New Mexico pictures

"Steam rising underneath a canopy of whispering, changing aspens; starlight in the clear, dark night, and wondrous beauty in every direction. If only all could feel this way, to be so captured and enthralled with autumn." Author: Donna Lynn Hope

One of the few stands of Aspens with all its leaves

This year on the first day of our visit, we returned  to the same area above Mancos, Colorado. Years past, we headed for the Absolute Bakery and Cafe for breakfast.  Wrong day, they were closed.  I love this place!  Our son introduced us to this food haven years ago.  It is tiny, the coffee is always fresh and flavorful. I usually buy a bag or two of flavors to savor at home.
That said, we ate breakfast at a Mexican restaurant that was just opening. Huge platters of food.  Way too much for us seniors. Son made a valiant job of cleaning his plate.

With full stomachs, we headed to the usual look out area.  There are few really good and easy to take pictures of the scenery up here.  It was also a bit later in the season and many trees were bare or nearly.
Gives a good opportunity to compare years past.
For me, this blog is my diary and my photo album.  At this point in picture taking, I seem to have waaay too many of the same pictures and other special memories and always intend to thin out some.

Seeing this road with nearly bare branches, I worried that I couldn't get good pictures. You know what? This is a good picture. The camera is new and obviously could have been tweaked a bit.  I still like it.

From a distance the trees look bare. Up close, there are plenty of leaves.  The ground was damp and fallen leaves smelled so good.

I think I have taken this same shot over the years.  Must be access to the road. With my new hearing aids, I can walk into this stand of trees and hear the leaves rustling.  A good place for a cup of coffee, to just stand and listen.... 

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I know there were many, many other locations for aspen picture taking but this area is the closest and gives the excuse to visit the Bakery.  It might be "fun" to find photos of these spots from  years past and see the changes.  Weather plays

a big part in what we will find on our return. 

This is one of the "perfect" spots.

Cattle are ranging all over the area. There are fences and the cattle guards to keep them in certain areas.



I wonder if the cattle are driven down from higher elevations, or drift down on their own.

Clouds began to be the topic of conversation  We were up about 9000 ft.

This one became darker as I took this picture.

This odd formation is called a Pileus formation.

 One year, we got heavy snow on us before we got to a lower elevation.


Were on our way shortly.

Took quite a few shots of cloud as it moved "through" the hole

I love this picture.  Could have tweaked it,but like it as is

A new year /old ideas.....a bit late.

"May I a small house and a large garden have.
And a few friends,
and many books, both true"  
Abraham Cowley

                                           

I wrote this several weeks ago.  Not much to report in the way of progress in the garden.
Everything is brown except weeds.  There are a few that I should know their names by now,.
They are amazing in how fast they grow.  Maybe I should just have a weed garden?  Lots less work.

The winter grass is healthy.  This grass will grow taller than the bluebonnets and hide their beautiful blue.  It is sort of a contest to see which will "win".

January 2017

The month is nearly over and nothing at all happening in garden.

I take that back, I saw a bluebird today.  I think I heard waxwings (they are early).  The pigeon racer has guests.  Because of his pigeons, hawks are in the area and birds are skittish. Will not visit the feeders.  They have come in quickly and leave.  All the usual guests so far.  Cardinals, Juncos, migrating sparrows, gold finches, wrens, white wing doves, Blue jays and the bluebird.

I watched a dove sitting in the bare branches of an old desert willow tree.  A white wing dove.  They are dark gray and blend in very will with blackish branches.  The way it was acting, I knew there was
a hawk in the area.  I looked out at the sky and sure enough, a Red Tailed hawk was sweeping over the neighborhood.  They are such beautiful birds.

We have had odd weather.  Weeks of very cold freezing temperatures followed by a week or more of 50's and even 70's.

There have been days of heavy fog.  Perfect for picture taking.  Too cold for my camera and when finally warmer, fog is gone.

We have had rain off and on as well.
The northern states have had snow, bitter cold, ice and more snow.  Dallas had 5 or so category 1 tornados through their area.  Football fans and players were advised to stay in the stadium until the storms passed.  Hubby and I slept through it all...

The patch of garden(s) past are full of bluebonnets.  I worried that I would have only what I sowed and maybe nothing but weeds.  I did not sow one bluebonnet.  They are thicker this year and all over the yard. 

No pictures this time.  Just thoughts on a cold, rainy evening.  There is much to do and if I am lucky, I will accomplish my few plans.

Happy New Year