The pre-fiesta clock is winding down, and it is now the day for the burning of Zozobra...............

and here he is!! This year he is all done up in a Demons--blue and gold motif.................

My traditional photo with Zozo from my back yard--unfortunately, this year it's not exactly a good shot of either of us..........................

The girls from San Francisco have arrived and they immediately set about helping us prepare for our party in any way they can....................

And now, the girls from Albuquerque have arrived laden with good food, jello shots, blinky light necklaces and more..........................

I was happy to hear Frannie say "Pattie and Kelly are here! Now the FUN begins!"--that's exactly what we would say as little kids when Pattie's family came up from Albuquerque! The family tradition continues........................(That's the girl's, and now OUR, friend Loretta who also arrived laden with gifts--fabulous homemade cheeses)............................

Frannie protects Winston who arrives to check up on all the commotion................

The girls have blessed us with another handmade gift--Kelly MADE this beautiful mirror that reflects the artist herself and is also the perfect mirror to reflect the Fiesta season..................

Thanks girls for EVERYTHING!!...........................

I have to let everyone see the legendary hat from the 400th costume ball..........

On her version of this photo, Frannie had a caption that said something like: "The feather that broke Baby Binky's neck".................

I bet you thought that the mean mother from TITANIC would be dead by now.................

Those San Franciscans check out Zozo on the field.................

And the Flores-Kelly presents just keep coming--this is an art work depicting a "day of the dead" mother with her three daughters--a blonde, a brunette and a redhead. Who does that sound like?.................

Inside this bag are the infamous jello-shots................

Meanwhile the girls get "fiestafied"--between all the fiesta garb I have for them in bins and the large array Sisi has offered them in her tee-pee, these girls are going to rival the fiesta court in finery...............

This is FIESTA, Meekie, not CARNIVAL!...........................

Very artsy..........................

Shannon and Binks are in their fiesta dresses........................

And Keeks is glittery and golden in hers......................

This is Sarah's second fiesta, so she brought her own Zozobra earrings along...................

Now THAT'S what I call a fetching group........................

This is Shannon's first Fiesta and she is really excited...........................

But she has Binky to show her the ropes..................

So, they're ready to PARTY.....................

I think the caption Loretta had on this picture was: "My this is STRONG sangria!".................

The hostess is also ready to PARTY!......................

So let's get this show on the road.......................

And the guests start arriving. These girls work at Democratic Headquarters with Frannie................

Sparkly cousins...................

Elliott flanked by his grandparents...........................

We have two cakes for two brothers celebrating their birthdays.........................

Love my girls--and even love that sneaky little Allison in the corner..............

Ready to rock.......................

And the evening progresses......................

Frannie also has some Zozobra earrings...........................

Another glittery muchacha.............................

The girls mingle with the crowd on the field..............................

Where they meet up with some more Santa Fe friends like Nicole...................

And Old Man Gloom...........................

Allison's boyfriend is visiting from San Francisco...............................

This is a special year for the Fiesta de Santa Fe.............................

I guess these girls already know how to party..............................

And so does Allison's mom!!!...........................

Do you think there are going to be ENOUGH pictures of Zozobra taken?...........................

After the burning, it's back to the party--this is when the jello shots are passed out....................

and classmates like Pauline, in the photo above, and Becky and Martha get more enchiladas, posole, beans and green chile stew..........................

A hug from my favorite--Dude................................

Two golden goddesses...................

That adoreable Fiesta Doll--Miss Isa.....................

Mark looking handsome..........................

Cheers!

So now all our gloom and troubles have gone up in smoke with Old Man Gloom--Zozobra.......................

AND A GOOD TIME IS ALREADY BEING HAD BY ALL!!!

Especially by those revelers who left these two pair of pants that we found in the party clean-up next morning. Just THIS YEAR'S Capshaw Zozobra Party Mystery (There's always at least ONE.)--that shall be revealed in a future post.......................VIVA LA FIESTA!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Happy Birthday to our Daddy--Ricardo Montoya! He would have been 89 years old today. We truly miss him every day................

IT'S OCTOBER!--THE PORTAL TO AUTUMN.........

Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for October 2010.

Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for October 2010.

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month from all the little gremlins that will be about on Halloween at the end of the month!

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS--2009
ZOZOBRA NIGHT PARTY

It's time to make preparations for the first day of Fiesta................

All the Fiesta clothes are out and ready....................

And all the other "necessaries" are also being prepared..........

Finally, it's ZOZOBRA Day! This is his yearly portrait taken from our back yard............Red hair this year......................

I always pose for my own picture with Zozo, but I need a better camera to not have one of us too light or too dark..............

Dude is in for Fiesta from Minneapolis and he is helping Giano prepare the spot for his party................

The fun can start now, Pattie's here!!!

And Kelly too! Although she's a bit consternated in this shot..................

This year they treated us by bringing one of their good friends along--Lynn, who must be one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Hey, how many of you have raised a couple of chimpanzees in their own home or traveled to every exotic part of the world in search of animals in her professional capacity as a zoologist?.................

Every year Kelly--who must be the most talented person in NM, treats us to a very special gift. Here I an very excitedly opening our gift.............................

A beautiful homemade quilt with matching pillows for me and a necktie for Dwight--all with a "Day of the Dead" motiff. This is only Kelly's second quilt and it is perfection!.................

We love the girls and love the presents made by....................

That Lil' Ole Quiltmaker, Kell.................

As usual, Pattie came prepared with every type of blinky novelty possible for the festivities of the evening.........................

Now, the contingent of guest from New York start arriving................

And that San Francisco darling--Baby Binks (in a Zozobra hat Pattie brought).............

And Binky's cute friends from San Francisco will soon be transformed into......

Chic Santa Fe Fiesta dolls........................

Big Al is here--ready to receive homage from the guests..................

And Judy and Sammy made it from Albuquerque. We will get soooo busy later on (I really think we get about 200 guests) that I only get pictures of a very few. Someday, I want to set up a Photo Booth like the girls have at their parties...................

Binky's on the phone connecting with her Santa Fe friends, or could she already be missing Michael?...................

Long time friends, Felicia and Kiki, help each other get "fiestafied"................

I'd say they did a SMASHING job of it too!.........................

A trio of New York beauties.................

Mama's got her outfit too. After losing 30 pounds this year, it feels good to fit into my beloved fiesta garb.....................

Even Party girls need some protein to keep partying..............................

The king of all he surveys....................

And an aspiring hostess with the mostest.......................

A little rain never dampened the spirits of a true Zozobra believer...................

A "Broadway" chorus line of beautiful girls from New York........................

And equally gorgeous girls from the City on the Bay! Okay, so mama crashed the chorus line............................

"Ummmmm, SHALL we burn him?"..........................................

There were some movie stars at our party--where is El Mitote.................

Lianna's beautiful family was increased by another beautiful daughter by Fiesta 2010...................

The Lovebirds--Layla and Santiago came up from Albuquerque.....................

With her truly nice in-laws................

Cousins--Cathy and Ralph................

The Gomez girl cousins pose in a meaningful way.............

To replicate a painting Kiki did of an old photo of the Gomez girls of the previous generation. More or less with each "new" cousin in the spot of her mother.............................

These boys know how to party for Fiesta..........................

But no one understands the fiesta spirit more than Gwen who has been in exile in Albuquerque and had to figure out an elaborate plan to get here......................................

And by evening's end, a truly GOOD TIME was.........................

HAD BY ALL!!!!!