Open the Door to Placitas

Placitas Recycling Association

2012-01-30T16:21:00.006-07:00

Our very own Placitas Recycling Association at work in our recycling yard on a beautiful sunny day in January. We take lots of items, including cardboard, newspapers, junk mail, plastics #1 and #2, and aluminum. We all have lots of fun and see our friends and feel like we are doing something to make the world a little better. Join us on Saturday mornings from 8-11 a.m.

Julie Denison, Associate Broker

Bees In Bed for Winter

2011-12-09T09:28:00.003-07:00

This will be our first winter with the bees and I am hoping to see their smiling faces next April when we open up the hive to for the first time since the fall. With the major wind storm that was forecasted for Thursday, December 1, I became concerned that the top would fly off and the girls would freeze so I tied it down. It is now covered with 2 inches of snow, a nice blanket I am sure. It is kind of white on white but here is a picture of the hive in the snow. Julie Denison, Associate Broker

2011-11-08T12:45:00.004-07:00

Food Truck at La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC
Oh Yay! Oh Yay! We have a great new addition to the Placitas Food Scene! Kimberley Calvo, a seasoned chef and Placitas resident is parking a food truck in the west La Puerta parking lot offering lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and breakfast on Saturdays, though this schedule is not yet set in stone. She's just started this week and welcomes feedback and suggestions. She is very excited about her new venue as are we, here at La Puerta. Her food is fresh and seasonal, tending towards organic as much as possible and definitely healthy and delicious. The menu changes regularly so we won't get bored and she may be posting her menus on her website. She says she'll also have a selection of kids' food so when you're driving starving children home from town, you can stop by and pick up a healthy meal for them without your having to rush to prepare their dinner while they're becoming little grumps. We welcome Kim and her assistant chef Alan to our neighborhood and hope you'll all come out to support this fine new local endeavor.

Sandy Poling, Associate Broker

Double Rainbows and Golden Valleys

2011-10-20T10:31:00.006-06:00

Although Hawaii officially claims the title of “The Rainbow State”, our high desert Placitas area furnishes some beautiful rainbow views to rival the loveliest of Hawaii’s rainbows. One recent morning this October, the residents of Placitas were treated to this double rainbow against a sky still filled with darkness from the refreshing nearly-all-night rain it followed. In addition to the vibrancy of this rainbow, the sun coming up over “our” Sandia Mountains also gave a spectacular golden glow to the Rio Grande valley to the west – allowing us all to imagine that our pot of gold was close by. We Placitans must be among the most fortunate people around as far as natural high desert beauty is concerned, and I, for one, am very thankful for this beauty!

Eva Marie Renninger
Office Manager

Julie, Tracy and the Bees

2011-10-17T11:04:00.003-06:00

My daughter, Tracy, and I decided last winter that we wanted to keep bees, so we joined the Albuquerque Beekeepers Association and started learning about them and put an order in for 4 lbs.of bees. Apparently, that is about 4,000 bees and we had decided to use a top bar hive so we had a third partner build the hive and we were off and running. (Although you don't want to run around a bee hive!) Since we started this in one of the worst dry spells we have ever had and the bees did not have enough plant life to work with, we were determined to have a healthy hive. I think that comes under "ignorance is bliss", but onward we went. We learned that we needed to supplement their food with sugar water and have drinking water close by. I proceeded to buy plants that the bees really like, (the hive is at my house, not Tracy's house) in hopes that it would make a difference to their survival. It seemed to work; they have flourished and were doing fine. Then the robber bees arrived and took all their honey! Never heard of such a thing, but we made the entrance smaller and the bees were able to fight off the robbers and we are back to enough honey for the winter, just in time. In a couple of weeks we will not be checking on the bees because of the cold and will not open up the hive until March. More on the bees then. Julie Denison, Associate Broker

Goldfinches in Placitas

2011-10-12T11:03:00.009-06:00

From flowers to food, these goldfinches are loving the seeds from our late summer harvest of Maximillion. We spotted this mated pair having a feast. If you are a birdlover and/or observer, there is a cornucopia of wild birds here in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. We started keeping a calendar to mark the migration of the birds. We also now know where the robins come during the winter -- our back yard!

Mindy Prokos
Associate Broker

Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention

2011-10-12T09:06:00.007-06:00

Here I am in Anasazi Meadows (I'm on the left), standing with Diane Schuler, my customer from Wisconsin. Diane's husband, Craig, is a professional photographer, and he shot the photo of me and Diane holding some PVC from Home Depot, which we connected and used to determine where a 17-foot high house might be built on the lot next to the one they are buying. It worked! Necessity IS the mother of invention!

Pepi Strahl
Associate Broker

IT’S BALLOON FIESTA TIME AGAIN!

2011-10-05T09:39:00.007-06:00

It’s a lovely time of the year in New Mexico – cool mornings and nights, beautiful sunny days and best of all we enjoy seeing hot air balloons flying around us on a daily basis for a couple of weeks in October. When I opened my living room blind, what did I see but a hot air balloon just below my property. When you see these hot air balloons, you just feel happy! Lynn Koch, CRS

Wild Horses Gone Loco

2010-11-08T10:55:00.003-07:00

Wild horses in Placitas, an everyday occurrence at this property. Watching the horses interact with each other, establish new heard's, foals in the spring the whole social structure of the wild horse is an amazing up close education. Photo courtesy www.wildhorsesgoneloco.com to see more check out the web site.
~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

Tarantulas

2010-10-22T13:58:00.005-06:00

Mating season….begins as the male tarantulas come out to find females. During the early fall months the male tarantulas make their debut. This year I have seen quite a large number walking – very very slowly. While these creatures seem frightful they really are pretty harmless. We have seen several around our home this year, the one in the photos is a prime example climbing on our courtyard wall. They are however HUGE measuring 5 to 7 inches across. Since I am not a native of New Mexico the first time I saw one it really unnerved me a bit. Now that I have been a resident for almost 14 years I find it exciting to see them. Watch out for swerving cars as people attempt to let them cross the road!
~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

Placitas Home Tour!

2010-10-07T14:34:00.002-06:00

Saturday October 9th and Sunday October 10th are the last two days for the Placitas Home Tour. The tour is free and self-guided from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Stop by La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC to pick up a free Home Tour brochure and map at 1 Ridge Court, Placitas NM 87043 or call 505-867-3388. You can also go online to www.placitashometour.org to download a brochure. Don't Miss It!

The Hawk & The Coyote: Stare Down

2010-09-09T15:56:00.001-06:00

Placitas is located next to 30,000 acres of wilderness and the Cibola National Forest where wildlife abounds. Take note of the hawk on the tree stump staring down the coyote coming up the hill or is the coyote staring down the hawk? This photo was taken in the back “yard” where the homeowners who are bird watchers / lovers put food out for the native birds.
~Mindy Prokos, Associate Broker, ABR

2010-08-20T15:21:00.002-06:00

We just got back from a beautiful trip to the Northwest. It was unusually hot and sunny there-not bad but a bit muggy. We got back last night and as always it’s great to be back in Placitas. There was a perfect cool breeze and beautiful puffy clouds dotting the sky. I loved waking up to the sound of the doves cooing and birds chirping this morning-so different from the harsh cawing of crows that woke us on our vacation every morning. As always, life is sooo good in Placitas.
~Sandy Poling, e-PRO, Associate Broker

Placitas Home Tour

2010-08-16T16:34:00.004-06:00

The 2010 Placitas Home Tour will be October 2nd & 3rd and 9th & 10th from 10 am to 5 pm. Keep looking for more information on this blog.

The Agave

2010-06-24T15:10:00.002-06:00

This agave or commonly called century plant is blooming on my street. There are two of them blooming right now and they are spectacular with the spike rising 30' above the plant. It takes all the plants energy to produce this once in a life time bloom and then it dies. Does the plant really live to be 100 years old before it blooms? I'm afraid not, they are usually in the 10 year old range, but it may happen at anytime. Even though the host plant dies the agave is self spreading and usually has many smaller plants continuing to fill the landscaped space.
~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

Placitas Appreciation Day

2010-06-09T13:19:00.005-06:00

Saturday, June 5th was one of the hottest days on record for June. We reached 100 degrees! It was also Placitas Appreciation Days which was held at The Merc. This is the fourth time I have attended it and it is always so much fun! Teresa (our Transaction Coordinator) and I served up over 200 snow cones. Jim Maduena and Ken Koch helped us most of the day. It was great serving up icey treats on such a hot day! Lauren Herman, Gail McGough-Maduena, Julie Denison, Lynn Koch and Jaime Coulter also helped. Teresa's husband, Loren Morrison, my husband, Vince Leonard, and Jack Hostetler grilled over 400 hamburgers and 200 hot dogs. The Merc supplies the meat, buns and all the toppings each year. There were a lot of people who had booths and there was wonderful music at Blades Bistro. What a fabulous day thanks to everyone who attended and to Tom Ashe who always makes this happen every year!
~Rhonda Leonard, Qualifying Broker

Yellow Flowers

2010-06-07T10:40:00.004-06:00

The frequent spring rains have produced an abundance of yellow flowers. They are in very large patches on fields and hillsides. These little ones make the yellow masses we see all over right now.
~Gail McGough-Maduena, GRI, Associate Broker

Mother Nature

2010-05-21T16:56:00.000-06:00

Everyday when I walk out of my office in Placitas I experience another beautiful scene. Brought to me by Mother Nature.
I love living here in Placitas, in the Land Of Enchantment.
~Gail McGough Maduena, GRI, Associate Broker

2010-05-19T12:08:00.002-06:00

Hey! Who's the new guy hanging around in the tree next to my outdoor shower? It's the first time I have seen a roadrunner in our meadow. EE Gads A Peeping Roadrunner!It's time to close down the shower for the coming winter anyway. I wonder where the roadrunner will go for the winter?
~Gail McGough Maduena, Associate Broker, GRI

Welcome Guests!

2010-05-14T10:12:00.002-06:00

Sometimes while at dinner time in Placitas we have some uninvited but always welcome guests. These wild horses came to join us the other night to munch on the weeds and grass at my daughter's home. It was fun to enjoy our meal while they enjoyed theirs!
~Julie Denison, CRS, EcoBroker, Associate Broker

Spring has finally Sprung!

2010-05-10T14:32:00.002-06:00

Wow, Spring has finally REALLY sprung! The hills by my house are carpeted in yellow flowers. The purple and white flowers and the Indian paintbrush make a beautiful accent to the predominance of the yellows. I don’t know the names of all of the wildflowers, but I’m sure Lucy does. I’ll have to ask her. It’s so fragrant it’s hard to believe we’re in the desert. Of course, east of the S curves, it’s really the mountain foothills eco-system and not the high desert and that higher elevation is definitely more colorful. Another wonder is that Las Huertas Creek is running vigorously and that is VERY good. We got such a good snowpack this year. I hope the creek runs for awhile. It’s good for the wild ones. So even though the winds are howling, at least the sky is blue, our world is fragrant with the scent of fresh flowers, the creek is running and the wild horses are thriving. Life is Good in Placitas!
~Sandy Poling, Associate Broker, e-PRO,

Save the date: May 8 & 9, 2010

2010-05-06T08:54:00.007-06:00

What a great way to spend Mother's Day! We look forward to another successful tour this spring, with 50 artists participating in the tour!CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW THE PLACITAS STUDIO TOUR WEBSITE: www.PlacitasStudioTour.com

WILD HORSES IN PLACITAS!

2010-05-05T16:13:00.003-06:00

What a wonderful surprise we had in store for us. As we were headed out to tour one of our new listings – lo and behold, we saw a herd of wild horses on a hill beside the road. A white stallion was on its own and the others were hovered together just down the hill. What a treat and a wonderful few minutes of peaceful enjoyment in beautiful Placitas!
~Lynn Koch, CRS, CDPE, Associate Broker, Co-Owner

The Perfect Placitas Lullaby!

2010-04-19T09:33:00.004-06:00

Water front property along the California coast is very expensive and everyone would love to be on the ocean or at least see it from your living room window, but in Placitas water front property is rare and has a completely different feel and magic to it. When my creek, Las Huertas, started running Saturday morning it was a cause for celebration! I can call it my creek because part of it runs through my property and is a constant joy to hear, especially at night. The perfect Placitas lullaby.
~Julie Denison, CRS, EcoBroker, Associate Broker

An Evening With Friends

2010-04-15T10:42:00.007-06:00

A fabulous evening spent with friends --- this gorgeous yard is in full Spring bloom with colorful tulips everywhere. Good food, wonderful wine, gorgeous Placitas backyard with fabulous new pool, great views of the Sandia Mountains and sunset...life is good!
~Lynn Koch, CRS, CDPE, Associate Broker/Co-Owner

Bobcats in Placitas

2010-04-09T16:42:00.001-06:00

As a Realtor selling property to people in Placitas, especially who are moving here from out of state, it is always fun to have them be so excited when they have a "visitor" to their yard. This bob cat appeared in the yard of some people who moved here in November and I love it when they call me to report that the coyotes were by, the wild horses were on the road or "Bob" paid them a visit. It is especially wonderful when they are able to get a picture too and send it with such joy.
~Julie Denison, CRS, EcoBroker, Associate Broker

Spring in Placitas!

2010-04-05T12:08:00.003-06:00

Spring in Placitas is a series of stops and go's, warm weather and then a small snow storm, then more warm weather. maybe a freeze or two, I am sure you see what I mean. As a gardener, you learn what will enjoy the erratic weather and still thrive. The picture is one of my pansies that is still smiling even with it's coat of snow. Lettuce, peas, onions and garlic also don't seem to mind the occasional snow storm either.
~Julie Denison, CRS, EcoBroker, Associate Broker

Flea Market to Benefit Casa Rosa

2010-03-02T14:56:00.002-07:00

La Puerta Real Estate sponsored a flea market on Saturday, 2/27 to benefit our local food bank, Casa Rosa. We are proud to say that we raised $1,000 for Casa Rosa. They needed to have some electrical work done on their building and Charlotte Lough, director of Casa Rosa, indicated that this money will go a long way towards accomplishing that. Thanks to everyone who participated in this very worthwhile event and thanks to the Placitas community for coming out in droves to buy. Not only did we make money for a worthwhile cause, but we ended up recycling stuff that might have ended up in our landfill. Giving back – it’s a good thing!
~Lynn Koch, CRS, CDPE, Associate Broker & Co-Owner

La Puerta's Anniversary!

2010-02-17T16:19:00.002-07:00

On Valentine Day La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC celebrated its 8th anniversary. Happy birthday La Puerta!

Placitas Winter Play Ground

2010-02-04T15:22:00.002-07:00

As a Southern California girl, born and raised, I love our winters here! Just enough snow to have fun with but not enough to have on the ground all the time and become a real pain like in other parts of the country.. There are usually 2 or 3 days each winter when we have enough snow so that I can go snow shoeing right out my front door. Yesterday was one of those days and my dog Annie and I had lots of fun out in the snow while it was still falling and looking really magical. It is always so quiet when it snows and even the birds are hiding. It is such fun to be able to just go out the front door and not get into the car to drive miles in traffic just to be able to enjoy the winter. We are very lucky to be here!
~Julie Denison, CRS, EcoBroker, Associate Broker

My Sunroom

2010-01-27T12:38:00.004-07:00

This is my sunroom. That big white thing is a banco. A real one made with adobes. What for? I like it for the contours that provide relaxing support for my supine body when I read or just relax there and watch the clouds rolls over the Sandia Mountains. My husband (Jim, the green builder) likes it for the thermal mass it contains. Either way when the sun comes into the room and shines on the banco I get the very best cat naps ever. Jim – likes it because the sunrays are absorbed by the adobe blocks the banco is made from. After the sun sets and the inside of the house is no longer getting direct warmth from the solar room we close the doors and the magic begins. Jim loves to point this out to me each and every time the mass of the banco and the adobe walls surrounding it begin to give their warmth into the house. It’s all part of his plan for the passive solar home he (he likes to say “we”) built here in Placitas.
Gail McGough Maduena, Associate Broker, GRI

2010-01-26T14:26:00.001-07:00

Wow, what a gorgeous day after so many days of rain, snow & sleet. Today is especially good as I am closing on a house I sold here in Placitas. It was such a synchronistic deal. I made a listing presentation during the week and that week-end, I got a walk-in while I was on floor duty. As he described what he wanted, I thought of the home that was not on the market yet, but I felt it was a good match for him. I called the Seller and set up an appointment and then proceeded to locate every other home in Placitas that might also work for him. We looked at all of them and sure enough, the one not yet on the market was a perfect match. My Seller was ecstatic, avoiding all the hassles of home showings for months and my Buyer is ecstatic with his very smooth transaction. All is Well. Life is Good!
~Sandy Poling, Associate Broker, e-Pro

2010-01-18T09:33:00.002-07:00

Wonderful sunshine streaming through my bathroom windows at home allowing my geranium plant to continue flowering adding cheer during these cold and sometimes dreary days of winter. This is the joy of living in Placitas--- because even if it's cold, the sun still shines most of the time.
~Lynn Koch, CRS, CDPE
Associate Broker

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

2010-01-11T08:57:00.002-07:00

Placitas is a truly a special place bordering the National Forest with over 30,000 acres of wilderness. There are endless opportunities for hiking, biking or horse back riding within our lovely community. But it is wilderness! And we do have an abundant and healthy population of wildlife. This Bobcat was found taking a “cat nap” on a homeowner’s porch until it heard the click of the camera!
~Mindy Prokos, Associate Broker, ABR

New Mexico is Full of High Peaks

2010-01-08T11:42:00.002-07:00

New Mexico is full of high peaks, but the one pictured is Wheeler Peak. It is the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet above sea level. Imagine if Wheeler Peak were next to sea level you would look up over two and half miles to see it. Looking up like that hurts my neck, It amazes me when I look out my kitchen window I can see 80 miles to Mount Taylor near Grants, New Mexico. Out the bedroom window I see part of the Sangre De Christo's outside of Santa Fe 40 some miles. The Sandias are to the south that view is up close and personal. I love the name Sandia meaning watermelon which most evenings as the sun is getting ready to set, the mountain is the color and similarity of watermelon, you see a pink mountain and the trees are the seeds. My husband, Randall, spent our first summer mostly staring at the Sandias at different times in the day just watching the colorful changes. From my living room I see clear to the Jemez, North and a bit West for another 30 miles, this view is very different with mesa's in front of the mountains. Funny, but I am in Placitas Trails close to I-25 and not at a high elevation where the views grow way beyond the distances I see.

Having spent many years on the Southeast coast where you could only see about one mile I love the freedom I feel of being able to see such great distances. I feel like I can breath really well. And the ever changing colors are awe inspiring for the creative soul.
~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T14:51:00.002-07:00

Happy new year to all of our wonderful customers and to all Placitans. We certainly hope that 2010 is a prosperous year for all.

Greetings of the Season!

2009-12-16T09:39:00.002-07:00

Greetings of the Season! Paper whites blooming on our dining room table, holiday lights magically transform our cactus into a holiday tree. Tis the season for the spirit of Giving, reminding all of us of family and friends, good times, good memories.... Wishing all Peace and Prosperity for the New Year!
~Mindy Prokos, Associate Broker, ABR

Anonymous Quote: Reputation is for Time – Character is for Eternity

Nandina and Pyricantha

2009-12-14T09:59:00.004-07:00

Right when you think there is no more fall color and we're headed for winter, the beautiful Nandina and Pyricantha are really showing off their bright orange and red berries. I don't know if the birds eat them or not, but I'm sure it is very tempting for them with all that saturated color. So tempting if fact I think I'll bring some in for my table decoration.
~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

Take Time to Relax

2009-12-07T14:58:00.002-07:00

I hope everyone is taking some time out of their busy schedules to relax and perhaps read a good book. I spent last Thursday when it snowed doing just that. I took the day off and sat by a cozy fire and read for a couple of hours. It really helped my energy level the next day.
~Lauren Herman, CRS, GRI, e-PRO, Associate Broker

Another Beautiful Scene in Placitas

2009-12-04T12:15:00.002-07:00

On Thursday morning, December 3, we Placitans awakened to a beautiful frosting of snow on most of our familiar views – some areas with more than a “frosting”. For those of us who live a little farther west and south off Highway 165, it was just enough snow to make it beautiful, but not dangerous to drive. The mountains were still under a blanket of clouds, and the rabbits and birds were leaving little footprints all around the feeders as I left for work. Then, while admiring the views from here at our beautiful La Puerta building, I spotted this beautiful,, feather-y grass in the back of the building. “She” was still dressed in “her” pretty pinkish hewed frock, and still mostly standing with “her” usual proud posture, but was now also dressed in a soft coat of fresh, white snow. The contrasts were so gorgeous that I could not resist photographing it to share with others. Living in Placitas is truly beautiful for me, and I’m thankful that I can live here!
~Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T11:39:00.002-07:00

La Puerta Real Estate Services would like to wish all of Placitas a Happy Thanksgiving! La Puerta is thankful to have had the opportunity to service those customers who purchased or sold a home through our company or referred a customer to us. Best wishes to you and yours and Happy Thanksgiving!

Moon over Placitas!

2009-11-13T10:32:00.003-07:00

In Placitas, we have so few lights that the moon and the stars just sort of jump out and model for those interested in looking – furnishing just one more of the spectacular views of our beautiful, peaceful area. This bright moon is a prime example of that! One just doesn’t see the fabulous night skies from a city; there are just too many lights! Are we Placitans lucky (and spoiled) or what!?

Veteran's Day

2009-11-10T16:03:00.003-07:00

Reading the paper this morning I was saddened that another New Mexico soldier had been killed in Iraq, bringing the total from New Mexico to 54. He was a young man, only 25 years old, and his name was Army Spc. Tony Carrasco, Jr. There have been 4180 or is it 4181 now, deaths of US soldiers in Iraq so far. There have been many more soldiers, before this honorable young man, making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I am very thankful that we live in this free country. I want to always be mindful that so much has been given of my behalf. Every veteran in the United States; Thank You for what you have offered to give and what some ultimately did. I owe you all a debt of gratitude. I'm glad when I walk around my neighborhood and see our flag flying, it causes me to remember.
~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

2009-11-10T14:08:00.002-07:00

New Mexico Roadrunner

2009-11-09T08:57:00.002-07:00

I was sitting on my patio enjoying a glass of ice tea and the spectacular
fall colors when a roadrunner goes racing
across my path. My golden retriever barely
raised an eyelid (some bird dog!) while my little
shih tzu/poodle was chasing the roadrunner at full speed. The roadrunner jumped up on the patio wall and then on to a tree limb. He actually sat on that limb for about 15 minutes allowing me enough time to get my camera and take this picture.
~Rhonda Leonard, Qualifying Broker

Surveying His Kingdom from Atop a Cowboy’s Head

2009-11-06T13:20:00.002-07:00

This cute chipmunk (although he may actually be a specific species of ground squirrel that lives here in the Placitas area) is nearly always in and around our feeders. Recently, in this beautiful fall weather that we Placitans are enjoying this week, he picked out his snack, and instead of heading for his stash, he decided to crawl up on one of the bronze statues in our yard, perching on the hat of the cowboy of “The Trailride” bronze. I had to take his picture through the window because he has a tendency to run when I open a door or get too close to the window (thus a reflection on the photo). I believe that he was, literally, surveying what he thinks is his kingdom from a higher vantage point while eating his snack! My Westie, Seamus, and Scottie, McKenzie, not to mention the cottontails, might attempt to dispute Sir Munk’s perspective that our yard is HIS kingdom, but at that particular moment, it truly was his kingdom.
Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator

Wild Horses!

2009-11-04T10:57:00.005-07:00

What could be better than a crisp Fall morning in Placitas? How about a sighting of the Wild Horses right outside my courtyard walls?! I heard some whinnying and there they were for about an hour, grazing on the green shoots outside our courtyard wall. The colt laid down for a nap under a pinon tree and its mother stood watch without grazing or moving an inch for the entire time while the others grazed nearby. It was really sweet. Usually, on my way to the office, it’s like a treasure hunt as I scan the hills around the road for a glimpse of the horses, and often, they are there, but to be able to climb up to the roof of our studio and just sit and watch them for an entire hour was the best yet. They are looking really healthy and well-fed. It’s been a good year for them and all of us in Placitas with the intermittent rains. Life is Good!

~Sandy Poling, Associate Broker, e-PRO

Snowfall on the Sandias – as Seen From Placitas

2009-11-02T10:46:00.002-07:00

On Wednesday, October 27, the first visible-from-Placitas snowfall made its appearance on the Sandias. The beauty of the “frosting” on the tips of the peaks from our angle is an absolutely breathtaking site. On that evening after work, as I looked out my south-facing windows just as the sun was going down, I realized that we were going to have the beautiful pinks and blues in the clouds and on the tops of the mountains, and, once again, I ran for my camera. I was just a few seconds late getting onto the west balcony – but the view was still gorgeous, even if it wasn’t as bright as it had been just a mere few seconds before – those seconds it took for me to get the camera and get up the stairs to the balcony. But even though I was just a little too pokey, I’m reminded again of why I am so thankful that I live in this beautiful area – with so many truly beautiful and awe-inspiring sights to behold!
~Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator

I Love the Weather Here

2009-10-30T16:05:00.004-06:00

I love the weather here. Recently we were blanketed in snow at lunch time. It was really coming down, the trees were all covered and it was looking like a winter wonderland. I was thinking of what I had on hand to make a hearty warm soup for dinner since I'd be working from home and not going anywhere in the snow. Well by 2:00 the sun was shining brightly and my white landscape quickly disappeared. Oh well, it was a great storm while it lasted, 2 hours. The attached photo is from one of the recent snows and really shows off the watermelon mountain.

~Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

Chili Harvest

2009-10-23T11:54:00.002-06:00

Autumn is the time of the Chile harvest you can smell the delicious aroma of chiles being roasted everywhere. There are red chile ristras hanging in the bright and oh so blue New Mexico sky. Green chili stew is being served in heaping, steaming bowls with the kick and flavor unique only to New Mexico. Red or Green?

~Mindy Prokos, Associate Broker, ABR

The Range, Bernalillo

2009-10-12T11:40:00.007-06:00

Fall Harvest in the back of a pickup at The Range. (Pictures, L to Right)

Claudia and Robert Moraga with Dick and Lucy at The Range on a Friday Night.

Lorenzo makes the best and biggest drinks in town at The Range on a Friday night.

John Lewis band at the Range Friday Night.

Sacred Thornapple -- Rock Stacking

2009-10-12T11:19:00.006-06:00

The sacred Thornapple is a beautiful, night bloomin flower that Georgia O'Keefe painted as the moon flower. It is very poisonous and very graceful with its large flower measuring 5-7 inches long. The sacred Thornapple blooms from September through October and opens in the evening.

Rock stacking was first introduced to me by a friend of mine in the Jemez Mountains, where his rock stacks are 5 feet tall. I haven't gotten one to get that tall yet, but I just learned I need to use wedges for support. You just start stacking them and move them around until they are secure. Mine have been up since August and will be growing taller soon.

~ Jennise Phillips, Associate Broker

My Feeder!

2009-10-09T15:03:00.002-06:00

As fall arrives, the creatures that I feed seem to come around a little more often and are just a little more aggressive towards each other. This chipmunk (at least I think it’s the same one) and the cute little cottontail (at least I think IT’S the same one) come daily to the feeders in our backyard. As I was looking out the window, I ran for my camera, and this is the sequence I caught.

Just a couple more of the wonderful reasons that I love living in Placitas!
~Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator

It's Balloon Fiesta!

2009-10-07T11:32:00.001-06:00

Don’t Worry…Bee Happy!! It’s Balloon Fiesta!

~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

Life is GOOD!

2009-10-06T11:25:00.002-06:00

Today is my husband's birthday. We're enjoying a gorgeous Fall day in Jemez at our cabin on Jemez Creek. We had a wonderful celebratory week-end with two of our daughters, our sons-in-law, and our adorable grandsons, aged 7 months and 10 months. I drove back Saturday and Sunday to hold open houses since this was balloon fiesta kick-off week-end, so I missed some of the fun, but it's alright, and today I have the entire day with my sweetheart of 34 years, and we'll have a delicious birthday dinner at The Range tonight. Life is GOOD!
~Sandy Poling, e-PRO, Associate Broker

TENT ROCKS NATIONAL PARK

2009-09-28T15:46:00.003-06:00

A short drive north from Placitas is Tent Rocks National Park – another glorious place to visit here. If you love to hike, you’ll love this area. There are 2 hiking trails – one difficult about 1.9 miles uphill with tight spaces between large rock formations, the other a relatively easy 1.2 miles that loops back to the parking area. We encountered several folks on the trail along the way and many ooh’s and ahh’s were heard during the hike. If you head that way, don’t forget to bring water since there is none available at Tent Rocks. The entrance fee to the park is $5 per car.
~Lynn Koch, CRS, Associate Broker

2009-09-23T14:23:00.000-06:00

We awoke one morning to find this incredibly intricate nest made from yucca strands on our back patio. Apparently the nest was blown down by the wind. My husband very carefully nailed it to a post among our Virginia creeper vines. A couple of weeks later we heard this chatter to find the Scott’s Orioles had laid eggs and these are two of the baby birds anxiously waiting for food. We watched these babies grow and slowly begin to spread their wings till they were strong enough to fly away.

~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

Michael Prokos bowl with sunflower

2009-09-22T11:18:00.002-06:00

Isn't this a lovely bowl!

~Lucy Noyes, Associate Broker

Cabezon Cows

2009-09-18T14:02:00.001-06:00

Growing up in Chicago and being quite the “city girl” before moving to New Mexico in 1997 a scene like this one would have only been seen in a movie! The location is near Cabezon peak, a volcanic plug created millions of years ago. It is about a 40 minute drive from our home in Placitas, shorter than my old trek to my office in downtown Chicago. It is truly one of the many magical places we visit frequently and often comment how New Mexico is like living in a geology exhibit. The cows even agreed to pose for us.
~Mindy Prokos, ABR, Associate Broker

2009-09-16T10:15:00.001-06:00

From the kitchen table I am looking out to our little patch of grass (there are some things one just can’t give up!) and our old, tall pine tree which must have been planted the first week the original owners moved in over 45 years ago. Birds galore, and bees, hundreds of them…They have been living in one of our canales for several years and one summer found their way into the unused bedroom. What a surprise that was. Neither my husband nor I have ever been stung, and occasionally I wonder if the hummers ever get a sting, but in reality all species seem to tolerate the other. We keep thinking we will call a beekeeper whose name I have, but the summers go by and it just never happens. Maybe we keep hoping for honey!

My husband just came in, having interrupted the journey of a migrating tarantula, which he will relocate outside the front wall. He is encouraging me to come with him to our vegetable garden to harvest beets, beans, tomatoes, carrots, SQUASH – soon there will be melons of various kinds. Until next time, enjoy the rest of summer and the beginning of fall.

~Marilyn Wilkerson, GRI, Associate Broker

Friends of La Puerta at Placias Library Hoedown

2009-09-15T12:08:00.008-06:00

~Photos by Lucy Noyes, Associate Broker

Courtyard at Sunrise

2009-09-09T09:45:00.003-06:00

This is my favorite time of year. The garden is full of wonderful goodies to share with neighbors. The air is cooling off making for wonderful walks among the Juniper and Pinon trees. I relish sitting in my front courtyard watching the sun come up over the Village while listening to the multitude of birds greeting the day.
I plant me courtyard to produce waves of color each season, these are all low water use plants that go crazy this time of year when it cools down just a little. The grass is buffalo and gramma which use very little water. The colors are enhanced by the awesome glow of the sunrise. Thank you Mother Nature.

~Gail McGough-Maduena, GRI, Associate Broker

Bouncing Baby Girl!

2009-09-08T12:03:00.002-06:00

The Rio Grande Zoo is pleased to announce the arrival of a beautiful baby Asian Elephant weighing in at a mere 318-pounds. The bouncing baby girl arrived on Wednesday morning 9/2/09 and is currently bonding with her mom, Rozie. Rozie was the first elephant born at the Rio Grande Zoo, and this new bouncing baby girl is the second. Rozie has been pregnant since November 2007, and has received excellent care during her 22-month pregnancy. Although Rozie and her baby are behind the scenes, spending some private time bonding, they'll be out and about in the elephant yard soon, so keep an eye on the @cabq Twitter account and the BioPark Facebook page for updates!
Lynn Koch, CRS (as read in CABQ.gov – the City of Albuquerque website).

Picking, squeezing grapes a family project.

2009-09-03T09:28:00.007-06:00

Yes, grapes grow in New Mexico, and the end of August is a time of harvest.
In 1884 New Mexico was fifth in the nation in wine production with vineyards up and down the Rio Grande. Orchards and vineyards in Placitas date back over a thousand years and were watered by spring-fed irrigation systems still used today by Anasazi Fields Winery in the Village of Placitas. In the early days wine production in the lowlands was always affected by the constant flooding of the Rio Grande River. Prohibition in 1920 was the coup de grace to wine production for almost 50 years. Today, however, thanks to the work of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, which began in the 1920s to reclaim land for agriculture, river flooding has been controlled by1200 miles of ditches and canals, providing irrigation water for farmlands, open space, wildlife, and recreational opportunities. New Mexico is back in wine production with over 20 operating wineries. Labor Day weekend is celebrated in Bernalillo by a huge Wine Festival, attended by most of the wineries with wine for tasting and for sale. There will be music, local foods and art and all our neighbors clinking glasses and having fun.

~Lucy Noyes, CRB, CRS, Associate Broker

Everyone Matters in Placitas

2009-09-02T09:18:00.001-06:00

Moving to a new place can be a life changing experience. Where can you go when people take the time to wave to you? When was the last time you had someone start up a friendly conversation O.K. fast forward please…

Paradise does exist here in Placitas. Yes, we have spectacular skies where you can see the stars. Nature appears supernatural, especially in the early whispers of the morning. Jackrabbits, cottontails, wild horses, and even an occasional bobcat seem pretty impressive at times. Placitians rarely complain about nature’s wonderful gifts.

Moving here was an astonishing experience and an easy transition to make. For starters, folks from all paths of life were welcoming, friendly and passionate about their community.

My new found friends wanted to share this ‘jewel’ of a community with us! They opened up their hearts and homes before we could even get unpacked.
A special thanks to all who live here. Your helpful insights, expertise, and knowledge came in handy. I have the utmost gratitude for folks who can take the time to make someone else matter. This is a great place to be and we’re proud of it.

~Pat Turner, Associate Broker

Life's Been Good these Past Seven Years!

2009-08-31T11:36:00.003-06:00

Today is my eldest daughter’s seventh anniversary. I remember that day of running around preparing for her wedding and reception happening at our house. We expected to accommodate 200 guests and staff. We live in the far northeast end of Placitas on top of a narrow ridge on a dirt road, so we arranged for our guests to park at the Post Office and shuttle over via 3 rented vans. We had fancy outhouses and scattered lots of cedar and lavender from Clear Light Cedar Co. to keep things smelling festive. We erected two large rental tents in our parking area for dinner and dancing. It all ran smoothly except for the band getting lost and starting late, but we danced until 3 AM and it was a glorious evening. Now Camian and Erik have a six-month old son, Kaden, who brings tremendous joy to us all. Life is Good!

~Sandy Poling, Associate Broker

You can grow way too much zucchini in Placitas!

2009-08-31T10:24:00.003-06:00

Photos by Lucy Noyes, CRS, CRB, Associate Broker

RAINBOW GLORY!

2009-08-26T14:13:00.002-06:00

To live in New Mexico is to live with the sky. The sky is an ever changing kaleidoscope of colors and shapes, of constant movement. You never get tired of waking up and looking to see what the day will bring. In Placitas, we protect our night skies with minimal artificial lighting so we can gaze at the stars.

After a torrential downpour yesterday evening, we were rewarded with breathtakingly beautiful rainbows. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was the gift that nature bestowed – the rainbow itself.

~Lynn Koch, CRS, Associate Broker

Blade's Bistro Dinner

2009-08-25T11:49:00.004-06:00

On Friday night, we sat on the patio at Blade’s Bistro enjoying the live jazz band and the sunset. There were 6 of us and we all decided on a variety of different foods. We ordered their special spinach salad with roasted beets and goat cheese, gazpacho with watermelon and grilled artichokes ---- and those were only the starters! We had a lovely leisurely meal with nice wine and fabulous company --- a beautiful evening spent under the stars in Placitas.

~ Lynn Koch, CRS, Associate Broker

Baby Coyotes

2009-08-24T13:42:00.003-06:00

What a nice surprise to open my email and see the exceptional picture of baby coyotes that my friend Julie Brown sent to me. The baby coyotes were in her back yard and unaware of her presence. I am sure the coyotes parents were close by to protect them. Coyotes have always intrigued me and I admire them from a distance. It is just one of the wonders of living in New Mexico.

~Lauren Herman, CRS, GRI, e-Pro®, Associate Broker

Placitas Summer Mountains

2009-08-21T12:08:00.002-06:00

About every month throughout every season, I try to take a picture of the amazing view from my home in Placitas. Here are a few of the best from this summer. Wait till you see this view with snow… simply stunning!
Happy Friday everyone, enjoy the weekend.
~Marisa Johnson, Associate Broker

Bees on Russian Sage

2009-08-19T12:28:00.002-06:00

What a beautiful morning it is in Placitas. I’m looking outside my window and watching the bees working away at the Russian Sage. Every day they go to work gathering up pollen. There must be 20 to 30 of them in the bush outside my office window. Once in awhile a bird or two will land on a branch and sing. It doesn’t bother the bees at all. They just continue to press on with their purpose in life.

~Rhonda Leonard, Qualifying Broker

La Sombra

2009-08-18T13:27:00.007-06:00

La Sombra. Shade, hammock, mountain--just waiting to be enjoyed on a lazy summer day in Placitas.

Lucy Noyes, CRS, CRB, Associate Broker

A Spring Bath in Placitas

2009-08-18T10:59:00.002-06:00

I’m sitting here in our living room, looking at the waterfalls, stream and fishpond in our “backyard”. The roses are beginning to bloom and the cattails and pussy-willow tree are greening up, trying to match the rich colors of the junipers and cedars. Suddenly, a robin swoops down and perches on a piece of reed lodged near the lower waterfall. He looks around and (at least in my imagination) realizes there are no predators around. (He’s oblivious to the gawking, though harmless, voyeur - me - watching his every move in awe.) He begins to preen (Picture 1), deciding that water slowly moving in a cool-looking stream is terribly inviting. He begins to splash the water all over his golden-orange breast and body (Pictures 2-3), until he’s again the ambassador bird (Picture 4), ready to roam, spreading charm throughout. I’m reminded that one should take the time to “smell the roses” and enjoy the wondrous thrill of a miraculous creature taking a solitary bath – another of the many splendors of our beautiful Placitas!

Eva Marie Renninger, Transaction Coordinator

Ice Cream Social

2009-08-17T10:06:00.003-06:00

On Saturday La Puerta Real Estate held an old-fashioned ice cream social to obtain food donations for Placitas’ local food bank–Casa Rosa. It was a typically beautiful Placitas day with white fluffy clouds, blue skies & that wonderful crisp smell that people associate with New Mexico. What can be better than getting together with friends & neighbors enjoying an ice cream cone or sundae on a warm 87 degree afternoon & helping those in need?

Without question, the top preferred ice cream flavors for Placitans are 1) coffee and 2) chocolate. Now I guessed that chocolate would have been a favorite, but coffee? That was a surprise!

In chatting with the Casa Rosa folks they said they recycle plastic water bottles & plastic shopping bags, those pesky plastics that seem to spontaneously reproduce. So now instead of feeling guilty, we can feel good about passing them on to Casa Rosa.

Lynn Koch, CRS, Associate Broker

Chamisa and the Monarch Butterfly

2009-08-04T11:22:00.006-06:00

I sit at my sunny desk and watch through my window at what looks to be Monarch butterflies (It could be the North American Viceroy, I suppose, but I don’t choose to think so) flitting here and there landing on the chamisa which is glowing in the sunlight, still beautifully golden—this clump not yet having reached the silvery going-to-seed stage. It’s such a lovely sight, and I saw the same phenomenon yesterday when I stopped to talk with the pinon wood salesman stationed between a bank of blossoming and gently blowing chamisa. Yes, I did buy wood as it is getting to be time for nightly fires in the kiva fireplace. It’s a treat to watch the fire while cooking and a cozy and warm atmosphere for eating dinner—celebrating the sunset and the end of another day on the high desert in New Mexico. ~ Lucy Noyes, CRS, CRB, Associate Broker