From Santa Fe to Abiquiu to Ghost Ranch
On Sunday, April 17, I headed out from Albuquerque toward Santa Fe. I met up with my friend Susan who I’ve known since Junior high at JFK airport and together we boarded the plane to Albuquerque. What an overwhelming feeling to be setting out on our New Mexico journey! As I followed the trail to Georgia O’Keeffe’s special places, I would be able to experience her world through my own eyes and senses. It’s different than looking at her artwork which is always an interpretation, an abstraction.

an old mining town that has become a fun and funky arts village.
The Back Story
For some time now, I have longed to visit the New Mexico landscape that inspired so many of Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. And I have also wanted to honor my real mother Shay who also loves Northern New Mexico. Whenever they could, my mom and her second husband John Butasek would travel by car to New Mexico. There they discovered a heart-felt connection to place. So, after our 2020 family trip was canceled due to the pandemic, I knew it was only a matter of time before I fulfilled this travel dream.
Following her footsteps: the Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe with a stop in Madrid
We began our travels, with me at the wheel and my friend Susan navigating. I felt the thrill of being an explorer in unknown terrain. While driving our snazzy rental, a red Kia sedan, I tried to imagine O’Keefe in her Model A Ford driving down bumpy unpaved roads in the back country. From Albuquerque, we headed east on a short leg of the old Route 66 to the Turquoise Trail. As we turned onto Highway 14 heading north, the desert terrain opened up before our eyes. Traversing through juniper scrublands with mountains in the far distance, I sensed the vastness of the New Mexico landscape. To me, this land was as different from Maine as possible, save going into outer space. *note the alien we spotted on the outskirts of Madrid!
A side trip: Bandolier National Monument
After spending two days exploring Santa Fe and a day luxuriating in the warm spa waters at the Ojo spa, Susan and I drove to Bandolier National Monument. There we took the loop trail and climbed ladders to peer peeking into the ancient cliff dwellings. Upon leaving Bandolier, we headed farther northwest to Abiquiu, the small village (pueblo) near the Rio Grande River where Georgia O’Keeffe spent the latter portion of her life.
Arriving! Plaza Blanca and O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiu
If you are as much of a fan of Georgia O’Keefe’s life story and her artwork as I am, a visit to her home in Abiquiu is a special opportunity. I booked our tour of her home and studio months ahead of time. This turned out to be a good thing because they only take six people at a time and the tours fill up fast. Our visit to her home lasted about an hour and Barbara was a wonderful guide. One day I’ll visit the O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. And this is only one of many reasons to return. The pueblos were not open to the public due to Covid, and many other places we wanted to see had limited hours or were closed.
On the house/studio tour, we learned about the history of her home and how O’Keeffe had it lovingly restored and expanded over the course of three years. Interestingly, It took O’Keeffe ten years to wrest the property from the Catholic Church. Ultimately, her persistence and annual financial donations persuaded the church to sell her the property. At the time, the house was in ruins. I found it interesting to learn that Georgia O’Keeffe didn’t move to Abiquiu permanently until she was 63. Prior to that time, O’Keeffe summered at Ghost Ranch, a dude ranch up the road. Today we found Ghost Ranch to be a spacious and beautiful retreat center with two museums and many hiking trails.

Inspiration from the New Mexican Landscape
Georgia O’Keeffe had many favorite places to paint, including from the windows of her Abiquiu home studio, in the landscape at Ghost Ranch, at the White Place, and in many other spots where she camped. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a tour yourself, please visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum website: http://www.okeeffemuseum.org

A visit to Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiu
There is so much to say about her home and its furnishings–how meticulous she was in every detail and how simple yet inviting her spaces were. Much like O’Keeffe’s art, there was no detail left unconsidered in her environment. Everything was intentionally placed and served a purpose, functional or aesthetic. While it was a bit of a disappointment not to see her paints or easel in the studio, everything was left as it was when she died at the age of 99 in 19





New Mexico Journey–Trees!
As you probably know, I love looking at trees. Not only are they complex branching structures offering movement and textural contrast, trees provide a sense of scale in the vast New Mexico landscape. As it was early spring in the high desert, many of the trees had not yet leafed out. Dramatically, the sky changed from pure blue in the morning to a gray cloudy and dust-filled space above as the wind raged and howled with gusts that sent tumbleweeds flying into the roadway. That afternoon, the winds knocked out power in the region and forced the Ghost Ranch staff to close many of their trails for the safety of visitors. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the historical museum at Ghost Ranch and took some wonderful photos by the roadside on our way out.

Returning home from my New Mexico journey and next steps
How this journey will influence me remains to be seen. But, for now, I am filled up with the sights, the sounds, the experiences, and the amazing people I met on our travels. While I am still jet-lagged as I write this post, I must say it was a wonderful adventure. And I couldn’t have had a better travel buddy than my friend Susan.
Here’s to old friends and new adventures! ~Robin

*Please note: All photos taken at the Georgia O’Keefe Abiquiu home are for my personal use only.
How wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing your journey. The pictures and your narrative are so compelling.
Thank you, Fred. There is so much more to tell. What an incredible experience we had!
Thank you for sharing your dream, and your wonderful experiences!!!! Lovely seeing you and Susan together!!!! Decades of a wonderful friendship!!! Looking good you two!!!!😃♥️
Hi Lisa, I’m glad you enjoyed reading about our trip to NM. Here’s to enduring friendships, adventures, and creative living! Much love to you.
Robin so enjoyed your story and pictures. When my daughter was 15 – awhile ago – 42 now !! – we camped in NM for 2 weeks with a friend and her daughter. Never made it to Abiquiu, much to my disappointment. Your pictures were so interesting – what a place !! What a fantastic trip . Thanks for sharing !!
Hi Paula! I’m glad you enjoyed my story and photos from the trip. And how cool that you took your daughter when she was fifteen for two weeks of camping with another mom and daughter. That must have been wonderful, and I’ll bet she remembers it to this day. Travel and experiences have a way of staying with us. I went out west with my family when I was fifteen but never got to explore, and we didn’t visit New Mexico. It took me a few years (I’m 64, LOL!) but I finally made my way there.
Judy and I have vacationed in some pretty awesome places, but it wasn’t until we visited New Mexico in 2009 that we felt a longing to live there. We’ve lived here since the fall of 2013 and still feels like we’re living on vacation. The next time you visit, the Pueblos will be open again and we can introduce you to some of our American Indian friends.
I am so glad you and Judy were able to relocate and establish yourselves there and that we kept in touch. What a kind and generous offer to introduce me to some of your friends who are American Indian. I am almost ready to start planning my next trip!
Love reading your thoughts and seeing the photos!!♥️
Me too!
I just read part 1 of your journal and loved it. I already wrote to you about my visit to Abique. Your writing and pictures were great. Thanks.