Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

Is it a crawling baby?

It's SUPER PALOMA!

Corkins 2010

We just got back from Corkins 2010. The Brandenburg family has been visiting Corkins Lodge for about the past 35 years (!) - enjoying the great trout fishing in the Rio Brazos, gazing at the amazing views of the Brazos cliffs and (best of all) spending valuable time with old friends.

This was Paloma's first trip to Corkins, her first chance to go flyfishing, and her first time scrambling over rocks to get up a mountain.

Here she is, keenly observing Papa tying a fly:


Once the fly was set, it was time to go and catch some fish!

Fishing takes a lot of time, and a lot of patience. I didn't have much luck - I was too busy swatting mosquitoes and taking photos of the other two. Paloma also didn't have much luck. She got tired of fishing after a while....


The next day, we headed up the mountain and away from the river. Jim assured me that it was only half a mile to the bottom of the cliffs and we would be back in an hour. I packed a granola bar, one diaper, and a couple of bottles of water and away we went.

It may have been half a mile as-the-crow-flies, but crows don't have to fly back-and-forth across the creek, or under and over logs, or across fields of talus. Phew. It was quite a hike! It was wonderful, though, and I am quite glad it was further than predicted.

Howard did a remarkable job, carrying Paloma all the way. Again, she snoozed on his chest as we slipped across the rubble...


... but she did wake up occasionally to look around at the trees (green! shade! hooray!).


Our destination was a waterfall at the base of the Brazos cliffs. It was kind of dry, but still spectacular. Howard can remember going there in 1995 with Claire (his mom) and Yvonne (another Corkivarian) and showering under the waterfall. No such luck this year.

Paloma and I did have a close look at the trickle of waterfall and had quite an interesting discussion about the difference between lichen and moss.


Now we're all back in Albuquerque and Semilla has passed out on the floor after a very active weekend with Zia and Red (thanks to Adam and Stefani for taking such good care of our puppy this weekend!).

It was great seeing all of the Corkins folk again - see you again next year!!

For your listening pleasure....

Camping on the Rio Chiquito

Every year, Howard and I go camping in celebration of his birthday (10 May). Sometimes it happens close to the date, and sometimes we have to wait until June. Last year's big camping/backpacking trip was to the Pecos Wilderness. This year, we decided to go car-camping so that Paloma and Semilla could come along too.

We spent Friday night in Taos, and then camped on Saturday night beside Rio Chiquito (which had me thinking about a particular Australian chocolate bar all weekend). It was beautiful! Cool and green - perfect weather for napping after a long week at work.

We camped on the edge of a meadow, right next to the creek. The creek had plenty of little nooks and crannies where Howard could find trout, if Semilla didn't jump in a go swimming first.

We all went for a nice hike on Saturday afternoon. Paloma got to ride up top until Papa's arms got tired, and then she was able to have a nice nap in the backpack.

Not quite asleep yet, but she soon will be.

After the walk, we all enjoyed a cool drink in the shade by the car.

Notice Howard's fabulous chair? He made that!

Later on, we cooked dinner and Paloma watched on from inside the tent. I think she kind of liked being able to see everything that was going on while keeping dry.

Cheeky little girl is already wearing Mama's clothes!

Lights out! Time to sleep in the tent - no problems at all after an exciting day seeing the big-wide-world.


The next morning, we all warmed up in the sun and enjoyed our breakfast.

Then, I took the girls (Paloma and Semilla) for a long walk upstream while Howard went fishing downstream. It was perfect - Semilla swam and swam and ran and ran, Paloma napped, Howard fished, and I simply enjoyed the cool mountain air. Oh, and I also enjoyed spotting a huge beaver dam (still a novelty to me)!

Finally, it was time to head back to Albuquerque after a VERY successful camping trip!

Paloma dressed up to head back to the big smoke.

Food, glorious food...

Paloma has been enjoying trying out new tastes and textures since we first introduced solid foods two months ago. We try to introduce new things, but keep coming back to her favourites...

Avocado - Paloma likes to squish it in her fingers and rub it all over the table. She doesn't really like to put it in her mouth.

This is one of her favourites! I'm not sure if it's carrot or sweet potato, but I know she likes it....

Hooray! More sweet potato!

Peas are ok... but she really prefers orange stuff...

See the orange stuff? She loves it, in her mouth, on her nose, all over her monkey pyjamas...

Paloma seems to like edamame best on her chin....