New Mexico            

"The Land of Enchantment"

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Our State Flag, "The Zia"

• The four directions - north, east, south and west.

• The four seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter.

• The day - sunrise, noon, evening and night.

• Life itself - childhood, youth, middle years and old age.

All of these are bound by a circle of life and love, without a beginning or end.
 

Our State Bird, "The Roadrunner"

(Geococcyx californianus).

Officially adopted March 16, 1949. It was adopted under the name "Chaparral Bird". In Spanish, it is called "El Correcaminos". The comical roadrunner prefers running to flying and has been clocked at speeds of 15 miles per hour. They are approximately 22 inches in length and their diet consists of insects, lizards, centipedes, mice and snakes.

Our State Tree, "The Pinon Pine"

Pinyon Pine Pinaceae Pinus edulis
 

Leaf: Usually two needles per fascicle. Needles are coarse, thick, curved, blue-green or yellow-green, stiff, and one to two inches long.

Flower: Monoecious; males red, cylindrical, in clusters near ends of branches; females purplish at branch tips.

Fruit: Cones are ovoid, 2 inches long, short stalked, brown in color, with very thick cone scales. Each scale contains two very large edible "pine nuts". Maturing in September and October.

Twig: Stout and orange-brown, somewhat scraggly.

Bark: Scaly or with small plates, red brown to gray.

Form: A small tree with an irregular rounded crown.

Our State Gemstone, "Turquoise"

The Cerrillos Mines on Turquoise Mountain (in New Mexico) are the oldest known source of turquoise in the Southwest. In workshops at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, artisans polished stones that were coveted by nobles of distant lands. Turquoise from this area has been found as far as Oaxaca, Mexico. The kings and emperors of the Mixtec and Aztecs wore crowns and pendants of turquoise as amulets of good fortune and long life.

Native Americans had as many different words for turquoise as there were languages spoken. However, many of the words translated into English as the "sky stone," evoking the sky-blue shade of the stone most commonly found. Native Americans had been working turquoise mines with stone mauls and antler picks for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. Most often, in the Southwest, the stone was carved into beads (heishi), fetishes, or overlaid onto wood, bone, or shell. The use of silver as a mounting for turquoise dates no earlier than ca 1890. The Spanish brought to the Southwest their knowledge of silver and silversmithing. This was combined with Native American lapidary technology to produce a turquoise jewelry tradition that lives today. Native American jewelry, whether traditional or contemporary, is the harmonious melding of separate but complementary art forms.

If you believe, as Native Americans believe, that the earth is alive, then all things, no matter how small or apparently inanimate, are precious. To the Native American, Turquoise is Life. In the modern age, there is still this primal recognition of life-giving rock: the smooth stones that lie in streams, the clear quartz that juts from limestone, the humble stone found on a walk, the little black pebble lying mysteriously on the path to your door. There are stones medicine men keep in their sacred bundles because they possess powers of healing. There is the stone that comes to you in dreams and the magic ring you wear on your finger. These rocks and stones are alive and give forth energy to those who wear and hold them. Stones and crystals have unique attributes that support and heal us. Turquoise, especially, is known for its positive healing energy, an aid in mental functions, communication and expression and as a protector. If you're wearing a turquoise ring and you look down and see a crack in your stone, the Indians would say "the stone took it," meaning the stone took the blow that you would have received.

~ A special thanks to Julia Audrey at SkyStone Trading Co. for this Turquoise information~

Friends of "Tina's Ark"

If you too would like to link exchange with "Tina's Ark", please email Tina@TinasArk.com

Albuquerque Mountain Real Estate

Looking to buy or sell a New Mexico Home? If you want to be treated like you're the ONLY client there ever was, I highly recommend Kara Schug. Thanks Kara!

http://albuquerquemountainrealestate.com/

Pete's Carpet Cleaning

Need your carpets or Air Ducts cleaned? Call "Pete"!

http://petescarpetcleaning.com

SkyStone Trading Co.

Rare Turquoise Jewelry & Southwest Art and Artifacts. Thanks Julia!

http://www.skystonetrading.com/default.asp

Branching Out Studios

I have had the pleasure of meeting these fine Artist's at their booth in the Tijeras Open Air Market. Their stellar pieces are only matched by their personalities. Thanks Gabe!

http://www.branchingoutstudios.com/

All American Jewelers

Need a Jeweler? I highly recommend honest, trustworthy and skilled "Brian" to work with you if you're in the area. He's FAST and reliable (I know from personal experience). Call for directions in the 505 area code. Thanks Brian!

Tijeras Open-Air Arts Market

If you come to or near Albuquerque in the months of May-October, this is a must see! Artists from all around come and display their works. You'll also find some nice tunes playing and the fruit smoothies inside are YUMMY! Thanks Anna!

http://www.justimaginegallery.com/ourmission.html

Kokopelli's Restaurant and Kantina

We're located a pleasant 20 minute drive from Albuquerque, in the eastern foothills of the Sandia mountains.  A great place to enjoy a meal, appetizers, or just a drink while setting off to explore the Turquoise Trail, before or after a day of skiing or a round of golf, or just staying at home in our great East Mountain communities. Their Mexican Pizza is big and yummy!

http://www.kokopellisrestaurant.com/

Rosy Finches of New Mexico

Ken and Mary Lou Schneider -- Virtual Residents of New Mexico
"If the birds stick here for a few years, this could easily become the 'canonical' location for worldwide birders to get their rosyfinches since it is only an hour's drive from a major international airport and the road is paved, maintained, and clear throughout the winter." 

-Jerry Oldenettel

http://www.rosyfinch.com/

A-Z Partsmaster

The name say's it all! Need anything for Apartment's or Condo's?

Thanks Steve! Contact Steve (New Mexico Branch Only)

http://www.azpartsmaster.com/

Keep Checking In, As There's Much More To Come!

A very special thanks to "First People" for providing the fantastic graphics I used to create this page!

First People of America and Canada Turtle Island :  
Child friendly site about American and Canadian Indians. 1400+ legends, 400+ agreements

and treaties, 4000+ pictures, free clipart, American Indian Jewelry and more.