I have spent the last 5 days at my New Mexico ranch with 8 wonderful women from Atlanta. Some I have known for a long time, some were new to me. Let me explain.
Every year my non-profit, The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP, which was recently renamed because we’ve expanded from an exclusive 18-year focus on teen pregnancy prevention to include health & nutrition), has a large, public fundraiser which includes a live auction and every year I auction off 5 days at my ranch with me. At this last gala, The Empower Party, when we honored Ted Turner with the Big Thinker award, I ended up auctioning 3 such trips. Last Sunday was the start of the 1st trip and it’s hard to imagine there can be a more fun one.
5 women arrived Sunday and the last 3 came on Monday. Here’s a photo of the first group hike. It was bitter cold. Left to right is Helen Izlar, Natalie (holding Tulea) works for CNN International and, coincidentally, is a consultant to Aaron Sorkin for “The Newsroom” TV series that I’m a ‘visiting guest star’ on. Ashley is the CEO of the Atlanta women’s pro basketball team, the Dream Team. Ginny is a member of GCAPP’s board of director’s among many other amazing philanthropic endeavors. Caroline chaired last year’s gala with her twin sister and came to the ranch 10 years ago with another group of Atlanta women auction winners.
Here they are sitting in the tack room on a couch that was on the set of “On Golden Pond”
Getting ready for a ride
I love this view through the barn portal towards the snow capped mountains where the Santa Fe ski basin is.
We shared a delicious dinner. Sandra McDonald, who cooks for me when I have guests, made the most delicious Corn Soup
Chicken with Mille sauce and Chili Rellenos stuffed with Creamy Polenta.”
Together at the table.
Natalie, Helen and Caroline toasting.
Robin and Natalie toasting.
After dinner we all got into the hot tub—for 2 hours of games and laughter.
Finally Emily’s in the picture. She’s the one usually taking them. That’s her in the front, the blonde with the come-hither smile. Then from left of her: Caroline, Robin, Helen, me, Natalie, Mary and Ashley.
We were prunes when we finally decided it was time to get out!
We went into Santa Fe, probably the greatest little town in the whole world for retail therapy. After visiting the fantastic Fenn-Nedra Matteucci art gallery and a very successful visit to Nathalie, my favorite clothing store on Canyon Road, we went to the best cowboy boot store in the world, Back At The Ranch.
“Check out the boots at Santa Fe’s Back at the Ranch. Have you ever seen such fascinating diversity in western foot wear?”
“Of course you can’t visit Santa Fe without stopping by the most amazing chocolate shop, Todos Santos. Here are Ashley and Mary in the doorway”
“This is the front door of the Shed where we had lunch.”
And here are Natalie, Emily and Ginny at the Shed with our exceptional waiter. Emily Giffin, on case you didn’t know, is a multiple best selling novelist. “Where We Belong,” “Something Borrowed,” “Something Blue” and “Baby Proof” among others.”
“We ended our trip into town with a scrumptious dinner at Geronimo. My friends gave me this little Indian pottery piece as a souvenir of our fun in the hot tub.
The only thing sad about these 5 days is that I didn’t see my 5 gobblers. Hope the cougars didn’t get them.”
