My time in Santa Fe has been very productive. I have nearly finished the book. It’s amazing when you take on a project, thinking it will only take a bit of time, then all of a sudden a year has gone passed since Joe asked me to write this for him. I have sorted through over 300 pictures, received amazing stories from “Pond People” and now I can see the end. Or so I thought!!
Every afternoon I have been going to the Santa Fe Public Library quietly sitting in the Southwest Historical Room with amazing people doing research on various topics. This room is awe inspiriting. Not knowing the history of the room but curious, I was pleasantly surprised Friday when a group of 3rd graders came prancing into the room and wiggled their way, as only little children can, up to the railing of the second level and their teacher proceeded to tell them the room's history.
The actual library building is the Berardinelli Building, a former city hall designed by John Gaw Meem in 1936, and the Southwest Room houses a rich and extensive collection of New Mexico state history. These adorable children were given a brief history of the room learning that all the furnishings were made by local artist and given to the library as gifts. The lamps, chairs, beautifully carved walls , railings and ceiling all hand crafted.
This I found very interesting. Just as the group was leaving, the teacher informed them , if they chose to enter the Santa Fe’s King or Queen pageant, this is the room where they would study the state’s history, a pageant requirement. Also, they had to speak two languages of the state, fluently.
This is a life size Painted Pony named The Story Teller. The chair next to the pony is the story teller's chair, and the children sit around on the floor listening to the story being told either from memory or from a book.Leaving the library yesterday I wandered around Santa Fe and heard music. Following the rhythm, the candles and the crowd, I arrived at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Festival for Our Lady of Guadalupe. These festive dancers, dressed in exquisite garb were celebrating December 12. According to Mexican tradition, a dark skin virgin appeared to the peasant Juan Diego on December 12th in the year 1531, with the message that a church should be named in her honor. She is known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. The festival is a time for pilgrims to bring gifts and prayers to the Virgin.
Thank you for your time
Sandy
