I am the third girl and eighth child born to Pete and Felisa Sena in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

Dad was a "Vaquero" (Cowboy) who grew up and worked on a 1200 acre ranch. 600 acres of the ranch was a land grant from the State of New Mexico. My grandfather (Thomas Sena was a direct decendent of the Sena family from Santa Fe) purchased the adjoining 600 acres to raise his sheep and other livestock. At one time, our family ranch was the largest sheep ranch in the state of New Mexico.

Dad worked ranches in central New Mexico to provide for his family. He took great care in tending the sick and lame animals that he came across. He often knocked on doors and offered to buy a poorly cared for animal that he might have encountered on the range. Once retired from ranching he still cared for a vast array of animals.

He designed his livestock brand which consisted of his initals and a rocker. This is the hallmark that I have adopted for my metalwork. The brand is no longer in the family as it was lost after his death, but I have received verbal permission to use the brand as long as it is not for livestock marking. He called his brand "Pete Sena and Sons".

Dad's mom, Delfinia Sena, grew vegetables and herbs on the ranch and canned a number of different things. I remember the beautiful quilts and dresess she made and the wonderful pies and empanadas she used to make. She was the daughter of Valentine and Felina Garcia (my great grandparents). My great grandmother was an Apache Native.

My Mother's family came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico in search of work in a new land. My maternal grandparents (Indalecio and Carmen Santos) were married on board the ship before embarking in Galveston, TX.

Grandmother Santos worked hard washing and ironing for people. Grandpa says that there were times her hands would bleed from scrubbing clothes on the washboard. Grandpa worked 40 years for the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe Railway.