God willin'

The creek is rising. Normally this would be a sign of alarm...as in "Thelma, git the chillin' and da rooster, an' git to the truck; THE CREEK IS RISIN'".

In the case of the stream that runs through Sulphur Canyon behind Tinkertown Museum, the presence of running water reflects a meteorological miracle...we had a good snow pack this winter! While the snow made opening the Museum a tad difficult, we will be reaping its rewards this summer. A running Sulphur Creek brings great sustenance, diversity and harmony to Tinkertown Museum.

Sustenance is created by a running stream's support of grubs, hatchlings and small amphibious creatures. This in turn attracts a diverse spectrum of birds, squirrels -- including our own indigenous Abert -- which bring coyote, fox and bob cat. The sound of the running creek brings a harmony that can only be appreciated by sitting on a bench, a rock or a stump and taking it all in.

Alas, the creek will not last all summer. Eventually, with the warming of the earth, the stream will disappear underground. It will become, as we like to say, an "upside down" creek, with water underneath the stream bed.

As a challenge to our faithful followers, post your guess as to the date that the creek will disappear under the "Tinkertown bridge", either here or on Facebook. Closest person to the actual date (as determined solely by your Tinkergeek) will receive admission passes for the whole family.

In the mean time, we'll look for you again "God willin' and the creek don't rise".

Labor of Love

Some births are harder than others. Some happen in the blink of an eye, effortlessly…there is life. Some involve a extended period of labor; clawing, clambering, hurtfully grabbing for presence.

Such was the case this year at Tinkertown. Carla Ward, the co-founder and owner of Tinkertown Museum, has given birth 27 times in her life. This is unusual for a person without natural kids of her own. But still, she knows labor. Every season the process of opening Tnkertown Museum is one of bringing precious life back into the museum, and the museum into the lives of the thousands that flock to see the creator’s (Ross Ward).

This year’s birthing ritual was hardened by cold, snow and accumulated ice, so thick it froze gas tanks solid, refusing to release them to provide heat for the gift shop. Snow so deep that the old Western livery was so bound up it was impossible to get near to shovel. Snow packed ice piled into huge drifts blocking the catwalk out to the boat.

Inside, nature had also invaded: cold air ponded in all the display areas, ice dams took out sections of wood paneling. How cold was it…well, let’s just say Otto couldn’t play, and Radar wouldn’t. The mild desert winter so thinning his coat that Radar would lay in front of the fire for hours on end.

Now you would think that the adversity would wear heavy on our fearless leader, but Carla would not slow down. A season was heading her way and she was determined, through sheer force of will, to power through the powder. She cataloged new books, priced gift shop deliveries, repaired the heater in the gift shop, organized countless thousands of brochures for distribution throughout the state, and still she had time to cook a welcoming dinner to all the neighbors who she had been away from all winter.

Slowly, as the sun came out and wind kicked up (a fascinating fact of mountain living is that high winds can help snow melt), Tinkertown Museum started to come to life. Two or three days, forward progress was halted by another snow storm or hard freeze. Still, the chipping of ice, shoveling of snow, and shoring up of leaking roofs continued. And over the last week, the birth was complete. Pathways reclaimed from the elements, heat in the gift shop, faithful customers wearing stout coats all gave evidence that another season was in full swing.

So if you come up the Turquoise Trail this summer, taking in the sweet mountain air and marveling in the resplendent, magical place called Tinkertown, just remember this: it is a labor of love. This year the labor was hard.

Making up for dry times

The forest in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico has been blessed this summer by copious precipitation...its been raining! This is good news for everyone, as it means the forest is open and alive with flowers and babbling springs. While there have been some bear and bobcat sightings, these critters maintain their distance from us human types.

So this is probably the best summer in years to take in day hikes and picnics. And if you come to Tinkertown Museum first, we have maps and folks that can point you in the right direction for a leisurely or strenuous outing...your choice! In the next few weeks we'll chronicle some of the more interesting visitors and how THEY combine a visit to Tinkertown Museum with a walk on the wild side.

Miscalculation

As we've written about before, Tinkertown hosts it's share of itinerant summer visitors. Our little hummer friends start out every spring from southern Mexico and Guatemala and make the flight in an astoundingly short time.

This year, probably due to early warm temps in the south, they started their trek early. Imagine their surprise when they winged into the Sandia Mountains to be met by a blast of frigid, snowy air!

Fortunately for them, Tinkertown Museum, otherwise known in Hummer circles as the Sugar Palace, was open. Carla has jumped into production of nectar and a catastrophe has been averted.

Still these little perpetual motion machines must be wondering where all the people are. Rest assured little ones, the weather will improve over the weekend and warmth will return, along with more hummers and human visitors.

Celebrity Spotting

Tinkertown Museum isn't the kind of place that celebrities have to worry about being discovered...you know who you are...folks that star in the role of father, mother, grandmother, sister, brother, son, daughter...you can come here and not be recognized or pursued by the paparazzi.

We do have numerous celebs of all professions that come through the museum. Its not unusual for movie stars to come through on a break from shooting a film or TV show in New Mexico...it seems that several shows are ALWAYS in production in New Mex thanks to the efforts of Governor Bill.

In fact, the extended family of creator Ross Ward has several Hollywood types -- writers, actors. Its just part of the vibe of the place that when you come, you're just gonna be surrounded by celebrities...including Radar. Just this week we had an actor that played on "West Wing" for several seasons.

BUT, occasionally a celeb does NOT visit Tinkertown...and they will be made the subject of specific attention here. You can run, Jessica Alba, but you can not hide! You came to do your job in Albuquerque, but you didn't visit Tinkertown.

Radar, for one, is just devastated and distraught.

Next time, just come. And you'll see that we treat all guests as celebrities...and all celebrities as guests.

Tinkertown Museum -- 26th Season

After a busy week of work sweeping, dusting, planting, repairing, bringing in inventory, arranging for amenities your Tinkertown Museum is ready for a new season. It is always amazing to this Tinkergeek how people find their way to Tinkertown: a young couple of DJs on their way to SXSW in Austin, a laid-off gentleman from the East taking a cross county train trip with a stop-over in Albuquerque...they flock to Tinkertown.

Join the flock!

Fired Up, Ready To Go!

The Mayor is Back!

Radar, that is, has made his late winter migration to New Mexico to chase away the raccoons, squirrels and other nar' do wells and get the Museum ready...FOR YOU!

That's right, Tinkertown Museum opens for its 26th season this Saturday, March 21 at 9AM.

Hey! That's the first day of spring!

Come join us and see what Radar aka 'The Mayor' has been up to for the winter.

The rest of us would like to see you as well!

Check out www.Tinkertown.com for more info.

The World Comes to Tinkertown

Last week a woman visiting Tinkertown tells me that her high school job had been to wrap packages at a department store. I ask her to show me the trick to beautiful wrapping using a Tinkertown sheriff's badge in a box and some tissue paper. As she was folding the paper I remembered visiting Bangkok when I was in high school and watching the "houseboy" where we were staying fold dinner napkins into the most beautiful shapes for the place settings.

My father was in the foreign service and I grew up all over the world but, at Tinkertown, the world comes to you – all of it if you wait long enough. Yesterday a couple from England wearing "Route 66" jackets entered the museum. They were one in a convoy of 60 Jaguars traveling Old Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. All 60 cars had been shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway from England. They were headed to Los Angeles and a stay on the Queen Mary, from where they and their cars would head back to England.

Once, Carla called me on my cell phone to tell me that a student from Indonesia was right then in the gift shop. I have met people from Malaysia, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Japan and more. This is in addition to the shame-faced people who confess they've lived in Albuquerque for 30 years and haven't been to Tinkertown – until today.

Every season, visitors take colored push-pins from a bowl near the cash register and place them on a world map hung near Esmerelda the fortune-teller, just as you exit through the gift shop. In October, the second week of Balloon Fiesta, a pin appears in the Czech Republic, courtesy of Czech balloonists. Visitors have also put up pins in Norway and Germany this week. Tinkertown closes for the season in just three weeks. There are only 18 pins left in the bowl. The map shows visitors from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Lost Summer

Your Tinkergeek has been occupied in other areas of the planet this summer, only infrequently being able to inhale the clear Rocky Mountain air at Tinkertown. My loss.

That is not to say that Tinkertown has been missing a beat. In fact, by any measure this has been one for the record books. People from all over the world have made the pilgrimage to New Mexico's top rated destination to find entertainment, rejuvenation and peace.

One example is our friend David. A high-powered Chicago attorney who has pushed back against creeping age and infirmity (who of us isn't) to keep focused on making a buck...finally stepped off the merry-go-round for a couple of weeks. After riding horses (and buying one?) in Pagosa Springs (4 hours from ABQ), he took up residence here and spent a few days counting hummingbirds, neighborhood parties and small blessings for days alive. Heading to the west coast and a New Years reunion with daughter, son-in-law and grand-child "in the oven", he pronounced himself: back in the land of the living.

That's what Tinkertown can do you!

Cool Mountain Air

It's been raining quite frequently in the mountains of Central New Mexico. The afternoon showers give respite from mid-day heat and keep the flies at bay;

A whole passel of my tribe - grown-up and emerging geeks - were in residence at Tinkertown Museum for an annual "Camp Tinkertown" adventure in late July. Cousins, uncles and the geek support crew enjoyed what you Tinkertown Museum goers get to experience every day.

The hummingbirds are plentiful, and persistant in performing amazing acrobat and areial adventures.

Come see for yourself!

July 28, 2007

25th Season

WOW. Its another year of terrific and talented folk art at Tinkertown Museum.

We are opening for the 25th year (in a row, even) this coming weekend, March 24th.

Carla and Radar are back from a warm winter in Arizona. Come greet them and see the green wonderland on the east side of Sandia Mountains.

This season will bring many old and new features for your enjoyment...both on this blog, on the Tinkertown web site and, of course, at the Museum.

Stay tuned for regular updates about the wonderful world of Tinkertown.

Book Reviews

The following are a sample of what readers are saying about 'Ten Years Behind The Mast' by Fritz Damler

"Sailing offshore? This blue water adventure of cruising the seven seas in a wooden boat is a ‘must read’ book for ocean voyaging, serious passage making or a circumnavigation of the world." Gene- Newport RI

"A captivating narrative awash with humorous gems of wisdom for anyone interested in the cruising life." Abbey-San Francisco CA

Tinkering For Everyone

Recently your Tinker-Otaku had the opportunity to teach 5th and 6th graders in Japan about Tinkertown, Ross Ward and the American west. It turned out that, while they knew nothing about Tinkertown, their school encouraged Tinkering.

On a regular basis they are given assignments to fashion figures and art out of found objects. I saw several very creative displays and, when I manage to publish the photos I'll let you have a peek.

Not that found objects are in large supply. I watched as the 6th grade class broke down after lunch. They carefully folded their milk cartons flat, stacked dishes, sorted paper trash and everything went to either the recycling bins or the washing station. The kids do everything at their school, including regular janitorial duties. At the end of the day, before syonara, they gather as their teachers carefully instruct them to make sure their communal garden gets watered, the rabbits get fed and to remember that they are the stewards for their own environment; if they want a clean, wholesome place to live, it is all up to them.

Couldn't we all benefit from some of these lessons?

The morning frost

on the deck of the hot tub reminds us that fall is settling in and the end of Tinkertown's 24th Season is upon us.
Thank you all for your visits, your happy and sad stories, your business and your enthusiasm. These are what make Tinkertown Museum so special.

Tinkertown's last day open this year is Halloween...October 31. All people in costume that day get in for free!

Also, please check www.Tinkertown.com for end of season specials in the Gift Shop.

Hope to see you before the snow comes!

We never knew...

Fall is solidly upon us, with Balloon Festival in full swing and cars, vans and busses full of people streaming into Tinkertown Museum to revel in the sights of natural beauty of Mother Nature and the creativity of humans.

One of the most frequent statements we hear from visitors is..."we've lived here for years and we never knew how marvelous and amazing Tinkertown is!" One such statement came from a wonderful couple who were leading a 'Discover Lines' bus tour up the Turquoise Trail. They live in Washington state now, but had just moved from Albuquerque where they lived and worked for more than 20 years. "All that time, we never came to visit you..." the couple stated. All that changed on Sunday...they and their tour group investigated every nook and cranny of the Museum...turning practiced eyes on the stained glass masterpieces, Rusty and the Sandia Mountain Boys band...and spending well over their allotted time for the visit.

We enjoy all your visits to Tinkertown Museum...and to the chagrined visitor who claims "we never knew this was so great...we should have come long ago" we always say: "You're here now! Thank you!".

Fall is a riot of color

Today is the perfect fall day here at Tinkertown. Our two massive oak tress are alive with gold and orange hues and the air is crisp and clear. The bottle walls shimmer in the morning light and all the residents of Tinkertown are doing their best to keep peace in the village and prepare for their winter rest. This is my favorite time here in the Sandia Moutanis and I hope you can come up and share it with us. We are open until November 1 and we welcome you. Carla

It snowed last night

Autumn came in with a flurry of snow on the Sandias and, late last night, here at Tinkertown. It didn't stick but it did remind us that the days are shortening at both ends; and the end of Tinkertown's 24th season is drawing near.

Between now and Halloween, our last day open in 2006, we are expecting many more visitors and much excitement. On October 7th we'll host the annual Festival of Tinkering, open to all at no charge. Just prior to that will be Balloon Fiesta, always a busy time at Tinkertown.

Looking ahead to 2007, our 25th season, we will be open with new paint, lighting and lots of activities for kids of all ages. Stay in touch here at the blog or through Tinkertown.com.

Stay dry and creative,

Your Tinkergeek

Remembering Joyce Briscoe

At Manzano High School in the 1980s, we were taught to
call Joyce Briscoe “Ms. Briscoe” and when we graduated
in 1986 our transition to “the real world” was marked
by her permission to call her Joyce. With this first
name familiarity, came a card with her phone number.
We could call her, she told us. Not just to jabber on
the phone and not if there was anyone else we thought
might be helpful, but in an emergency, we could call
her. I carried this card in my wallet until I
graduated from college, until it was too frayed and
worn to be of any use. I carried it because it
reminded me that Joyce had my back. And that meant
something.

Joyce took the clock off the wall and outlawed
wristwatches. She asked that we write all our papers
on recycled paper and, at the end of the year, let us
scrawl our warm wishes and silly jokes on the walls of
her classroom instead of the pages of a yearbook. She
wore a sailor suit to teach Moby Dick and though she
professed an aversion to hugging, she looped an arm
around my shoulders when I got in to the college of my
choice.

Joyce had an innate understanding of the myopic nature
of high school students. She spent her energy helping
us lift our eyes from our own navels (and those of the
hottie in the next desk) so that we might gaze at the
world around us. Enforced “cultural encounters” took
my classmates and I to the Greek Festival, downtown
for Dim Sum lunches and to the seats of the Guild and
Don Panchos for French films. She believed that by
living in the world and experiencing as much of it as
possible, you couldn’t help but build a kind of love
and respect for your fellow humans.

When I heard that Joyce had been killed,
I felt like a part of my foundation had shifted. I
haven’t seen her in some time, but I can hear her
voice, I can feel the charge of her conviction. I am
lucky enough to have creative, wonderful, supportive parents and
friends and all of these people have helped to shape
the person I am today. Joyce was one of these people.
I am a better, smarter and kinder person because she
was in my life and I know somehow that there are a lot
of us who feel this same way. The best way to honor
Joyce is to keep our curiosity alive and to live as
honestly as we can. She would like that. I think she
would expect it.

A friend is sick

One of the bulwark of Tinkertown's culture of creativity, world exploration and shared community, The Friend, is sick. I mean, really, life-threateningly sick.

There comes an inevitable time in our life when a really close friend confronts a profound illness. It becomes not just their illness, but also our illness. The Friend's symptoms have become alive in each of us...we scurry to the internet to research them...we talk amongst ourselves in hushed tones about Stage II versus Stage III...we contemplate the unimaginable.

The thing about The Friend's sickness is how it frames our own immortality. We shudder at the thought of The Friend's agony, debilitation, fear and helplessness...and then stare into the mirror of our own frailty. To offer cheery sentiments seems gratuitous...to fail to do so is to fail as a friend. We are trapped in our own inconsequence.

Still, The Friend benefits from our attention. Like the Doctor in Camus' "The Plague", we know we have to sacrifice our time and resources as a pledge to The Friend of our humanness...our love. Even if those gestures are likely futile. It becomes apparent that while The Friend's illness is resistant to our offerings, The Friend is not. So we continue.

The absolute worst is confronting the gestation period of Death. Unlike our own birth process, which is known...the timeline of Death is unknowable. Do we retard the inevitable by fighting, and encouraging The Friend to fight? Or do we diminish the last moments we have with The Friend by a distracted foray into medical procedure, protocol and prognostication? What would we do if it were us?

We do gain solace in the moments we spend with The Friend, amid the clutch of The Friend's friends. Our time in this communion of life is fleeting...it is mysterious...it is consuming...and if someone notices our preoccupation these days, we hope they'll accept a simple statement of explanation...

a friend is sick

On The Third Day

A friend left us this week -- the neighborhood dog: Butch or (as a faction of the neighborhood insists on calling him) Red was put down after multiple maladies and injury took over his life.

Butch was a remarkable dog. He belongs to no ONE person, but we all felt he belongs to us all. His daily morning walk included at least 6 different houses where breakfast was laid out. If you forgot to leave him something he would loiter for some time to remind you that he expected better.

Butch was dropped off in the East Mountains of New Mexico as a young pup...obviously traumatized by early abuse, he would not be petted or touched; he wouldn't fetch or play in the traditional sense. But if you started out on a walk, he would always shadow the procession, and keep a watch out. He roamed his domain by night, protecting the neighborhood from coyotes, bears and other visitors.

I once saw him sneak across Highway 14 at the I-40 exit...6 miles from home! He could really get around. Butch was truly one of the "14 Dogs", dogs of Highway 14. His loyal group of supporters will miss him but will always share the memories of his magnificent gait and stature.

Butch was laid to rest in a grave next to the stream that he often sat by...guarding against aggressors and trouble makers. His spirit is released and now he roams the woods of the Sandia Mountains at will, and with no pain.

Hiatus hibiscus

Its been a long summer at Tinkertown, what with the drought, then the anti-drought...people coming, people going...and your Tinkergeek was silent.

Now, things of significant proportion have occurred which compel the resurrection of postings...so over the next week or so, you've been warned, expect some additions to the blog on things that matter.

Not that greeting folks, and making change for quarters, and cleaning up the trash cans after night time visits from the Bear Family doesn't count. Its just hard to elevate these day-to-day occurrences.

Now there's news!

So check back often...

cheers

Ten Years Behind The Mast

Finally after 2 years if writing and rewriting "Ten Years Behind The Mast" The voyage of Theodoars R has been delivered from the publisher. This is the ten year account of Fritz Damler's circumnavigation aboard his 35' cutter, Theodora R. As the author I will be appearing at book signing around the country for next few months. On Aug. 5 and 6 At the Sturgeon Bay wooden boat festival and on Sept. 8,9,10 in Port Townsend Washington for their wooden boat festival. Ons Sept. 16 I'll be at the Tijeras library for and afternoon signing and on the 17th at Tinkertown for the afternoon. Along with the book, a complete set of construction drawing for the yact Theodora R will soon be available whether it be for building a model or the real thing.
Cheers for now Fritz

Happy New Years

Now here's an example of a Tinkertown inspired resolution...hope your New Years is quite and restive.

Dear Mrs Ward,

About two years ago, my wife and i visited New Mexico. Our first stop after arriving in Albequerque was at the Tinkertown Museum. I was so impressed with what i saw that we returned two days later on our way back from Santa Fe. You and I talked and you seemed very gracious.

For the remainder of the trip and in the months following, Mr. Ward's words, "I did all this while you were watching TV", bounced around my head like a bad Twilight Zone. Upon returning to Chicago, I immediately began watching less and less TV. With the spare time I was stuck with, I transcribed the complete Beatles catalog into chord charts, learned to play the piano well enough to join a band, wrote a guidebook for one of Chicago's historic cemeterys, volunteered for Habitat For Humanity and ultimately took up woodcarving.

Another interesting side effect of all that activity was that I lost 14 pounds in the first three months. Perhaps you should write the Tinkertoy Diet book.

I simply want to thank you for being there and for having an enormous positive impact on my life. I hope to get back to New Mexico again and visit with you. If you're ever in Chicago, look me up, I'll take you on a tour of my cemetery, it's awesome.

With best wishes for you and the future of Tinkertown,

Pete Krampert

All the leaves are red

As the nights grow cold, the trees are turning brilliant colors and your Tinkergeek begins to ponder life during the off -season...

Tinkertown's last day of the 2005 season is October 31 -- Halloween. We will be closed until late March...or as weather permits.

This doesn't mean rest for your Tinkertown workers:

- signs need to be repainted
- gift shop inventory will be finished
- minor repairs are scheduled
- shopping for next year will take place
- new collection items will be evaluated

and

your Tinkergeek will be posting dispatches all through the winter season to keep you in the news of Tinkertown Museum.

all the best,

Festival of Tinkering

With the advent of fall the annual Festival of Tinkering comes to Tinkertown. This year Tinkertown Museum again hosted this tribute to Ross J. Ward, his creativity and commitment to tinkering using found objects.

The Festival of Tinkering featured Beth, an East Mountain teacher at San Antonito, and her most creative activity of creating spinning tops out of used CD's. Beth showed a large group of adults and children how to create and design a top using colored markers. The more creative the drawing, the more the fun when the top starts spinning.

Featured again this year at the Festival of Tinkering was the ever popular Nattering Nabobs, a local blue grass band. Their lively tunes brought high spirits to a warm mountain fall day.

This year we were treated to an additional treat, the KidBobs. This group has been playing gigs for about a year and are fabulous.

Thanks to everyone that participated in and organized this year's successful Festival of Tinkering.

Hometown Hero

Your Tinkergeek gives the "floor" this week to a recent visitor to Tinkertown. Here is her contribution...it speaks for itself.

I am a columnist for a weekly newspaper in Massachusetts and I visited Tinkertown last month. My column, “Hometown Hero,” highlights people who are making a difference. Usually I highlight people in one of the five towns served by the newspaper, but this week I highlighted Ross Ward and Tinkertown. I thought you might enjoy reading it. It will be published in the Sept. 7th edition of the paper (www.hometown-weekly.com).


HOMETOWN HERO


By Antonia R. Nedder



I hope summer gave us all opportunities to spot the heroes among us. I found a hero in an unlikely place, in a sprawling cabin made of old bottles in the Sandia Mountains.
I spent part of my summer vacation in New Mexico, and visited a wonderful place called “Tinkertown Museum.” As I toured the 24-room museum, I immediately thought that its creator, Ross J. Ward, was the quintessential hometown hero.

Ross found his calling at age nine, when a love of the old west led him to create, by hand, a pretend town. He used cardboard boxes, clay, building blocks, and anything he could find. The town contained twenty buildings, and he spent an entire summer using odds and ends and a great deal of imagination to create a wonderland.

Ross also liked to draw, paint, and to carve, and he later created a miniature circus populated by toy animals, carved figures and painted clay people. As the years went on, Ross painted murals and amusements for carnivals and continued his hobby of creating miniatures. By 1978, his creations had grown enough to exhibit in a sixteen foot trailer at the New Mexico State Fair. As he settled in the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico, he began to construct a permanent home for his creations. In 1983, “Tinkertown” was opened to the public.

Tinkertown is a whimsical, astounding creation. The walls of the 24-room museum are made up of over 50,000 glass bottles, which Ross collected and used in the construction of the building. Inside, Tinkertown is filled with an amazing collection of miniature towns and scenes and a particularly impressive circus under the big top. The scenes, filling over twenty rooms, are made up of the miniatures carved by Ross. Interspersed throughout are memorabilia—Americana from years gone by, antique dolls, old carnival attractions, even prizes from cereal boxes collected decades ago.

The detail at Tinkertown is astounding, and my guess is that one could visit for a lifetime and still miss something hidden in the amazing displays. A mere description doesn’t do it justice; it’s something you simply have to see for yourself.

I think what struck me the most is that this was one man’s life work, one man’s passion, one man’s dream. What started as a summer project for a nine-year old boy grew into a testimonial which has been enjoyed by thousands and thousands of people, from all over the world. I use the word testimonial because I think Tinkertown is a testimony to what can happen when you stay true to yourself. Ross never stopped doing what he loved to do, and the result is a museum filled with his handiwork. He was a man who loved to build, create and imagine, and he took that love and made magic with it.

Ross published a small booklet about Tinkertown, entitled “I did all this while you were watching TV.” I love that title, because it reflects the essence of Tinkertown. It’s a message that says, look what I did! What can you do? In his booklet, Ross writes, “If you can dream it, you can build it, and Tinkertown is my proof.”

As my family finished touring the rooms, taking pictures and purchasing souvenirs, I inquired about Ross Ward and asked if he was still adding to the museum. I was sad to discover that Ross passed away in 2002. After experiencing his museum, I felt almost as if I knew him.

At the museum, there is a map showing the hometowns of the tens of thousands of visitors that have come to Tinkertown. People from all over the United States, and all over the world, have enjoyed Ross Ward’s work. Who was Ross Ward? He was the kid who liked to make things, who grew up to be the guy who liked to make things. And just look at what he did with that.

Imagine all the people he has reached, and all the joy he brought to the world, by having a vision and doing what he loved.

Into the sunset

In the typical swirl of a busy Saturday, kids running in and out, people at the register, phone ringing, Alex and the Tinkergeek maneuvering through the mad house...the face of a man stood out, calm, focused, on a completely different level and pace. Something called out from him...quickly he and his partner entered the music and were lost in the buzz.

A little later, now with a whole group of kids in the Gift Shop, pawing at the nude babies, trying on countless mood rings and trying to pocket rocks, I snapped out of my distraction to see this man's face before me. "Could I have some quarters in change," is all he asked quietly, intently oblivious to the mounting storm of 7 and 8 year olds. "Excuse me young men", he quietly said to a couple of noisy young boys trying to figure out how to swipe a tarot card set...and he passed through the crowd, and back to the museum.

The way he walked...it was ancient, only he was my age. He walked with a grace, and assurance, and a lightness as if his feet did not reach all the way to the dusty planked boards of the shop.

Much later, he and his partner appeared from the back of the gift shop, loaded with post cards, t-shirts, and books. I hadn't had a chance to talk with him before, so I used the standard Tinkertown query "where are you from?" He replied San Francisco. Now normally that would elicit much honorific approvals from me, along with a patter that included "my daughters live there", "I lived there", "I was born in the Bay Area" and all manner of camaraderie.

This time I was quite. Something told me that I was not in a position to share with this man...not that I wouldn't if I could...that somehow there was a fundamental difference between us, no matter how much we may have had in common. He exuded a wisdom, restraint, humor...or was that it?

"I have cancer" he said, "We are on my last lap of the West. I love the desert and am just absorbing as much of this place as I can." His partner added, "We just had to come here. We had to."

The gulf between us, I now realized, was that he knew he would die soon...and I didn't know that yet. His assurance came from a resolve that he knew he was alive, was connected with his life, and that it would be over soon.

"We are heading for Arizona to chase thunderstorm. I haven't been able to find any yet."

I got them oriented to the freeway location, where to eat, which way was Arizona, where they might find thunderstorms there...all manner of worldly information...but I couldn't manage to get through to his level...he offered no barriers...I was just incapable of getting there.

Carla collected them and took them through the residence to see his art and hear about Ross's battle with mortality. The three came out holding back tears and holding each other...at one point he looked to me, shook my hand and said "You've done well". I took it as no certain comment on my life to date, as he didn't know anything of my life...but just that I had a life...that I was living it...until there was nothing left to live...

and that was his gift to me today...

travel well into that red desert sunset, my friend.

Moving forward

The deluge of praise, concern, advice and worry of the last week over the announcement that Tinkertown Museum may be moving to town has been simply overwhelming. Tinkertown Museum Director Carla Ward has spent countless hours on the phone and in person allaying fears and concerns of loyal Tinkertown Museum fans.

The facts as we know them are:

Tinkertown Museum is a one-of-a-kind place...as in "few and far between"

Tinkertown Museum deserves to live on so that fourth, fifth, sixth generation visitors have an opportunity to enjoy this special tribute the the power of imagination, inspiration, initiative and perspiration.

Tinkertown Museum at Sandia Park operates in a very fragile building environment, in a fragile environment thanks to the dogged determination of Director Carla Ward and her staff.

They won't live forever, but the Museum must.

And so, yes, there are discussions ongoing with the City of Albuquerque. And if those don't pan out, something else will.

The Collection may move, expand, reinvent itself.

The Museum grounds will not change...the bottle walls will stay. Ross Ward's art will always grace the Main House and Cottage...the place of solitude and peace on the road to the Crest will always remain, and be available in some fashion to interested parties.

Those that do not move forward, die. Tinkertown Museum will never die.

Full Circle

Rousted out of a deep sleep at 4 am, I heard noises at the window. At first I thought it was Butch, our neighborhood dog, who has a sinus problem that causes him to alternate between heavy breathing and barking all night.

This, however, sounded more like a mumble...syllable, after syllable...kind of a chant.

At first I thought, "great, a couple of whacked out meth heads holding a seance at the art car"...next I considered the possibilities that they were working up to a blood sacrifice that would somehow involve your Tinkergeek.

So I tiptoed to the cell and dialed 911, thinking I would be very embarrassed if Butch's sinus problems had suddenly started emulating human speech.

As I spoke with dispatch, I flashed a torch (that's Brit speak for flashlight) out the window and to my amazement saw a figure looming, chanting, spinning...middle aged, shorts, t-shirt.

A little less freaked out, I nevertheless kept the sleeping sweetie, now up and around, from the window...this looked more like a middle-aged man in confusion and distress.

Nevertheless, heeding the dispatch's advice, I waited for the deputies. They arrived pretty quickly and I directed them to the back yard where the hapless fellow raised his hands...

Slowly the parallels crept into my brain. Ross Ward, the creator of Tinkertown and Alzheimer patient, had once "took off" while at the 'Barn' watching Carla ride. He was gone for a day...during which Carla and her family went through hell. Daughter Tanya wrote an account of the episode that is at once gripping, sad, horrifying and -- upon his ultimate rescue -- uplifting and tearful. You read about these situations with dispassion, but experiencing it live is another thing.

Dementia, whether it be temporary or long-lived, builds a wall between 'victim' and the rest of us. We usually are loath to look over the wall. Sometimes, at 4 in the morning, it is impossible to ignore...our natural tendency is to keep that person away...call the authorities...quickly isolate and send the problem away.

Truly, we can do little to assist other than to make sure the afflicted are reunited with loved ones and care-givers. Our early-morning visitor had gone missing, according to deputies, for 24-hours...during which he took off on his bike and headed to the mountains. Twenty-four hours during which daughter and girl-friend ached for a reunion...so I guess, in my paranoid way, I did what was necessary.

(Later, and not to put to fine a point on it, I considered how the fellow would be greeted if he had stumbled upon the residence of a hyper-anxious, gun-owning self-preservationist. Glad that that option is not operative around this Museum)

So in the end, community public safety officers mobilized to provide aid to our visitor, got him transport, and reunited with family.

A lesson to us all...when someone appears in our life, and is acting abnormally and distant from our day-to-day expectations...perhaps we should look twice, consider their needs, and use our personal and community resources to provide a hand.

Caching In

Your Tinkergeek has been out on the road for a while...Nova Scotia to Phoenix and back...but the people just keep coming to Tinkertown.

The nicest family came by this Sunday morning, all the way from Thousand Oaks, CA by way of Missouri, and immediately fell in love with Tinkertown. They were returning from a family visit in Missouri and stopping at all the road side attractions they could find.

They were also geocaching their way across the US...a hobby that I guess has escaped the old Tinkergeek...Geocaching involves finding one of over 181,000 geocaches located around the world with the aid of a GPS (any good Tinkergeek has one of those!) and a database of geocaches...look here --

http://www.geocaching.com/faq/

When you find one, you sign the stashed log (and yours if you're keeping track), and then leave a small item and take a small item. Our intrepid family had made specialty packages to leave in geocaches bearing their family "brand" and a small trinket. So if you successfully locate Tinkertown's geocache, you just might be able to trade an item for our featured guests.

Some caches contain a "hitchhiker", that is, a Travel Bug (or some other item) that is carried from cache to cache around the globe. It is tracked by means of a location of the Internet...so any "parent" of a hitchhiker can track where in the world their progeny has traveled (if keeping track of kids were only so easy!).

So thanks for stopping by Lauren, Shawn, Kit and Alleesha, and sharing your Sunday morning with us!

Childlike anticipation

Several days ago a family of four (mom, dad, a 7 year old daughter, and a 4 1/2 year old daughter) visited Tinkertown. As the family returned from the museum, led by the youngest daughter, she reached the top of the ramp into the gift shop. In a voice laden with excitement she exclaimed, " I can't wait to buy something!" Young or old and in between, we like this kind of visitor. The gift shop offers a wide variety of "stuff". There are cookbooks, travel books, children's books, humming bird feeders, souvenir refrigerator magnets, cups, shot glasses, shirts, hats, Day of the Dead items, milagros, notepads, post cards, games, trinkets, candy, and more.

Foundations

While walking in the woods, we happened upon an old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp...the kind of settlement that housed men workers during the depression, to provide meaningful work. Only the bare foundations are still visible...after 70 some years, the foundations are still visible.

Now this sparked some deep thoughts in the old TinkerGeek. Thoughts about how overlooked the foundations of our life are...we have them designed for us in our childhood, but we really don't go to work on them until our early twenties. And we really don't have much of a construction manual to work from.

Some people, like Ross and Carla Ward, deliberately laid down foundations that everything, including Tinkertown, was built upon. Their foundation was fashioned out of very substantial material:

- don't take on debt
- work hard on things you love
- take care of family and friends
- art is an important ingredient to feeding the soul
- you can live the life you want, not the life someone else says is important

Now it strikes me that we really don't tell our kids what kind of foundation to build...oh yeah, we say "get and education", "maintain your values", "strive to be great"...but this advice amounts to "you need to have tools, and you need to use them well!"

We don't really give any advice on how to build the foundation of a life; and so, generation after generation, we all relearn the same lessons, over and over again. Think about how far we could get in a life-time if we weren't constantly (re)building our foundations...if we were absolutely clear on issues such as:

- should I make something, or should I buy something
- should I read, or should I watch TV
- do we need to assist people in poverty in the world, or is it their problem
- should we take a nap, or should we go to Tinkertown for the afternoon.

(And a personal thanks to my Dad, this father's day, who helped me see how to build my own foundation).

Global appeal

This is my second season at Tinkertown working part-time in the gift shop. I've been amazed to learn that people from around the world are aware of and stop to visit this unique assemblage of Ross Ward's western folk art and memorabilia. Last year the locator map sported pins marking hometowns in Korea, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Iceland, Russia, England, France, Germany, Holland, South America, Canada, and of course most states in the US.

Yesterday, two couples from England, who had just arrived at the Sunport (Albuquerque's airport) that morning, picked up their rental RV and made their first stop in New Mexico at Tinkertown! They stayed for about an hour viewing the museum and browsing the gift shop before continuing North on the Turquoise Trail. In addition to these good folks we were pleased to greet visitors from Chicago; Washington, D. C.; and France. Join the crowd from around the world at Tinkertown.

The Woods

How many times in my youth did I yell in response to my mother's question "Where are you going" -- "To the Woods"!

Sandia Park, NM is like the woods almost anywhere in your youth...pine trees, squirrels, big rocks, streams cutting through the forest off the high mountain snow packs...its a delightful place to grow up, and to visit.

So much is made these days of how busy we are, how hectic the lifestyle, how demanding the competing demands of work, relationship and play. It is commonly held that there is no real way out of this box...but I would make a suggestion:

go to the woods!

The woods in the Albuquerque area are not hard to get to...even with the high price of gas, it doesn't take much to get to the edge of humanity...and take that fateful step beyond...to the woods.

In the woods you'll find the quiet fabric of natural sound...woodpeckers at work on a pinyon...hummingbirds flitting about...the snap of a branch where a deer, or if you're lucky, a bear passes by.

You can walk, ride a bike, ride a horse, run, sit, do almost anything you want in the woods. I am jolted awares by the whooping and shouting of city dwellers down at a picnic area...setting aside my momentary annoyance at the disruption of reverence to mother nature, I realize this too is another thing you can do...and should do...shout at the top of your lungs...its something that is frowned upon in the City.

You will emerge from a walk in the woods refreshed, nurtured, sometimes shaken by juxtaposition of the wood's clinging embrace and the diffidence of city life.

The woods are here, and available to you...come before fire season clamps its necessary restrictions upon us...hear the woods call you...

and of course, there's no better place to transition in and out of the woods than Tinkertown.

Climbing to Heaven

Today your TinkerGeek had broom in hand sweeping the Sandia Crest Highway in front of Tinkertown, and putting up a fresh supply of water to support "those crazy roadies" that are participating in the Sandia Crest Challenge. This debilitating hill climb starts in Albuquerque and ends at the Crest, at over 10,300' in elevation.

Now for those of you that just skimmed that part and muttered "whatever", let me let you in on a little secret...that ride is crazy hard! I have been working up to just five miles up the road from Tinkertown...elevation gain of 1,350'. These determined bike riders go the full Monty: 12 miles up the road, 4000' gain...and that is on top of the 20 mile ride from town, and 1,200' climb just to get to the foot of Sandia Crest Highway!

Hat's...er, helmets off to the competitive riders and their sponsors: Sportz Outdoors, Sage Mountain Soap Company, Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico and, of course, Tinkertown Museum. And thanks to Alexandra, Tinkertown's newest staff member, for helping out at the rest station.

Oh, and by the way. If you're biking up the Crest any time over the summer, look for the permanent water station at the entrance to Tinkertown Museum.

Dancing on a Pin

Memorial Day is here and the crowds of tourist, vacationers and migrants are streaming into Tinkertown Museum, a wonderful place to find a summer oasis, if not hiatus...

Migrants you ask? Do we need to call out the Minuteman Project? Well maybe, you decide:

"They just keep coming...migrants from Mexico", say the locals.

They just can't be controlled...they swarm in, taking up residence almost anywhere there is spare space...they work continuously from dawn to dusk, making hardly a sound and working for almost nothing.

"I always provide for them" says Tinkertown Museum Director Carla Ward. "I just can't help but put out caches of goodies to help them out"

Some would say this is only egging them on in greater numbers. "I agree", said Carla "they are more prevalent this year than ever".

The 'they' are five species of hummingbirds that travel thousands of miles in a summer season to secure food and nesting grounds in the central highlands of New Mexico. "They are a boon to the local economy" says Carla; "I sell mobiles and hummingbird feeders galore to people that come to enjoy their song and dance".

I saw a more somber side of the migration, however. A hummingbird, dead, by our window had errantly tried a raid into the kitchen. Picking it up I was amazed at how light it was. Stilled, yet radiantly beautiful, the hummingbird seemed like it could spin off at any moment.

The hummingbirds, despite their illegal origins and migratory patterns, cause no outrage from the patrons of Tinkertown. "I just marvel at how they can dance and spin without apparent effort, zooming past and just missing my ear by inches", stated Mari Anderson, a regular visitor to Tinkertown from Wisconsin.

Populist Demand

It seems that the TinkerGeek needs to crawl out of the electronic lean-to, put aside write-ups on the future of Utah and Colorado's economy and attend to the serious business of TinkerBlogging.

Today's topic is a ramble on the progressive nature of Tinkertown. Founded over 22 years ago as a private concern, the founders have been proud that "we never took a nickel from the public".

It seems that this dialog is achieving currency this week as the forces of, well, good and evil line up over the future of the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. (see http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4659805 )

Now, we here at Tinkertown have effectively skirted any danger of outside meddling by virtue of our private museum status. This makes us both immune to political issues and also invisible to funding sources. The strong preference being, of course, non-profit organizations owing to the resulting tax deduction. So are we to conclude that taking a vow of poverty is the only way to avoid political domination?

Its an interesting situation in the United States that little to no assistance is available from governmental entities or community groups if you are private, for-profit museum. Try Googling "private museum association" and all you get back are hits from European groups...and the US is supposed to be the "bastion of private business". Go figure.

Meanwhile, your TinkerGeek pursues a mixed bag of private, for profit activities so that he may have time to provide you with these rants...back to work!

The Boatman Cometh

You know the story about the Theodora R, the boat that sailed around the world and is now resting at Tinkertown. Now, for a limited time, the skipper is in residence at Tinkertown!

Fritz Damler and his wife Mari Anderson have arrived in Sandia Park on their way to Washington Island, Wisconsin where they spend their summer. They, and their dog Esme, split their time between Washington Island and Crooked Island in the Bahamas.

Fritz, a writer/guitar maker/builder, has been spending some time talking about his adventures on the Theodora R to lucky visitors of Tinkertown. Fritz's voyage lasted 10 years and took him to ports as diverse as Cairo, the Galapagos Islands, Capetown and Caledonia. He is hard at work finishing a full length book on his travels. This will update the version we sell at the gift shop, "Letters To Home".

Come on up to Tinkertown and ask to speak with Fritz!

"We never had time to stop"

Members of the District 6 Fire Rescue team stopped by Tinkertown this week. At first we thought they were called for an emergency, but happily they were here to tour the Museum.

"We have noticed Tinkertown many times on our way up to an auto accident or some other medical emergency on the Crest Road...and we always wondered what was here", said one of our community's brave fire fighter/medic.

We certainly know of their contribution to the community. Called out at all hours of the day or night, we see these heros race up Sandia Crest Road in order to help out those in need. It was a pleasure to see them relax and enjoy the wonderful western town that Ross made.

"We're glad we stopped", they said enthusiastically.

Next time you see one of our local Fire and Rescue trucks, give them a wave and a smile...they're working for you!

Open For Pleasure

Your TinkerGeek has made it back to New Mexico to join up with the "Greatest Snow On Earth"...after spending the winter in the Bahamas and Arizona, it was a shock to come back to the white stuff littering the mountains and Museum grounds.

All that seems behind us now as we're fully engaged in Tinkertown's 22nd season. And what a season we have in store for you!

Since opening we have been visited by a constantly differnt group of people...from the 67 motorcycle enthusiasts who stopped by, to the nice couple that were free-wheeling there way around North America in a fifth-wheel after a winter in Apache Junction.

Radar is back in great form after his winter in the desert...he's back to barking at squirrels and greeting the visitors to the Museum. Reeba was away also, but spent most of the winter in a closet...she is VERY happy to be back to her perch in the window at Tinkertown.

Carla is reunited with Hannah, her prize-winning horse, and is happy to show you the Museum and talk about its many wonderful secrets...as are Florence and Maggie.

Your TinkerGeek will attempt to keep you current on the comings and goings in the Sandia Mountains but please join in and leave messages about your favorite Tinkertown experience.

Two More Weeks

In a season where "four more years" rings out as a threat or a cheer, things are simpler up here in the Sandia Mountains. With fall bringing yellow and reds to the landscape, there is little room or interest in discussing politics.

With only two more weeks until closing for the season, Tinkertown is bustling with activity. The number of out of town tourists is high, its a good melting pot of the world.

Our season ending sale is in progress, and we are looking forward to the Halloween Party on Sunday, October 31.

Come on up and enjoy a crisp day in the mountains.

Apri Glow

Saturday night at the Balloon Glow was a great evening in New Mexico. Almost shorts weather coupled with great breakfast burritos at Larry's, spectacular lighting in the evening provided a wonderful way to relax after a very busy day at Tinkertown.

Saturday was the 2nd annual Festival of Tinkering, a tribute to the creative spirit of people of all ages. School kids from Georgia O'Keeffe and San Antonito, coordinated by Beth, Paula and Carla, showed off their Olympic dioramas, shaving creme painting and reccycling art projects.




A wonderful background of folk and bluegrass music combined with a staggeringly beautiful autumn day provided for a memorable afternoon.





Sunday was likewise a sterling day in the Sandia Mountains. Many people were introduced for the first time to Tinkertown. One lady was overhead saying:

"I'm looking for an odd present for an odd person, and this is the place to find it..."

Balloon Fiesta Time!

This is a big week in Albuquerque and at Tinkertown.
Your Town Geek was out of commission last week on account of family business...but there were plenty of interesting people visiting Tinkertown. Families and couples pour in from all around the world to sample the air, the light, and a quirky museum we call home.

Today, however, marks the repeat, annual visit of the Menopausal Tours group. These intrepid travellers beat the ravages of time by kickin' back, headin' out, and sampling some of America's best Road Side Attractions. Contrary to popular opinion, there are Men on the Menopausal Tours as well...they are perpetually agreeable. Tour host Terri does a great job of guiding her followers through the best that New Mexico has to offer.

Because the balloons start early in the morning, there are many hours left over to explore New Mexico. And what better way than to take a day on the Tuquoise Trail...lunch at the Crest...afternoon in Madrid and Cerrillos, leaving time for dinner and relaxation in Santa Fe...its a perfect way to enjoy October.

Check out http://aibf.org/

Last Week in September

Monday morning starts brilliantly in the mountains...clear, blue sky. The hint of fall.

This last weekend it was cloudy with episodes of rain in the East Mountains of New Mexico. Nonetheless, visitors flocked to the Museum to enjoy the amusing words and amazing work of the late artist Ross Ward. We had folks from Finland; Ontario, Canada; Mill Valley California (wearing a SF Giants hat -- GO GIANTS!) My favs were the three-some from Austin Texas who were on a road trip. They were working their way up the Turquoise Trail (see www.turquoisetrail.org) and then heading for Taos. Their laughter filled the museum and lifted my heart. This place rarely fails to inspire those that come with an open mind. It is so much fun to share in the stories and lives of those that visit...like the cute couple from Essex, Britian who were blown away that the Theodora R., the mighty ship in residence at Tinkertown that was piloted around the world by Carla's brother -- Fritz Damler, was built in their home town!

Soon folks will be scurrying up the Sandia Mountains to observe the fall colors and, from the Crest of the Sandias, watching the balloons rise from the desert floor (Balloon Fiesta starts October 1 and runs through October 10).

Speaking of fiestas, Tinkertown is sponsoring a couple of interesting events that are open to the public. On October 9th Tinkertown will host the annual Festival of Tinkering, a whimsical collection of artists and tinkerers drawn together in an afternoon of celebration. Be sure not to miss it!

A Fall Clearance Sale will start October 11 and run through the 17th...a good chance to stock up early on quirky Christmas gifts from our one-of-a-kind Gift Shop. And finally, a Halloween Costume Contest will be featured on the last day of the Season, October 31...more details are coming.

Sunday at Tinkertown

Just another Sunday you say...well not at Tinkertown. The gates open at 9 am and after Radar chases the racoons out of the museum we are ready to greet our first intrepid visitors. Usually the early Sunday crowd is from some other country...getting up early to take in the vastness of the American West.

And Tinkertown sits in the middle of and exudes the American West, thanks to creators Ross and Carla Ward. See www.Tinkertown.com

My fav Sunday morning customers this season were a family from IOWA taking a cross country trip on Dad's credit card. Mom and five kids had spent the night in the Denny's parking lot and were first in for the breakfast special. Despite their economy, the kids were totally engaged and loved the carved figures and western memorabilia in the museum. Mom was cleaver in her purchases at the Gift Shop, buying items that would go into their scrap book and give them a real good rememberance of their visits.

A group of three ladies from Austin, Texas are currently in the museum. They are laughing and whooping it up over the characters in Boot Hill...then they'll be on to the circus! Its cloudy and rained overnight but the hummers are out and sucking down their last food before migrating south for the season. Just another great day at Tinkertown.

Although I have many fond memories and stories of Tinkertown on Sunday mornings, they don't compete with the stories from those that visit...we invite you who have come to join in!