Not long ago we were experiencing a heat wave here. Temperatures soared to the high 90’s, the winds were howling and you could literally watch the land blow away. Sometimes, here in Edgewood, you can really get a sense of what it must have been like during the days of the dustbowl. But, luckily for us, we are surrounded near and far by mountain ranges that actually grow green stuff and spit out bubbly cool and warm waters. So, while Patrick had a few days off between the end of classes and the beginning of clinicals, we loaded up and headed to the Jemez, one of my most favorite places in New Mexico. Mountains of Ponderosa forests, red clay cliffs, hot springs, waterfalls, and ancient people’s history.

We spent three amazing days swimming in the falls

cooking over an open fire

Riley and Dingo slept in the tent, Abby crashed on the front seat of the truck and Patrick and I slept the most plush we have ever slept on a camping trip in the back of the truck on an air matress snuggled under my huge celtic unicorn tapestry )(which Patrick was quite reluctant to put up).

We hiked a 4-mile round trip journey all for a wildflower surrounded hot springs as one day’s destination.

The hot springs are so relaxing and theraputic and after being nibbled on by tiny minnows, avoiding the most gigantic orange spider we’ve ever seen and respecting the space of a small garder snake as it swam through the shallow temperate water….a nap is a must, or rather the only option.

on our last morning, we headed back to the falls and watched as the warm breeze made every single reflection of the sun on the crystal clear water spread out like fairy dust and minature boats of leaves lazily floated around what might have been the sea. What a magical place to re-wild oneself. The girls ran barefoot in skirts, searching for bugs, picking wildflowers, spinning in open meadows, catching minnows in bowls made of their hands the entire time. Now, back in civilization, we’re grateful for our memories.

And Dingo’s still got it, that guy will fetch and fetch and go and go and go, as long as there is a stick and a hike involved,oh and a plush sleeping pad in the tent with his name on it.