Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Boy

Just sharing this little wonder with everyone! His name is Rhett Hamilton Lindley, and he’s a little more than 5 weeks old. He was born 11/3/11 to my dear stepdaughter Rachel and her husband Chase. Jeff and I are planning to visit them and meet him before the new year gets too old. He’s just the cutest little guy!

Marfa 5.0

Gosh, it's been more than a month since I promised to write more frequently--alas! I will try to do better in the future! And I know I also promised a little post on Mifune and her ongoing battle with the Ugly Dolls, but that will have to wait. First, I'd like to bring you up-to-date on our latest foray into far west Texas--our fifth trip to Marfa.

As we traveled the now-familiar route from El Paso to Marfa, it dawned on us that we knew a lot of the landmarks... more than we would have expected! For example, I knew within two minutes prior to seeing the sign that we were approaching the immigration checkpoint near Sierra Blanca, and I even made a comment to Jeff along those lines. Then voila! There it was. And this time, for the first time, we were actually questioned as opposed to waved through--of course, this time I could not figure out how to lower the windows on the rental car... sheesh. But they bought our story that we were American citizens (heh), and on we went. Anyway, the landmarks kept coming: the pecan orchard that signaled we were getting close to the ruins of Lobo (a town sold and bought on ebay), the famous Prada Marfa installation north of Valentine, Valentine itself, the drug blimp... and then Marfa, where we checked into our usual digs at the Hotel el Paisano

and headed to Maiya's for a lovely dinner with Rachel and Chase. We ended the evening at the town's new watering hole (well, new to us since the last time we were in town), Padre's. Good bar--lots of room indoors and out, plus game tables, a great jukebox, and live music on many occasions.

Our stay in Marfa reinforced our opinion that it is a charmed place. Our adventures this visit included a jovial cocktail party thrown by the brothers who host the book review program on Marfa Public Radio. It was great to find yet more kindred spirits in the Chihuahuan Desert. We had excellent meals, both out on the town (or should I say "towns," as we fine dined in both Marfa and Alpine) and prepared by Rachel and Chase. They are good vegan cooks, and quite a few of the dishes they prepared were right out of their own garden. There are a number of good breakfast places in town, from the basic bacon and eggs and migas (including the superlative pecan waffles at the Austin Street Cafe,) but we really loved the breakfast at Cochineal, a restaurant that has opened since our last visit.



We witnessed several storms making their way across the vast expanse of desert toward and over the mountains,

but no rain fell on Marfa while we were there.



We went to Ft. Davis, where we browsed a used bookstore,


hunted treasure at an antique mall,


and observed this little guy, a street-wise horned lizard.



We drove a bit farther to Balmorhea, a town with a very productive spring that feeds the local state park swimming pool, and the run-off from the spring gathers in one of the most unexpected land- (or should I say water-) scapes in west Texas: Lake Balmorhea.


The town itself, although Rachel and Chase say they love the place and want to buy a vacation home there, is--to be most charitable--a diamond in the rough.


Seen better days, if you know what I mean. And this was downright scary:



Back in Marfa, we had great milkshakes at the laundromat/ice cream stand. On Saturday night, we attended a reading by Ibrahim Muhawi at the Marfa Book Company, followed by a wind orchestra and choral concert--a benefit for Marfa Public Radio--at the local auditorium, followed by a launch party at Padres to celebrate the release of local artist, musician, and Food Shark maven Adam Bork. Somehow in the midst of all that, we managed to grab dinner at Cochineal... whew! I got pulled over by a cop in Alpine for exceeding the speed limit (got off with a warning--thanks, officer!), and that same night, I saw a meteor streak turquoise and gold across the broad western sky.

During almost every one of our sojourns in Marfa, either Jeff or I comment that we could live in that little town. After all, the more we visit, the more people we get to know--and they remember us when we return... But that comment is always the cue for the other of us to say "What? Are you kidding? It's TEXAS, fergodsake!" This time, the comment came when we were walking up Highland, facing the courthouse... and neither one of us said a word... That said, I don't think we're cut out for small-town life OR life as Texans. However... we do love to visit, Rachel and Chase are such fun to be with, and they make us feel so welcome that we get a tad melancholy when it's time to leave.

And so ends another trip to the high desert. We definitely are looking forward to next time!

Party Time!

I know you are longing to hear about and see photographic evidence of the big-ass party to honor Chasel (the prevailing conflation of the happy couple's names), but first, a plug for a wonderful Marfa business.



As I mentioned in the previous entry, the blessing and the party (the sacred and the profane, if you will...) took place on our wedding anniversary. Exactly twelve years ago, Jeff and I emerged from Grand Caverns--a historic show-cave in the Shenandoah Valley--as husband and wife. Knowing my penchant for sparkly things in general and cool tumbled/polished stones in particular, Jeff took me to Marfa's own Moonlight Gemstones, where I picked out two small, matched turquoise rectangles for Paul, the proprietor, to make into a pair of earrings. Paul, it turned out, was the artisan who made Rachel and Chase's wedding rings, so this anniversary gift was very special. He thought he could have the earrings ready the next day, but he took our address down in case he had to send them.

We headed out to the homestead to help set up for the big do...

Folks started filtering in around 5:30/6:00-ish, at about the time the Food Shark (the local yummy food purveyor on wheels, and the caterer for the party) put out some tortilla chips, hummos, and an amazing pureed carrot dip.



You can see the Food Shark truck over there, right beyond the carport.

It was great to reconnect with Rachel's friends Karen (left) and Tobin (between Rachel and Jeff), whom we had met on previous trips to West Texas.



Before too long, the band showed up--a trio who regaled us with lots of old-timey music. And guess who the mandolin player was? None other than Paul, from Moonlight Gemstones! And not only that, he had a small golden box for me--within it lay my new turquoise earrings!! How fast is that?? How COOL is that?? Wow... the next time we go to Marfa, I'm going to see about getting some of the local agates made into shiny things for me to gaze at and wear! That's Paul, on the left. (The guy in the middle is Drew, who works at the radio station with Rachel).



Then the Food Shark folks laid out a spread of vegan food to please anyone, even the most inveterate carnivore. No, there was no meat to be had, but the food was amazing. I have never in my life tasted such wonderful guacamole, and that's saying something, considering I spent eleven years of life as a Californian.



Although the party was not a wedding reception in any way, shape, or form, the erstwhile bridal couple did make one nod to convention: They had a cake, and they cut it. Actually, there were two cakes: a vegan cake and a regular bakery cake. And therein lies a photo-op. Several, in fact.

The cutting of the vegan cake began in the normal manner--maniacally beaming couple wielding big knife through a rich, chocolate-y commestible unadulterated by dairy products of any kind:



But wait! What's happening???



Oh no!! Someone cue the Psycho shower scene music, please!



Rachel, exhausted from her traumatic foray into cake-cutting, left the slicing of the bakery cake to her brother and her husband:



They did a superlative job. And they didn't even try to attack one another. Now, that is what I call a good in-law relationship.

One of the most-appreciated wedding gifts received during the party was the brand-spanking-new potato gun Chase's Dallas pals assembled and brought to him. I'm sure the gun will get lots of use out on the "back five."



As night fell, the old-timey trio packed up their instruments and joined the party as revellers. A D-J took over the musical duties, the lights went on in the little bar-equipped barn, and the dancing began.



The couple took a turn around the floor (sorry it's a tad fuzzy, but I try to hold off using the flash as long as I can. I'm goin' fer atmosphere, don't ya know?):



Rachel and Em-Jo cut a rug:



Greg was the life and soul of the party--as we knew he would be.



And of course, every party needs its Elaine...at this one, it happened to be a guy, and no--he's not elbowing Em-Jo. Really, he's not.



All in all, a great time was had by all, as you can plainly see:



And so, we bid farewell once again to the wide skies and broad horizons of West Texas... until our next visit.

More Hijinx in Marfa and Environs

Chase's parents, Janelle and Joe, threw a soiree on Friday at Chase's coffeehouse so that everyone who came in from out of town could get to know each other. It was a lovely way to spend the evening. Janelle is kind of in the middle of this picture--the petite blonde in the green shirt.



Here's Chase and Joe (backs to the camera, Joe to the right) mixing with some of their Dallas friends.



Rachel's high school pals Lindsey and Emily flew down from Chicago for the weekend.



A bunch of Chase's pals from Dallas brought their wives and girlfriends to the do.



And of course Jeff and I got to revel in having both of the kids to talk to at once--a treat we usually only indulge in at Christmas of late...



Since our hotel was only a block or so away from the coffeehouse, I availed myself rather freely of the champagne that was flowing like tap water... resulting in slight inebriation, much to Greg's amusement. O, to be tipsy in front of one's stepkids...

The next morning, bright and early, Rachel, Chase, and select family and friends met at the coffeehouse once again--this time to caravan an hour north to just outside of Balmorhea to the tiny Mission Mary Calera where Chase's grandfather, a retired minister, blessed the marriage.



This lovely chapel sits out in the midst of the desert, open all the time for any travelers who might happen by and need to rest, pray, meditate, or just look around. It was the perfect place for a blessing.



Barb, Greg, and Jeff all read something special to them--and to Rachel and Chase. Jeff read a poem by Ranier Maria Rilke that was read at our own wedding, exactly 12 years before:

Do you know, I would quietly
slip from the loud circle,
when first I know the pale
stars above the oaks
are blooming.

Ways will I elect
that seldom any tread
in pale evening meadows--
and no dream but this:
You come too.

Made me kind of teary...

Then Chase's grandfather read some Bible verses--the ones about Ruth and Boaz (Wither thou goest...) and about faith, hope, and charity--and then offered a prayer. Simple, heartfelt, beautiful. Not a dry eye in the house (or should I say "in the chapel"). Rachel and Chase sealed their union yet again with a kiss...



Headed back out into the desert air for a photo op...



And then we all piled back into our cars and headed back to Marfa for brunch... and a bit of rest before the big do...which will comprise the next entry!

Back to Marfa!

Last weekend we headed back to Marfa for Rachel and Chase's big blowout party to celebrate their wedding back in April. If you haven't read about it yet, hie thee back to the archives for some of nice pictures of the happy couple. Their wedding was small and private, but this weekend was quite public and very well attended.

First, though, they enlisted parental help (their parents and their friends' parents) to get their place in order for the big do. And here are the results:

The "front" of the house:



The "back" of the house:



The "den," or, if you will, the "great room" (although it is not the largest room, by far):



The kitchen:



One view of the living room (which IS the largest room in the house... it used to be the courtyard):



Please note the large triptych. Chase's mom Janelle painted that and gave it to them as a wedding gift. It depicts sunset (or maybe sunrise?) over the Chisos.

Here's another view of the living room, from another angle. Note the red painting. That is also one of Chase's mom's paintings--this one is of the tiny chapel that will play an integral role in the next entry.



Here is the master bedroom (there are two more bedrooms with en suite bathrooms off the living room):



And here is part of the new master bathroom. They're going for a kind of minimalist, industrial theme, as will become apparent...



And here is their tub! They didn't have enough money for a new (or even an old) clawfoot tub (which they hope, eventually, to afford), so they made do with this galvanized water trough! It's deep, it's spacious... it's genius!



The land is looking more civilized (i.e., mowed) than it did back in May. Balloux, the alpha dog of the spread, loves lording it over their five acres. Here, he surveys his territory:



And here is June, an erstwhile stray they took in several months ago. Someone was very, very abusive to poor Juney, and she's not the best-socialized canine... although she's a lot better than she was when we met her in May. Usually, she kind of skulks around, accepting pats from people, but not showing much doggy joy. Except when someone turns on the hose. Then she turns into a wild and overgrown pup! It's hilarious! Here she is, having fun:



In the next post, I'll regale you with tales of and photos from the "meet 'n' greet" evening that took place at Chase's coffee house on Friday, as well as the blessing of the union that took place Saturday morning about an hour north of Marfa in one of the most remote but perfect spots... until then, here's a glimpse of the view from the happy couple's driveway: