Alex discovers a fondness for rock climbing

Alex started her day at the vet clinic, getting her stitch removed and receiving

official permission to resume her normal activities...

...which now include rock climbing with her new BFF.

We went to an area called The Box, just outside of Socorro, New Mexico.

Sometimes I helped Alex up the climbs... 

...and other times, she helped me.

The views from the top were well worth the effort.

Looking up at Danni...

...while she looked down upon us.

Alex truly seemed to enjoy herself and developed a new level of confidence

blazing trails up the cliffs. As Danni says, we watched her brain growing.

More dueling camera shots: 

I take a picture of Danni...

...while she took this picture of Alex.

A dog can pose for only so many pictures before she needs a nap.

Navajo rugs are my weakness

Ethel loves to help me spend my money, so she timed her annual ranch visit

to accompany me to the monthly Navajo rug auction. 

We went to Friday's auction in search of a large rug for my living room.

(You can read about our first time at the auction here.)

The auctions are held in Crownpoint, New Mexico, and have been happening for 53 years.

The drive from the ranch to Crownpoint is long and hard and one which

I probably would never make on my own. Good thing, because I'd go broke.

Navajo rugs are most definitely my weakness.

We arrived an hour prior to the auction's 7 p.m. start so that I could preview my options

and select which ones to bid on.

There were nine rugs that were roughly 5 feet x 7 feet, 

any one of which I would be thrilled to take home.

I bid on this one but dropped out when it exceeded my budget.

The winning bidder took it home for $1,600.

I also bid on this one and won! I have no idea how long it must have taken the weaver –

Victoria Yazzie from Chinle, Arizona – to create it, but I feel like a got a bargain at $1,400.

I love it, Smooch loves it, and the new puppy will never have an opportunity to love it

until she has been housebroken for a few years.

This post will continue on for 15 more rugs, which I didn't buy 

but am sharing here with their selling prices for anyone who might be curious.

This small-to-medium size rug with many colors and intricate designs

sold for $900.

There's a rug for every budget at the auction.

This tiny one went for $25.

Six colors, relatively simple pattern, approximately 2' x 3', $400.

Gosh, if only I'd win the lottery.

$1,900.

$800.

So beautiful.

$750.

These two auctioneers have been calling the Crownpoint auction for most of its history.

The guy with the microphone is one of my neighbors and the guy holding the rug

is my mailman's brother. Small world.

$325.

The crowd gasped when this rug was presented. It was made by a weaver 

from the Burnham area, which is famous for its pictorial designs.

$1,600.

5' x 7', $1,400.

$800.

$700.

5' x 7', $1,250.

$1,100.

$800.

$1,150.

*sigh*

I want them all.

Saturday encore ~ Wowed

This encore post is from one year ago. The Gathering of Nations Powwow

is being held again this weekend, and I'm kicking myself for not being there.
It moved to a new venue, and I foolishly decided to wait a year
before returning while the organizers worked out the kinks.

Seeing these pictures again and remembering just how spectacular it was
reinforces the stupidity of that decision. 
UPDATE: Here is a link to the live stream of today's event...not sure what time it will start.

***

 I spent Friday at the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque.

 I've always wanted to attend this annual event but for one stupid reason 

or another, never have until now.   

 I can't believe I've been missing out on this
all these years.

 Around 2,800 dancers from 700 tribes in the United States and Canada gather
to compete and celebrate and generally knock the socks off of everyone

who goes there to watch.

I took my camera, not knowing what to expect.

The event is held at the University of New Mexico basketball arena, 

and I figured I'd be too far away to shoot anything decent.

But I wandered down to the floor level, tried to stay out of everyone's way,

and merrily took about 400 pictures in an hour's time.

I was standing next to a bank of loudspeakers, otherwise I would have

snapped away all afternoon. Ringing ears were a small price to pay

for being so close to the action.

The dancers' regalia was nothing short of amazing.

I got bopped in the head a few times by these feathers 

but didn't mind a bit.

This is the same dancer's headpiece from the back.

All the dancers' outfits were handmade and adorned with unique combinations of
beadwork, feathers, pelts, feathers, jingles, feathers, claws, feathers,
quills, feathers, ribbons, bones, fringe, horns... and then more feathers.
Every single one was a work of art.

The dancers compete by age group and type of dance.
I couldn't figure out the steps or the patterns or why one dancer
was better or worse than the others, but it didn't affect my enjoyment one bit.

I do know it was impossible not to move my own feet
to the mesmerizing beats of the drummers.

At the end of each dance, the participants congratulated each other.

The female dancers shook hands...

...the male dancers high-fived.

I was so intrigued by the headpieces that I didn't get many pictures

of the dancers' feet,

many of which jingled from seed pods or bells.

I didn't notice the bird on this dancer's head when I took the picture.

Albuquerque is famous for another annual event – the Balloon Fiesta –

but now having been to both, I prefer the Gathering of Nations.

And did I mention the shopping? 

I came home with this box made of buffalo hide,

a necklace,

and a flying war horse, 

say nothing of the unforgettable memories from being able 

to share in a celebration of Native American culture.