in Belize, not here). You can see its head better in this closer photo, taken from the safety of indoors:
Soooo … is there another kind of snake in New Mexico that makes a warning rattle? Did I actually hear a rattle, or was it just a hiss? It sounded like a rattle, according to my ancient rat brain.
If it is a juvenile rattlesnake, I’ve just read that they’re considered the most dangerous:
Rattlesnakes are born with fully functioning fangs capable of injecting venom and can regulate the amount of venom they inject when biting. Generally they deliver a full dose of venom to their prey, but may deliver less venom or none at all when biting defensively. A frightened or injured snake may not exercise such control. Young snakes are to be considered more dangerous, as they have less control over the amount of venom they inject. [1] A young rattlesnake will often simply inject all its venom, which might be a lethal dose, depending on the bitten animal.
(1) "Venomous Snakes". National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Topics. Centers for Disease Control.
Aaargh.
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Sandia Park, NM
UPDATE: Thanks to the friendly local folks on the Albuquerque City Data Forum, I now believe that this is NOT a rattlesnake, but a bullsnake, which resembles it.
Bullsnakes may vibrate tail when alarm, which may sound like a rattlesnake, also makes a hissing noise. However, they may from time to time get hit over the head with a hoe for doing too effective a job of acting like a rattlesnake.
I feel better already, especially since I didn’t kill it.
How amazing is this?
Ms. Harvey’s subject will be “Knit to Fit: Shaping Knitted Garments”.
Harvey’s design career has included periods as a head designer for a New Zealand magazine, writing and designing garments for publication, as lead designer for top fashion houses, and 14 years designing for her own successful retail outlet.
Her unique knitted designs highlight her devotion to the total design of a garment, from selecting the wool, hand-making buttons, subtle shaping and bias curves to complement the figure.
~ * ~
Our Sandia Stitch ‘n Time needlework group – not just for knitters, but also crochet-ers and cross-stitchers and needleworkers of all sorts - meets on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at the East Mountain Library, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled for May 9 and May 23. You can always find our latest schedule info on my website, LocalGringos.com, under the heading “kNitting kNews”.
Map of East Mountain Library location in Tijeras, NM:
For more information about other programs at the East Mountain Library (1 Old Tijeras Rd, Tijeras, NM 87059) in Tijeras, including hours and directions, call (505) 281-8508 or 311; TTY users call Relay NM or 711; or visit the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library website at www.cabq.gov/library.
Hope to see you there,
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Have you seen my “Second Story”?
Vintage Knitting & Fiber Arts Patterns
Today, unexpectedly, another spring snow storm!
It started snowing early this morning, pre-dawn in fact, so we scrambled to rearrange today’s plans.
As I write, the flakes are getting fatter and falling faster. Our cat Minnie is watching from her comfortable perch on the back of the couch.
Our satellite TV dish is already full of snow, so no reception, and I imagine the internet satellite dish will fill next. I could climb out the bathroom window again onto the roof to shovel it out … or – yawn! -- maybe not.
After all, we still have the Nintendo Wii!
Happy snowy day,
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Sandia Park, NM
I suspect that yesterday’s snowstorm may have been the last one of our winter up here in the Sandias, which makes me just a little sad.
I know grown-ups aren’t supposed to like snow. And sure, it can be a hassle when it goes on for days, or when you have to shovel it.
But this was my idea of the “perfect storm”.
(1.) It started stealthily, late in the night.
(2.) We awoke to find 6 inches on the ground, and more coming down.
That’s enough for us to cancel our appointments. The local schools and libraries closed.
(3.) It snowed steadily through lunchtime, long enough to remove any lingering doubts about calling it a “snow day”.
I’d made a pot of tortilla soup the night before, so we were well supplied.
Then we went out to play! The dogs’ favorite game is Snowball Catch.
(4.) The snow was thick, heavy, and wet: just right for snowballs and other constructions.
(5.) Then the skies cleared, and the sun came out.
(Knitters are SO cool.)
(6.) By dinnertime, it was almost all gone.
I’m glad I took the pictures, and the day off.
--MaggieBelize
Designer, kNotes for kNitters
Sandia Park, NM
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