I’ve been in bed all weekend with a bad cold.

Although I’m well on the mend, I’m still coughing and sneezing a bit so I’ll be laying low just a little longer.

This morning I took a short, ten minute walk down a little dirt lane in my neighborhood. It’s a lovely stroll along a very hidden rural track right in town. At the end of the lane, the view of Taos Mountain across the open fields, is breathtaking.

I take this walk most mornings before I start my day, but as the weather warms up I like to go for longer walks, cutting across town, through the Plaza, up Kit Carson Road to Morada Lane.

I walk past the Mabel Dodge House, across from the Pink House (where many of her guests, including D.H. Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe, stayed). Rumour has it Willa Cather finished her seminal book Death Comes For The Archbishop, in that house.

I walk up onto the ridge behind Mabel’s property that borders the Pueblo Lands, and continue along the well trodden path that follows the borderline between Town and Indian Land.

At the end of the path, there’s an old Penitente Morada. A cross stands sentinel against the big sky.

I stop short of the squat, windowless adobe structure and turn around to retrace my steps.

But not before I give thanks to Taos Mountain, for giving me safe harbour for so long.

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll feel well enough to go, but today my little neighborhood lane will suffice.

All photos stock files.