We just got back from several days at Ghost Ranch for Intermountain Yearly Meeting, the annual gathering of unprogrammed Friends from around the Four Corners states.
It was, as always, a restful and renewing experience. However, the weather was front and center this year, ranging in temperatures from the 90s down to maybe the 40s, with hard winds blowing dust around in the evening and smoke from a nearby forest fire several afternoons.
On the way down, we stopped again at Los Ojos, the community where the Tierra Wools weaving cooperative has been for 25 years. It's a beautiful setting.
Further south, in Tierra Amarilla, Lito's Ballroom evokes visions of Saturday night dances in years gone by.
Finally, what is more emblematic of Ghost Ranch than Chimney Rock? Nothing, apparently; all the cards with Chimney Rock sold in our display in the IMYM bookstore. We decided this year to take some of our keepsake cards with photos from past visits to put in the bookstore, plus a few matted prints. We were very pleased that others shared our joy of Ghost Ranch by buying 21 cards and one of the prints. Just as nice was the feedback we got from Friends who told us they enjoyed our photos.
The "campfire" sing-along moved into the Agape Center when there was a spate of rain, then back out into the courtyard when the rain stopped. 'Twas a lovely evening!
And then there was the fire ... the Red Fern Fire perhaps? It menaced us beyond the mesa, south of Pedernal, and then on Saturday afternoon the wind brought the smoke in to fill the valley and Ghost Ranch.
The commotion backed off a bit for the annual talent night. There were wonderful performances by musicians young and old, but my favorite was the skit by the OAFs ... Older Adult Friends. They did a great job of spoofing our generation.
This morning dawned clear, calm and cold. The sun's first rays lit up the old Ghost Ranch library. Later, we liked the clouds behind a sunlit butte in the Chromo area.
And it is SO nice to be about to go to sleep in our own bed again! TV
1 comment:
You HAVE been busy! The 6th photo reminds me of the Grand Escalante. Love those distant shots with the clouds. Looks like you had a great time!
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