6 days and counting

I'm headed to New Mexico in 6 days to host friends for Balloon Fiesta.  I'm a bit giddy and people here in Portland Oregon don't really get it.  They say things like... "So you like it cause it's more sunny?  They have dust storms right?"  I don't go on and on about why I like it, cause I don't think you get it until you experience it.  Even those that have lived there might not get it.  If you focus on the dust.. yes - you might not like it.

So I can go on and on here.  I'm excited to feel the dry heat where I feel like I'm on spring break all the time.  I 'm excited to take a walk in my neighborhood and see 360 degree views that are amazing and such  a wonderful contrast of color.  I love the reddish soil against the bright blue skies.. or the purple and pink sunrise and sunsets.  That's the time I'll try to catch each day.  Love the sunsets.  First thing I do every morning - open the blinds and see what the sunrise is doing to everything.  Turns all the buildings a new color.  If it's a lucky day the neighbors horses are next to the fence waiting for me.

This trip is extra exciting as I've only been to New Mexico during the worse drought any locals can remember.  Now they are all saying - more rain than we can remember.  My builder thinks they got about 8 inches in two months at his house.   The data doesn't really support that, but they are almost back to a normal year with the rainfall they've gotten. I do know that my rain barrel has been overflowing, but that could have happened with just one big rain.

So before I left last time we went to an art show and one of the artist had painted the hillside near her home after a great monsoon season and the hill was covered in wildflowers and greenery.  I said at the time - "I'm going to live here until I get to see that."  Well - I  might be walking into that situation next week.  How fun is that.  Maybe there will be all kinds of new plants in my yard - dormant seeds popping up with all the rain.

The weather is looking perfect - sunny, not too hot, little wind and no rain in the 10 day forecast.  so excited!!!