Northern New Mexico: Where My Heart Is--Janie Franz

When most people think of New Mexico, they either think of hot desert country like Arizona. In truth, though the whole state is considered high desert country, it isn’t very much like Arizona except in the far south. Up here in northern New Mexico where I live, you’ll find it a much different landscape with its own ambient charms.

I live on the edge of Santa Fe, in an ancient village community called Agua Fria. Francisco de Madrid started farming the area in 1603, participating in a long history of native peoples who had farmed the flood plains of the Santa Fe River for over 4000 years. Originally the village was called Ca-Tee-Ka by the Tano and Tewa peoples. Both Ca-Tee-Ka and Agua Fria mean Cold Water. It became an official town in 1640, spanning the area around present day Aqua Fria Street, which is part of the original El Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The capital city was originally named La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís, the Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi.

I live off San Isidro Crossing, along Rivers Edge Lane, a caliche road along the Santa Fe River. There is a Texas crossing along San Isidro Crossing, which means in very wet years like this one you have to ford the river there to get up to Agua Fria Street. The crossing is named for San Isidro Church, which was built in 1835. Because Santa Fe raised its reservoirs in 1945, farming is no longer possible in the village.

Yet here sprang a rich culture and community built upon a different landscape than arid deserts. It is part of a wider grouping of small towns in northern New Mexico. Less than an hour outside of Santa Fe, going east on I-25, is part of the lush Santa Fe National Forest where the Pecos River begins and rushes southward. Here among its stands of pinon pine and burr oak, there is respite from the rushing of city life.  The Santa Fe National Forest encompasses 1.6 million acres around Santa Fe and spreads northward both east and west of the city.

Farther up I-25 is the sprawling city of Las Vegas, NM. At one time it was called Meadow City and was established because of the vital sheep ranching in the region. It was established in 1835 around a single plaza in the traditional Spanish Colonial style.

When the railroad came in, a Harvey House was built near the rail center to accommodate visitors. Harvey Houses were started by Fred Harvey as chain hotels with fine dining restaurants. Though the business has long since closed, it is being restored by the community as a museum.

Las Vegas is a welcoming community that holds a 4 to 5 day fiesta around the 4^th of July. Norteno music is at the heart of this fiesta, often featuring legends such as Al Hurricane, Jr, Chris Arellano, and Carlos Medina.

Northwest of Santa Fe, Route 285 takes you to Espanola where can go further north to Taos, NM. Founded ouside of Taso Pueblo, the city, like Santa Fe is an artist mecca and home of local musicians, including Billy Stewart and his old time banjo. Just outside of Taos lie vast acres of public land where even wild horses roam.

And sometimes you catch a farrier at work, such as Alexander Gavurnik of Circle G Horse Shoeing.

If you take another route out of Espanola, you’ll find pasture lands and wooded mountains around Chama, NM. It boasts steam train excursions throughout the year. Chama is the gateway to Colorado yet offers great hunting, fishing, and camping. It is another idyllic region in northern New Mexico.

So next time you think of New Mexico, consider coming to northern New Mexico. Explore the hospitality of the people, listen to the music, enjoy the great food, and, most of all, breathe the fresh mountain air.

Though my latest book, Ruins Legacy, takes place in Arizona, I am researching a spin-off, a murder mystery, that will start out in Arizona but will be mostly in New Mexico. It’s a whole different genre for me!

Janie Franz comes from a long line of liars and storytellers with deep roots in East Tennessee. Her anthropology degree is a refection of her wide curiosity. She is an author, a professional speaker, the US acquisition editor and a content editor for MuseItUp Publishing, an academic editor, ghostwriter, and reviewer. Previously, she published an online music publication (Refrain Magazine) and was an agent/publicist for a groove/funk band, a radio announcer, a yoga/relaxation instructor, a music festival publicist, and private chef.  She is the author of twelve titles with MUSE, a freelance writing manual, co-author of two wedding how-to books, and a self-help book. Refrain, Book 2 of The Lost Song trilogy, was a Top 10 Finisher, Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy, 2013 Preditors & Editors Reader Poll. She lives in Santa Fe where she writes fantasy, archaeology thrillers, paranormal, and contemporaries—and can be found on a dance floor.

Links:

Author Page: https://authorjaniefranz.wordpress.com

Muse It Up Author page:  https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/56-our-authors/authors-f/145-author-43673

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Janie-Franz/e/B00IT45VYY?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1561235297&sr=8-1

(All material provided/released by author)