Today's post hails from Quemado, New Mexico, 45 miles from
the Arizona border. While I am in San Francisco visiting family, I asked Lisa Blessing, whom I have known forever (since 2nd grade), to be my guest blogger. Lisa and "her cowboy" Ken Zimmer live on 240 acres seven miles from the tiny hamlet of Quemado. From the time we were young girls Lisa has always managed to be around horses. She was riding Western when the rest of our little band of friends were learning to ride horses on English saddles. After many years in Seattle working for Apple and bringing up her son Craig, she met Ken and moved to eastern Washington to raise Rocky Mountain horses. After too many close-calls with wildfires, the pair moved with their horses to the ranch in New Mexico. This letter and accompanying photos describe in part what the ongoing drought out west has meant to those living near the Rio Grande.
Lisa in her own words: "When
I worked at Apple they had a slogan, 'The journey is the reward.' I’m
sure it was appropriated from somewhere else and I think it was all
about why at that time there was no 401K program there. Nevertheless,
this part of my life is a journey I did not anticipate and it is
rewarding in many ways.
Some locals trace their ancestors back to the days when this area was under the flag of Spain. This is still ranching country and it is common to go
to one of our two cafes and find a pickup pulling a large stock trailer
with saddled horses parked in front, guarded by cattle dogs either
loose in the pickup bed or lying in the shade by the trailer. Inside,
the booted and spurred cowboys are chowing down on green chile
cheeseburgers, stained hats pushed back, worn leather chinks protecting
their jeans. After lunch and local gossip, it’s on to the next section
of land to ride fence line and check cattle. It’s very hard work for
little pay and they ride rain or shine.
The
semi idled in at dawn last week, before the monsoon mists had burned
off. Another semi is coming in on Monday, this one from the Arizona
basin, our third load in as many months. The multi- year drought in the
southwest has made prices soar as well as supply scarce, so you grit your
teeth and feel grateful that you can get it at all, stocking up when
something purporting to be a deal is available. The Rio Grande is so
low that the state of New Mexico has shut off water to all the crop
growers in the southern part of the state which isn’t making the chile
and pecan growers any happier than the hay men.
The 2 men unloaded and stacked 22 TONs of hay in just a few hours.
Albonso, the fellow in the cranberry shirt on the ground, is 65 years
old and does this all day every day. Something to do with eating green
chiles for breakfast.
The broker/driver James in the checked shirt has
been doing this since he was in high school and is now able to see that
his son doesn’t spend his life doing likewise. His son started dental
school at Creighton University this month and James is justifiably
proud.
The horses were most excited about their new groceries. I suspect word
will soon be out in the elk population too, not a good thing, massive
opportunists that they are. At least the antelope are indifferent."
Thanks to Lisa for sharing this fascinating account of her life in New Mexico. I hope my readers enjoy reading this as much as I did. Another guest spot someday?
Thank you Lyda. I think I can persuade Lisa to send another report sometime soon. Love learning about everyday life in such a different environment. Turning on the sprinkler seems like a real luxury doesn’t it?
Nicki & Lisa
I just love this post! It is so far away from what I do day to day. It gives me perspective on all of the things iI think are so urgent. Thanks for sharing!
Lyda