Book description
The time is 1946. From Georgia O'Keeffe's old hacienda sitting on a
bluff in Abiquiu, New Mexico, she could see my aunt and uncle, Helen and
Winfield Morten's property across the Chama River. Georgia had begun the
restoration of her property. The Mortens, in the final stages of
purchasing land along the Chama River, had recently completed their
restoration of another old hacienda they called Rancho de Abiquiu. As
one of few Anglos in the Chama River valley, Georgia ventured over to
Rancho de Abiquiu to introduce herself and a private friendship resulted
with the Mortens and their family. In this close family circle, Georgia
revealed herself and proved that beneath her bare face there was more to
her than just an artist of legendary proportions. Nancy Hopkins Reily
spent many of her childhood days walking the Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch
land. She explored the canyons, the White Place, Echo Amphitheater, the
mountains, and the Chama River by walking the trails worn by earlier
moccasined feet. In a seamless, clear, and straightforward narrative of
excerpts from their lives, Reily presents Georgia in a time-window of
her age. The book features Reily's youthful experiences, letters from
Georgia, glimpses of the family's memorabilia and photographic
snapshots-all gracefully woven into the forces of the contemporaneous
scene that shaped their friendship. In addition, there are insights into
the land's beauty, times, culture, history and the people who surrounded
Georgia, as well as many minute details that should be remembered and
which are often overlooked by others when they speak of Georgia
O'Keeffe. NANCY HOPKINS REILY was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended
Gulf Park College in Gulfport, Mississippi, for one year. She graduated
from Southern Methodist University with a B. B.A. in Retail
Merchandising. Since childhood she has divided her time between Texas,
Colorado and New Mexico. At a young age, the colorful New Mexico
landscape captured her heart and gave her a sense of place. She
continues to enjoy its beauty. Reily makes her home in Lufkin, Texas.
