Live and Learn New Mexico!

When I think of New Mexico, my thoughts don't rush to all the trees our beautiful state has. It doesn't seem like we have a lot. We do, however, have five national forests.  In those forests are many pinon and juniper trees, trees that survive well in hot, dry climates. As I ride along NM roads and snap photos of trees I see, though, I'm not taking pictures of pinon or juniper. I'm taking pictures of trees that  people dreamt of having on their homesteads, trees they planted to make home more homey.  When a family moved to their homestead, they may have planted trees for shade in the yard (great spots to work on the cars) and next to the house. They were planted with love and hope for a peaceful future.  Often, at the end of the drive was a gate flanked by two beautiful shade trees.   Many of the places I see once had mobile homes on them, I'm guessing. When the family left and took their home with them, we

  I've been posting snaps on social media -- of old buildings, campers, etc. that I see in New Mexico when we're exploring. I realized that I should be photo-blogging instead and then sharing online. So here goes... This post is called Anywhere, New Mexico  because the buildings in the snaps can be found just about anywhere in our beautiful but sometimes somewhat trashed out state.  When I see these places, most abandoned but some still used, I can't help but wonder what they were like in their heyday.  Did a young, hopeful couple raise a family there? Did all the kids move away to work in the city and now the parents, old and feeble, are living in a nursing home? Do the kids visit? Old hen houses, sheds and garages. Some are used for storage and the properties are kept clean.  Windmills, a romantic image of life in the country, out on the plains where the wind blows crazy wild, its power  uncontainable...

Hello! I hope you are having a great day. I'm having fun putting this blog post together. It's a calming, healing activity for me. I've been talking a lot about my dad in recent posts. I miss him but feel his comforting love and support when I need it. He was the one who started me on my journey in photography. Dad gave me the Canon AE-1 that I still have. I would love to use it again but my phone camera is so freakin' convenient and takes nice pictures...and it slips easily into my pocket or purse. Since moving to Moriarty, I have been captivated by the sky. I am a morning person and am fortunate to see some amazing sunrises. I take many many snaps. Lately, though, I've also been looking to the north to see some beautiful cloudage. One morning was all about what I call UFO clouds hovering over the neighborhood. It doesn't matter what direction I turn; there's New Mexico sky to capture in a photo. I

In my last post, I talked about my dad and his love of indigenous art. Dad was a computer scientist/geek who spent his entire illustrious career at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). He loved it there and over the years worked his way up to director of security.  He retired at 55 and lived the rest of his life peacefully on his mountain homestead with Mom, who also later retired from the Lab. Like many computer geeks, Dad had a very precise style of writing, and he had a certain type of pen he wrote with, a fine tip, black ink. I think that this preference shows in much of the art he likes so much.  Dad also loved color. Right now, New Mexico is experiencing a severe drought and almost everything is brown...except the neverending blue sky. Dad had more than paintings in his art collection. He and my mom had many beautiful pottery pieces from various tribes as well.  Just wanted to share. I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope your da