Exploring Ghost Ranch

On Friday, after excellent breakfast burritos made by Aunt and Uncle, we headed to Ghost Ranch. I've always wanted to visit since Georgia O'Keefe has been my favorite artist ever since I did a report on her in 7th grade, but somehow we've never made it there. It was about an hour drive and once we arrived it was spectacular! It's very rugged terrain and I couldn't imagine what it was like to travel from Santa Fe back in O'Keefe's day. The pictures I took really don't do it justice though.

We checked in at the visitor's center and decided to go to the museum first (see other post). After the museum it was time for lunch, so we walked up to the community cafeteria and made sandwiches and salads and sat outside to enjoy it. We decided not to pack the hiking backpack that Olivia would fit into and we were both regretting it since carrying a 31 lb baby around for long periods isn't easy! We hung out in chairs in the shade while Sofia played in the sand and pretended that she was a paleontologist finding a complete dinosaur skeleton. She used twigs and sticks as the bones! After a while we decided to do a short hike, but it soon became clear that Olivia wasn't going to manage. So, I carried her to a chair in the shade by the visitor's center and let her sleep fitfully on my shoulder while CK, Aunt Shirl, Uncle Steve, and Sofia hiked. They had a great time and said the views were amazing and were back within an hour.

Aunt Shirl, Sofia and I then headed to the stables where we had a reservation to ride horses - Sofia's other favorite of Ghost Ranch! Sofia had to stay and be led around the paddock, but Aunt Shirl and I were able to take our horses on a trail ride for a bit. It was short but really fun and I quickly realized how amazing it would be to ride a horse through that amazing scenery. It felt good to be back on a horse after years too! Sofia had a lot of fun and the stuff were really friendly and helpful. At the end, Olivia sat with me on "Poo" but she was far more interested in the helmet straps than the horse!

After the ride, we loaded back up in the car and headed to dinner (see other post).

Sofia walking to the cafeteria (under the trees)

Aunt Shirl coming toward us

Our little paleontologist!

Hanging out in the shade

Hiking

Sofia and the scenery

Sofia with Chimney Rock in the background

Napping with Papa

Aunt Shirl and I on our ride

We look so small in the grand view!

Finishing up our ride

Poo and me

Poo, Little Poo, and me!

Sofia with her horse and ready to get started

Giving horse kisses

Meeting "Bow," the horse she ended up riding

Riding with Aunt Shirl!

Sofia in the arena

Watching Sofia ride

Love the scenery!

Aunt Shirl on her horse

Sofia riding "Miss Gracie"

Olivia has to ride too!