STROLLING THROUGH SHAKESPEARE, SUNSHINE, AND DOWN THE GARDEN PATH

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

"What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine."  Bet you didn't know that was first said by William Shakespeare.  Well, I have to admit, he might not have been the first, but it was one of the lines in his black comedy, Measure for Measure. Vannie and Dave enjoyed seeing this play at the Taos Brewing Company last Friday night.  This is a restaurant/bar out on the Rio Grande Gorge Road.  According to Vannie, the owners have built a very interesting amphitheater out back.  It is built in the style of the earth ships out on Highway 64 north of Taos. Everything is build from recyclable materials.
 

These are two "ladies of the evening" performing in Measure for Measure.

As the sun went down, Dave said the theatre and the actors seemed to glow!

 

V and D were up-close and personal...pays to be there early.

 

Before the play, V and D enjoyed lunch at one of their fave restaurants in Taos, El Gamal.

It is Middle Eastern with yummy vegetarian delights.  Dave is wolfing down an eggplant concoction.

Cool little shop next to El Gamal.  Check out those hollyhocks.  Vannie loves those hollyhocks.  She said her dad used to grow them in his flower garden in Mrs. Thaxton's field behind their house in Bernice, LA.

Just some pretty scenery Vannie snapped during their walk around Taos.

V and D always love to stop by Igar Jirby's Studio on LeDoux Street Taos.  She is quite a character and fun to visit with.

 

Yes...seeing is believing...another hike. This one was up by Sawmill Creek.  It was a 4 1/2 mile hike.  V and D went with a group from the Community House in Red River.  Dave said he loved going with groups like this.  There is always someone that is a history buff and gives out all kinds of information about the area.  They were not disappointed on this hike.  One of the guys showed everyone "The Big Ditch".  The "Ditch" was created around 1867 to divert water from the Red River. Because of the mining boom, the creeks of the area were found to be inadequate to supply water for the mining operations and the citizens of the area.  Although it did not bring in as much water as hoped, it was used until around 1900. The "Ditch" was 41 miles long.  All the work was done by hand.  About 420 men were employed to do the work. A huge undertaking for the time.

 

Look at that Dave...He can always find a place to rest.

 

Vannie said that the wildflowers were out in force.  Here you can see Crimson Columbine and Wild Strawberries.

A flock of daisy-like flowers called Gazania.

Oh my goodness...Reminds me of another Shakespeare play, Midsummer Night's Dream.

This, my friends, is a beautiful Fairy Slipper.  Vannie said they didn't see many...but oh so sweet! 

Bet you didn't know I was a Shakespeare buff...lol

A Bristlecone Pine Tree...Dave said they saw a 1000 year old one.  1000 years old...come on...were they sure.  Guess I can't argue.

A Field of Wild Blue Irises...Looks like the beautiful blue Louisiana Irises...

V said it was just a taste of home.

 

Half way point...Lunch time...V and D said that they were keeping their eyes open for elk...but, alas, all they saw was elk poop.  They did not know what elk poop looked like, but one of the other guys was pretty sure it spotted some. Ahhhh...to be able to identify poop...a life long dream! 

 

Have a good day...and find some poop to analyze.   Yeah...right!