Santa Fe, NM

Are you feeling like me - working, working, working, and occasionally feeling like your just spinning your wheels?

Well - that was me last week. Today - I am bright eyed and bushy tailed as they say. Full of vim and vigor. Re-energized! I took the weekend off. I went out of town, left my business in the hands of my trusty office mates and headed up the road to Denver.

First stop was at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs for a wedding and reception at the officers club. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

On to Denver where I attended a Colorado Rockies game on Sunday - If nothing else and you can't get away for the weekend - just go to a baseball game. Great game - tied at the bottom of the ninth, two on bases and two out - Triple hit. Game won - Colorado!!!!! Anyway sleeping in, dinner out, and shopping. What a relaxing weekend. One I highly recommend. And like I said if you can't get away - just pretend. Go out to dinner, a movie, sleep in --- But Whatever You Do Take Some Time For You!

Last year I lost my most wonderful father. Today would have been his 85 birthday - so please indulge me while I tell you a little bit about this wonderful soul. My father was the type to not speak ill of people and in fact he loved people and he loved to entertain. He was even tempered and never raised a hand to me or my brothers and sisters. He indulged us in every way he could and encouraged us to strive to do our best. He always reminded us that we each had to make our own mark on the world and we had to remember our roots since it was those roots that gave us grounding.

My father, Richard Halford was born in Ventura, Iowa to Christine and Sidney Halford. He served in World War II as a Corporal in the United States Army having served in France, England and Germany. Richard graduated from Iowa State University in 1952 with a dual degree in Architecture and Architectural Engineering. He then moved to Santa Fe to begin his architectural career with W. C. Kruger.

Richard left a distinct mark on Santa Fe and on northern New Mexico establishing Richard Halford AIA and later La Mancha Realty. He also retired from state-employment the late 1990's having served as the oversight supervisor of the construction of buildings for the New Mexico National Guard. He designed a number of buildings in Santa Fe among which include the Casa Loma Apartments, San Francisco Street Parking Garage, Bank of Santa Fe (now Wells Fargo) and Vistas de Santa Fe. Other buildings bearing his mark are La Esquina, PBSW Stationary (now Design Warehouse) and Wilner Podiatrist Center. In northern New Mexico he designed Taos High School, Cochiti Elementary, the Tesuque Police Station and in Albuquerque the Medical Examiners' Building.

In addition, he served the City of Santa Fe as a Councilman in the 1960s. He was a past member of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors and, as an avid bridge player joining his friends in the activity every Wednesday and was an active member of the Elks Club.

by Michael Umphrey on July 9, 2009

Let's conjure up an image of arguably one of the most magical streets in Santa Fe. Acequia Madre means "mother ditch" and if you've seen the film "Milagro Bean Field Wars" you know the importance of the culture and livelihood of any neighborhood in New Mexico blessed by flowing waters. Located in the Historic East Side the narrow street was meant for burros carrying firewood down from the mountains and to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages of inhabitants of adobe homes hidden along its alleyways, invisible to the world. If you explore any of its walking paths and listen to the murmur of the water you may feel that time seems to stop. The Downtown Subscription is a coffeehouse and favorite meeting place for the locals. As you step into the café you'll breathe in that perfume of coffee and magic that strangely no one thought of bottling. You can buy practically any periodical you can think of from around the world and, of course, The New York Times. The Garcia Street Books is just next door with its outdoor display of treasure for sale. Be sure to take a look at HomesForSaleOnAcequiaMadre

Michael's Bit of Real Estate

A smart home is a green home. One of the most important trends in modern home design is incorporating environmentally friendly amenities. Here's a look at the green housing trends that will not only bring an older home to a new millennium, but also attract younger buyers when it's time to sell. Copper roofs tolerate inclement weather and will last 100 years and can be completely recycled. Low-emittance windows, doors and skylights block the sun's UV rays and reduce energy consumption. LED lighting contains no hazardous chemicals, uses 80 percent less energy and can last up to 20 years. Green toilets conserve water (which can save you 30 to 50 percent on your annual water bill). Induction cook top coils release their energy directly to the pot or pan and its contents so that less energy is diffused. Reclaimed wood and fast-growing plants such as bamboo and unused pre-cut wood find new life as gorgeous, affordable countertops. Cork flooring is a great alternative to hardwood because it is extremely durable yet inexpensive. To keep indoor air clean and cut down on landfill pollutants, use paints that don't contain toxic, volatile organic components (VOCs). The planet (and your wallet) will thank you.

My Business-To-Business Referral

Each week I present to you an outstanding business. Let me introduce to you Walter Burke Catering. Whenever the occasion has called for wonderful food, the only catering company I ever call is Walter Burke. In my announcements of an Open House or Client Appreciation Party all it takes to ensure a memorable event is a mention his savory and enticing menu. Walter offers contemporary cuisine, classic full service from casual to formal and delivery. For your private jet, he'll prepare meals for you, your passengers and crew and your feast will be ready for your flight from the Santa Fe Airport. He also runs his full service restaurant on Museum Hill. Walter is a person I can put my name to. He can be reached at 505.473.9600 and on his Website at www.walterburkecatering.com. Let him know I referred you and he and his staff will take extra special care of you.

I hope to see you strolling along the Acequia Madre.

Continued success,

Michael Umphrey

The Taos High Road

Having grown up in Northern New Mexico I had a tendancy to stay around my city of Santa Fe and when I went up to Taos it was along the traditional hiway. Imagine my delight when years ago some friends invited my husband and I to take the Taos High Road with a visitor from New York.

The trip started up Hwy 285 from Santa Fe and we headed in the village of Nambe and then up through Chimayo. In Chimayo we stopped to visit the Santaurio de Chimayo and picked up some of the miraculous dirt form the inside of the church. Having no place to put my dirt I removed a small St. Christopher medal my mother had given me and placed some dirt in the pouch. I thought the combination of my St. Christopher and the holy dirt would be an add assurance of protection on car journeys. We then made our way to the Chimayo restaurant to view the tapestries done by my mother Monica Sosaya Halford.

Continuing on County Road 76 we came to the small village of Cordova. This village is known for many of the traditional wood carvers. You can see many of them at the Spanish Market in Santa Fe on the last weekend of July. I have been fortunate to have collected several bultos (carved statues) and a collection of many of the small animals.

Leaving Cordova you head to Truchas and onto Las Trampas where the San Jose de Gracia mission stands. The most amazing thing about this entire trip is being able to view all of the missions built in the 1700's.

Continue on your journey to Rancho de Taos and finish your journey in the picturesque town of Taos, NM.

Here in Taos you can meander around the Plaza, head down to visit the Kit Carson Musuem, visit the shops along Bent Street and stop in the Taos Inn for lunch and perhaps a margarita.

I would recommend coming back along the highway back into Santa Fe and enjoy the view of the Rio Grande running along side you.

Things to stop and see: Santuario de Chimayo, Ranchos de Chimayo restaurant, San Jose Gracia mission, and Kit Carson musuem

This weekend was the opening of the Santa Fe Opera Season, and since I have a listing next to the SFO I thought it woudl be a great idea to hold an open house. Over 30 people came by in the two hours, and many were in town for the opera. I stood in the massive living room and smiled like I had never smiled before. I would speak quickly about the home and repeat and repeat. I was traversing from one wing to another asking if anyone had questions. Over and over I was asked for my card and about other homes in the area. If my home didn't meet the criteria I was thrilled I knew some inventory that did. Hopefully, some of the people who asked numerous questions will be contacting myself or their agent for a second showing, and those who were interested in other properties - I hope they call later this week.