Horses, Hippie Hovels, and Hamlet

Went with Rebecca today to feed and water her horse, Spuds, who's boarding at the home of her artist friends on Coyote Loop, about two miles from our house. Spuds, a quarter horse, shares accommodations with Chagall, a once-wild mustang. Spuds was especially happy to see Rebecca; he'd been penned in his little stall and was eager to get out into the corral for some excercise. I watched in fascination as Rebecca went through her routine of putting hay in the feeder, emptying out the horses' water trough so they'd have mud to wade in (hooves can get dry and cracked in this hot weather, just like human hands and feet!), and spraying the horses with the hose to cool them off. I thought Spuds looked a little thinner than the last time I saw him, which was about a year ago. Rebecca says that Chagall, a wily devil, always tries to eat Spuds' share of the food unless she's there to keep a watchful eye. Chagall is a beautiful chestnut-colored horse with a lovely black mane, but is definitely on the chubby side. According to Rebecca, when she and Chagall's owner go out riding, Spuds has no trouble climbing the hills, but Chagall huffs and puffs and has lots of trouble with the steeper climbs--not exactly what you'd expect from a mighty mustang!

The artists who own Chagall live in a modified earthship that they built themselves. The back wall of the house is built into the ground, and the front wall has floor-to-ceiling windows that face south. An indoor planter spanning the length of the house is filled with orange trees, rose bushes, and tropical plants that thrive in the constant sunlight. The floor is stained concrete, broken in pieces resembling flagstone. A "truth window" in a back corner of the house reveals what the home is made of: aluminum cans and mortar. Two wood-burning stoves provide heat in the winter, and lights in the ceiling are surrounded by gallon-size tomato cans. As Rebecca says, it's a true hippie hovel, but it's functional and lovely in a very Taos sort of way.
In addition to their horse, the artists also have a rooster, Hamlet, and three hens who very kindly provide eggs for breakfast.

After days like these on the mesa, how can I ever go back to Minnesota?