road tripping [part iii]

Sometimes, things don't go according to plan. No matter how carefully scheduled one's itinerary is, it seems that God always has something different in mind. Case in point: I had planned to post this last night, but Blogger crashed, deleting nearly everything I'd done. Then wildfires broke out five miles from us (one of which has grown to over ninety thousand acres since its start three days ago), forcing us to rethink our journey.

 Smoke billowed from the blazes, the plumes raising to thirty thousand feet above the ground. Everything was bathed in a strange orange glow and the smell of smoke was strong in the air.

So I'm back in Taos, though this time I'm tapping at my keyboard from a cozy hotel room instead of watching the sun slip behind the mountains. While I'm a bit disappointed we didn't make it to Santa Fe, due to the severity of the smoke there as well as evacuees, Taos has by far been my favorite stop in New Mexico.

There were times when the city girl in me reared her head, lamenting over the dust that seemed to find its way into everything, the gnats constantly buzzing, the walks to the bathroom in the darkness of night (where MeMe ran across a rattlesnake one night...eek).

But then there were moments like seeing the world spread out before you after hiking to the top of a mesa seven hundred feet above the ground – it made the bugs and dirt worth it. Heights make my palms damp and heart race, but while balanced (slightly precariously) on the edge of a rock, gazing at everything below me, it wasn't quite so bad.

The temperature – which, we were told, was unseasonably high – dipped for a few hours, giving us some time to go to a lake. The water was choppy from the wind, and against a backdrop of smoke shrouded mountains, it was beautiful. I sat on a rock jutting out over the water, absorbing my surroundings. The wind snarled and twisted my hair into knots, but at that moment it didn't matter.

Today we being the trek home. These past nine days have been brimming with new things and time spent with family and friends – a combination sure to garner a lovely time. Our time here will be slipped into the well worn journal that is our family history, a vacation that will evoke laughter and smiles when thought of. While I'll be glad to return to a soft bed and not having to live out of a suitcase, I'm going to miss New Mexico and all the memories we've made here.

Today I'll say goodbye to New Mexico and all its beauty and say hello to the wind swept plains of Oklahoma that I call home.

Happy Thursday, friends.

-carlotta

hey there, it's nice to meet you.

While I love blogging, I'm constantly sharing only my thoughts and how I feel. When I saw this post on  Lauren's blog, I was inspired to do a version of it on here to get to know you a bit better.

corn necklaces at taos pueblo...more later.

[one] what is your first name, middle name and nickname(s)?
Carlotta Cisternas and Wusi (family name...long story ;)), Carlyotta, Carl, Latte...Carlotta doesn't have very good nicknames, y'all.

[two] what are some of your favorite blogs?
Among myriad of others, Enjoying the Small Things, The Daybook, and WishWishWish.


[three] what is your dream occupation?
A blogger/photographer. Please don't laugh...you'll crush my far-fetched wishes. Ahem. ;)


[four] what is your favorite food?
My mom's baked macaroni and cheese. Homemade cinnamon rolls are a close second, as is anything with chocolate.


[five] what do you prefer to swim in: ocean, lake, or pool?
I've experienced all three, and while they each have their advantages, I'm going to have to go with a pool. I'm terrified of not knowing what kind of creatures are slithering below me. Shudder.

Just copy and paste these questions into your comments and add your answers -- I can't wait to meet/learn more about you!

-carlotta

road tripping [part ii]

The fifth day of camping, exploring, and cross-crossing through the state has drawn to a close, and I'm perfectly complacent. Blogging while sitting under a waning New Mexico sky (those of you that guessed this beautiful state as our next stop were right!), the sunset silhouetting the Rocky Mountains, is an experience I haven't had before, and likewise an experience I'm not likely to forget.

It's funny, I haven't been missing the internet as much as I though I would. On the contrary, I'm rather enjoying time away from electronic distractions and just being with family instead. Though I'm not complaining about having wifi at this campground in Taos, it's nice to be away.

In the five days we've been traveling around, I've learned much about this beautiful state, like the following.

[one] We rolled into New Mexico yesterday. You'd think I'd be accustomed to wide, open spaces, with only fences here and there to break up the land, but the area we drove through was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The road seemed to stretch for miles and miles on end; except for the occasional abandoned ramshackle homes, there was nothing in the vast prairie.

[two] Everything tastes better outside. Whether it's wedges of watermelon or an ice cream sandwich, nothing rivals eating out in the fresh air.

[three] Seeing "The Shadow of the Cross" in person was breathtaking. A seemingly normal painting of Jesus with the lights on, it is transformed in the darkness. A cross appears over Jesus' left shoulder, the painting glows, and Jesus becomes three-dimensional.

Though I didn't see it, some also see the water of the Sea of Galilee moving, as well as Jesus' robe flowing. You can read more about the painting here; the fact that the second part of the painting simple appeared and was not made is astonishing.

[four] Taos is one of the most beautiful cities. Ever. True, I've traipsed through the streets of Paris, weaved my way through many a town in Europe, but there's something special about this town.

Adobe styled buildings surround you, making even the tackiest shop seem not quite so cheesy. The atmosphere is sublime, from the sounds of street musicians to the smell of food.

[five] The color turquoise is everywhere. The shades vary from cerulean to deep azure and they're everywhere from window frames to the stunning sky. I can't get enough of it, y'all.

I love New Mexico. And vacations. And road trips. And life.

-carlotta

road tripping [part i]

I'm burrowed in a mountain of hotel pillows, relishing in having internet access for the first time in over two days. Not having something for awhile makes you realize how much you take it for granted.

For the past two days, we've been nestled in the rocky cliffs of northwest Oklahoma. Sharing a cabin with dear friends, it was perfection.

Within three hours of being there, we saw a tarantula crossing the road (talk about a freak out) and this giant.

a comparison shot...is it not huge?

We explored the trails cross-crossing through the woods and discovered a natural spring.

Looking at it for the first time, I gasped. Dragonflies, hundreds of them, flitting back and forth in the dappled sunlight. The soft babble of the brook paired with the chirp of birds made a song more beautiful that anything man made. It was gorgeous. Perfectly mystical, looking like it hadn't changed in two hundred years, it was straight out of a film. 

The spring gushed piercingly cold, clear water, evoking involuntary wheezes as the frigid water came in contact with skin, shooting tingles throughout one's body.

After frolicking in the springs, there's nothing better than ice cream from the general store. We ate it on their patio, decorated with strings of lights, bits of lace, and checkered tablecloths.

I love road tripping.

Any guesses on what state our next stop is going to be?

-carlotta

PS I apologize if you're awaiting my reply to your email...I'll do my best, but it's rather difficult when internet access is sparse. I hope you understand!

this is life.

It's 6:54am and I'm tired. My laptop is balanced precariously on my legs -- I don't want to leave the warm, soft sanctuary that is my bed. The only thing that's keeping me up are the sounds of my computer keys clacking, the whir of my fan, and the birds chirping out my window.

It's 6:54am, and though I'm tired, I'm thinking about life. As I look around the room, at my suitcase that is so full it can't possibly hold another pair of socks, much less another dress, and at the clothes strewn around after a battle of What Gets Packed, I feel content.

Getting ready for a trip can be stressful. There are so many things to be accounted for, so many bags that need to be packed, so much planning to be done. Come to our house the night before we leave on vacation and you'll most definitely find us (or at least me) in a frenzy.

But it's these times, those wonderful, excited moments right before a trip, the "what do I wear because everything is packed" moments. These moments scream life.

Because my life is crazy. Stressful at times. Messy. Gritty.

It's dirty mirrors, unmade beds, permanently wearing dress up clothing (like my mother's red sari she got while in India). dancing to the radio, laughing and giggling. 

It's the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans, courteousy of my brother and mother. Because, really, without coffee, where would we be in life?

It's dancing around in my new shoes -- navy blue + wedges + bows...what's not to love? -- regardless that we're just at home and aren't going anywhere. Because, hey, life is short and if I have new wedges, why not wear them?

It's embracing the grain, being willing to overlook imperfections to see the beauty that lies past them.

And then there are times when life is so amazing that you can't refrain from dancing and leaping in your swimsuit.

This is life. And it's beautiful.

Also, I'd love if you'd answer this question: describe your life in three words. My answer is crazy, messy, and beautiful.

Happy Monday, friends.

-carlotta

never forget

I went to Joplin yesterday. What I was expecting, I wasn't sure, but I knew that it would be an experience I'd never forget.

Spawled in the backseat, I passed the time reading and photographed the Oklahoma farmland that whizzed by. I tried, unsuccessfully, to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to see, but my heart just pounded in a mixture of anticipation and dread instead.

For the exception of a few downed tree limbs, the town looked normal as we drove up to the church to drop off the trailer of supplies we brought. But then, peering down the road, we saw a different sight. The trees, leafy and green, that lined the road suddenly changed into gnarled, twisted messes, void of leaves and bark. Transformed from tall and majestic to broken and barren, they stood out against the rubble. 

We switched to an ATV and drove around the neighborhoods, offering Gatorade to thirsty workers sifting through the destruction. Address were spray painted on homes and street names were on the asphalt as all the street signs were gone.

Houses and buildings were just unrecognizable twisted piles of metal and wood. Lone closets rose out of the debris, clothes still hanging perfectly on their hangers. 

I wasn't prepared for how severe the damage still was three weeks later. The tornado wreaked such havoc, transforming people's lives in a mere fifteen minutes. While watching this video, recorded in the heart of the storm, my stomach churned and my breath came in short puffs.

While watching the tornado destroy and take lives, seeing the aftermath with my own eyes, I had no words, but I was incredible humbled. I was so acutely aware of all I've been blessed with, things that I take for granted every day. A home. A bed. Family. Life.

Please, please, please pray for all the tornado victims -- they need it so very badly. And let us never forget how richly we're blessed.

-carlotta

PS guest posting over here today!