Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM 10/10/2013

On the road again Thursday Oct. 10

To Ghost Ranch, NW of Abiquiu.  We had a 30 minute history tour of the Ranch. We learned lots of legends.  The people called it Rancho de los Brujos, meaning Ranch of the Witches.

Learned about the Spanish conquistadors who arrive in 1598.

In the 1930's Georgia O'Keeffe feel in love with the New Mexico landscape.  She owned a summerhome on Ghost Ranch and painted numerouse New Mexico scenes.

                                 The landscape was breathtaking with the dark clouds moving thru.

We were going to take the 3 mile round trip to Chimney Rock but it was drizzly so we didn't.

Ghost House was built in 1892.

Interior of the Ghost House

My little claim to knowing Georgia O'Keeffe is that I grew up on a farm one mile from where
she was born near Sun Prairie, WI.  In fact I babysat in the hour she was born.

Mule skin on the wall.

Miss O'Keeffe painted a similar skull and it became the logo of the Ghost Ranch. 

Leather chair of 1890's.

We ended the tour in the library.  And had the treat of a lifetime.  Our tour guide said
ask Carol, the Librarian about her time with Georgia O'Keeffe.
Carol talked with us for 2 hours.  She spent 7 years on weekends with Ms. O'Keeffe organizing her library and doing other things.  Carol eventually condensed her journals into poems.  We bought her book which she autographed.  What a highlight of our trip.

Now the Ghost Ranch is Presbyterian and education retreat center.  

This is the Health Center.

Toured the Museum of Paleontology.
The guide had a great sense of humor.

At the Museum of Anthropology

Modern day artwork

Still trying to capture and share the beauty of an overcast day.

We stayed again at Abiquiu Lake Corp of Engineers Campground.
What a surprising treasure we received today.