This morning we split the groups in two, one (the boys) going to Robert Mirabal's house to weed his corn crop, the other (the girls) to learn the art of baking in a traditional 'horno' which is the conical mud brick ovens Pueblo people use for ceremonial purposes. David and Andrea Gomez, with their son Antonio, invited us to gather the cedar logs that would be used to heat the horno. While the logs turned to coals, Antonio walked the girls to a nearby creek, which originates from the Taos people's sacred Blue Lake. Blue Lake was finally ceded to the Taos people in 1970 by President Nixon after nearly 70 years of legal battles between the US Forest Service and the Taos Pueblo. After visiting the creek, we weeded Andrea and David's corn and bean field and then assisted Andrea in placing 15 tins of dough and several pans of cookies into the horno. A paper bag is placed in the oven before the baking begins. If it comes out burnt, the oven is too hot and air is allowed in to get it to about 350 degrees. While we waited for the bread to cook, David showed us how to make and form the trapizoidal mud bricks that is the universal building material here. He spoke about hunting in the Sangre Christo mountains and showed us several antlered heads. The Rocky Mountain sheep he killed with a strategic stone between its massive horns. Impressive! When the bread was ready, the boys arrived and we feasted on fresh bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, with sugar cookies. We then went to the Pow Wow grounds to help construct the arbor for the parade grounds. We finished the afternoon with a visit to Arroyo Seco and the Taos Cow for ice cream. Tonight we will visit the plaza of Taos, eat dinner there and then return to enjoy an intimate concert with two time Emmy award winner, Robert Mirabal.
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