Late morning, great weather, I leave to visit the DH Lawrence ranch north of Taos. The road goes up, and I get to the edge of the forest. A dark place in this early spring, maybe it’s better in the light and warmth of summer. The snow has not yet melted.
During their second visit to Taos, in May 1924, D. H. Lawrence and his wife Frieda settled into the ranch that Mabel Lodge Luhan had given them. Their friend, Dorothy Brett, was with them and lived for a few months in the small cabin next door.
Georgia O’Keeffe met Lawrence in Taos. He invited her several times to the ranch. It was there that she painted The Lawrence Tree after dark. The ponderosa pine is still there! Or is it a new one that liked the painting and wanted to embody it?
And finally, I find this warning stuck on the door of the house for the guides!
I rush home, change my clothes. It is Easter Sunday; yesterday, Robbie had suggested brunch at Graham’s Grille. We arrive just about simultaneously. As usual, the meal is delicious. We talk of our children, of photo projects, of travels.
Robbie suggests we go to her workshop, which I had seen only briefly after a meal with her and Jim.
She shows me her photos, prints, etchings, artist’s books.
Robbie tells me she’d like to exchange photos.
– “Yes! Great idea!”
I give Robbie the book on Pierrefeu, Lisières du Temps, and a print of the Yosemite River that she liked very much when I showed her some photos. She gives me one of her artist’s books, which I like tremendously, Memento Mori, which exemplifies the whole of her art and evokes Taos and its women.
When Robbie’s friend Jenny arrives, we go for a walk, which starts at the end of Route 570. We wind our way down by paths and rocks towards the Rio Pueblo where Jenny, who studies petroglyphs, points some out to us, including one that is authentically 21st century.
A rushed return because this evening the Wurlitzerians dine together at a restaurant. As usual we have great fun, and we end up eating ice cream at my place. Oops, I don’t have any alcohol. We’ll really feel the lack of it this evening.