Illumination

Christmas songs are usually written about scenes with Rockwellian nostalgia. There's a certain image associated with this holiday that most of us are familiar with and many long for- trees, snow, sleds, mittens, garlands. I'm not sure what I expected this year, but being here in the American Southwest for the holidays has been a wonderful, and different, experience!

Last Saturday we joined the local Boy Scout troop to help set up for a tradition I'd never heard of. We helped set up over 6,000 luminaria at a local center for the arts called Tlaquepaque (tuh-lock-ay-pock-ay. It's a Mexican word that derives from Nahuatl and means "place above clay land".). Apparently this is a Christmas Eve tradition in Mexico and the American Southwest. People line their houses, driveways, and everything else with paper bags that have a little bit of sand in the bottom and tea lights placed on top. When everything is lit, it's breathtaking!

This is what it looked like when we were setting it up in the morning.

Tlaquepaque hosts an annual event called The Festival of Lights. Around 3pm people start to arrive, and as dusk approaches they all begin to light these luminaria. Not just a few designated people- everyone! The soft glow from the luminaria along the walkways gives way to the bright lighted stars and strings of lights overheard. Music from live musicians, bands, and choirs fills the alleyways and courtyards. Nativities and small displays are set up here and there. Shops are open. People are dancing and laughing. Warm cider is freely given out in paper cups. It's a feast for the senses and a festive gathering of community. It's different from what I'm used to (with our wind and rain, this would probably be a disaster!) but it embraces everything I imagine the Christmas spirit to be and it was a privilege to be able to participate in and witness it.

And this is what it looked like at night when everything was in full swing!

My oldest helped set up the cross! <3

This one is actually from the night before. The chapel was closed for the event. This man was the only one in the chapel playing Christmas songs on his guitar. The acoustics were magnificent and I could have listened to him all night!

The Boy Scout troop set up their own display. It was fun to see Santa in his tent. ;-)

We made the drive to Petrified Forest National Park  and the Painted Desert last week through old route 66. Of course, we had to spot a few fun landmarks...

The forest isn't covered in trees, like the name implies, but instead it looks closer to something you might see on another planet! In this landscape, trunks of trees litter the ground. They look like dead wood when you drive past them, but when you get closer, they are much, much more interesting!

Our younger two...

These trees were once floating in a swamp, where they absorbed minerals like silica. Over time the swamp dried up and these trees were petrified. They were transformed into stone and gems by the minerals. They may have been trees before, but now they are fascinatingly beautiful!!

The painted desert was no less amazing. To see all the colors and layers...well, I can see why there are so many artists here. It's inspiring! The various colors are due to the minerals in the rock layers.

This area is protected and is home to many fossils and dinosaur tracks, as well as petroglyphs left by people who have live here over it's long history. You can view them from several viewpoints. I'm happy to say that my husband brought my camera back after his last trip home, so I was able to use the zoom lens!! (HOORAY!!!)

We took our time and saw the Painted Desert Inn, which was built during the depression and furnished by local youth in the CCC Camps. Their masterful artwork is featured throughout the Inn, which is now a museum. I thought that was interesting because my husbands grandfather was also in a CCC camp in California during that time.

Oh! Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know that we finally saw a javelina! One trekked through our yard just a few days ago. It was about the size of our beagle. One more check off the list!

No! Not these ones!

This one!

Wishing you all a fantastic, non-harried week! And be sure to steer clear of the javelinas!

- Jen