Lesley Land

TAOS — Josh Brinkley and Daniel Lucero went hunting for elk over the Labor Day weekend in rugged terrain northwest of Taos. They encountered, instead, something so strange they don’t know what to call it. Continue reading

  A few weeks back I saw cute obsidian aliens like Pablo on one of those overpriced new agey sites. They wanted $45 dollars, plus shipping! I didn't like it that much so I checked Etsy and found I could get the exact same one from China for under $20 including shipping. He arrived today! I was sitting outside and enjoying rubbing his smooth cool head, not really thinking of anything and all of the sudden the name Pablo popped into my mind! I just assumed he was telling me his name. I would expect a Chinese name, but no that is what came into my head and it was pronounced correctly. Right now I am planning on keeping Pablo next to my bed, which may or may not be a good idea. I wait to see if he has anything else to say!  Addendum: I looked up the meaning of the name Pablo and it was "small and humble." As you can see he is quite small. 

  We've had a lot of rain over the last week. Yesterday it finally was clear and I walked around the yard to check stuff out. I came across the above sprouts. What was strange about it was not just that it is sort of a circle, but there was a mound of dirt in the middle that the plants were growing around. This one was right on a clear path with no other plants growing on it and I have no idea where the mound of dirt came from. Also, the plants look nothing like anything else sprouting on our property. There are plenty of weeds sprouting right now, but I am familiar with all our normal weeds and those don't look like any of them. Walking on about 12 feet I came across another one!  Again, I know it is hard to tell from the photos, but a mound of dirt in the center with the plants growing around it. Then about 20 feet away I came across a third one. Another mound and these ones are actually growing on stone steps, although, there is dirt that has blown onto them, but not sure h...

  I actually started my garden nearly a month ago planting seedlings. Of course, I have to buy plants too because I don't have the patience to grow everything from seeds. Above is a strawberry plant I found that has the cutest pink flowers!  I am growing a few plants this year that I have never grown before. Onions, cantaloupe, pumpkins, bok choy and a plant I happened across called pineapple ground cherries. I didn't know what that was when I bought it, but after looking it up online I went back and bought another because it sounds delicious!  Both are doing well and already have lots of berry pods!  Of course, as always lots of peppers. Although, no bell peppers this year they just never yield much for me. Also, no NM green chile because it is so plentiful at the stores during harvest time and I can buy it already roasted. It is just too hot to roast my own chile in August! This year is cayenne, jalapeno and serrano peppers. I am looking forward to making tabasco s...

 Unlike last year which was hot and sunny, this year Ostara was cloudy, but at 60 degrees not cold. I set up my altar around noon with plans to leave it until around 4pm when the wind was supposed to start. I had planned to have high tea out there around 3pm and even baked a blood orange cake for it yesterday. As almost always my weather app lied and the wind started around 2. At about 2:30 the goddess apparently decided her visit was over and sent a gust which toppled 2 of my stone eggs and my copper bowl and sent them rolling off the table! The eggs and bowl were unharmed and I had planned to scatter the flowers anyway, so it sort of all worked out. I don't follow any set ritual. All my rituals are what I find intuitve to myself. This altar was pretty much the same as last year because that one seemed to work well!  I use the copper crystal pyramid in the center of almost every altar I make. It is one of my favorite pieces. For years before I got it I had a spiral copper pen...

 I am having a hard time waiting for Spring even though I am sure it must be near!  I miss my garden! I already ordered a bunch of seeds in anticipation! Also, I had so many good ideas for craft projects over the cold months that I want to try, but since I like doing my projects outside I am waiting a bit!  It is good to have something to look forward to!