Old Truck

On the edge of the meadow where the logging camp used to Lee and Tuffee check out the old truck.

My Rock

I saw this rock by the road and wanted to bring it home but Lee wouldn't let me.

Big Rocks

This big rock was along the steep hill going into or out of Ghost Canyon. Because it is fall the leaves were gone on the aspen trees and we could see the rocks better than we would have been able to in the summer. The rocks on this portion of the road were the biggest we saw.

Three Trees

Sandia Mountains

These are the Sandia Mountains as we see them every day from our home west of Albuquerque, NM. Albuquerque lays at the feet of the mountains along the Rio Grande River and can't be seen in this photo. Most of the time we simply see this big mountain and take them for granted. But the last part of October we decided to take a drive up to the top. The following photos are the ones I took that day. We took our Border Collie, Tuffee with us and you can see her in this photo, too. At our home we are about 6500 feet in elevation. The top of the Sandia Mountains, known as Sandia Crest is a bit over 11,000 feet high. Much higher than it looks in this photo. When making this drive you will go from about 5000 feet in parts of Albuquerque and desert country all the way to the top which is considered Alpine country at tree line. There is a dirt road going up the west or 'backside' of the Sandias through the little town of Placitis. Or you can drive the paved road up the east side of the Mountains through Cedar Crest. The Sandia Mountains are part of the Cibola National Forest. There are many acres of forest with lots of wildlife. I don't believe there is much logging or hunting allowed in the Sandias anymore. There are several nice picnic areas that are constantly being improved. Plus there is a ski resort and restaurant as well as the Sandia Tram which is the longest tram in the United States and goes from a restaurant in the northeast part of Albuquerque to the restaurant at the ski resort near the top of the mountain. I rode the tram in 1968 and 1980 but haven't raked up the nerve to ride it again. There is more info on the Sandia Mountains at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/districts/sandia.shtml

Mountain Meadow

One of the small mountain meadows that are scattered all over the Sandia Mountains. This one slopes toward the edge of the mountain so that you can see toward Albuquerque. There are lots of deer, elk, bear, squirrels, cougars, bobcats, skunks, and lots of different kinds of birds in the Sandias. We have seen nearly all these animals except cougars in the 35 years that we have been coming here. But once we got here today and started thinking about it we realized it had probably been at least 10 years since our last trip. Usually we go west to the Jemez Mountains.

Towers

One of the first things you see when you get to the top of Sandia Crest is all the TV and Radio towers that tower over the Crest. Many of them have been there more than 40 years, and others are newer. It seems to be the best place to have these communication towers. You frequently see men working on them. This day there were several trucks from Qwest Telephone Company which supplies all the landline phones in Albuquerque and most of NM and some other places.

Beautiful Old Tree

WindSwept Tree

I really loved the photo quality of this very nold, Juniper tree that was along the edge of Sandia Crest. I took lots of shots of it from all three angles I could get to. The fourth side of the tree was hanging off into space and I didn't want to go there. Lee took several pictures of me under it and then I took some of him. I think it is a Juniper tree and who knows just how old it it. Due to the wind blowing on it almost constantly I am sure it isn't as large as it would be if it was on flat land. And it is that wind that has shaped this tree the way it is.

Rock Edge

This rocky ledge was along the edge of the trail. I think it is mostly limestone. The rock seems to be fairly soft and full of lines, and holes. The holes sometimes hold water that birds and small wildlife drink. Lost hikers and travelers have looked for holes in rocks where water can collect in any outdoor setting. There are also lots of fossils in the rocks that confirm the fact that the Sandia's were under water, either an ocean or sea many, many, many years before man.

Lee & Tuffee

Lee and Tuffee with Albuquerque down below them.

Tuffee & Me Again

Tuffee & Me

This is me and my dog, Tuffee taking a break in our very slow, windy walk along the first 100 yards or so of the trail down from Sandia Crest.

Albuquerque

This was my best photo actually looking down at Albuquerque, NM from Sandia Crest. It was hazey this day, on better days you can actually make out buildings and streets in Albuquerque, and with field glasses you can see my house way, way west, almost 100 miles west of the mountains.

Looking South

From the Crest of the Sandia Mts you can look almost in all four directions. It was so hazey that day that we weren't getting the best views as you do on some days. I didn't get any good ones from the walkway but did get this one at the start of one of the trails where you can actually hike from the top of the Crest all the way down into Albuquerque, about 11,000 feet down.

Walk Way

On the main trail to the very tip-top of the Sandia Mountains is this paved walkway with handrails for safety. It was very windy on the day we were there and the railing and it was necessary for me to hold onto the railing. Others weren't but I needed to.

Lightning Warning

There were signs warning that lighting up on the Crest could and is very dangerous. They warned that it is advisable to leave when there is lightning. But there was none that day while we were there.

Dead Tree

This dead tree was right outside the gift shop and made an interesting photo.

Looking NorthEast

From the Crest of the Sandias you can see Albuquerque but can look off to the northeast also.

Blue Sky & a Bush

I don't know what kind of a bush this is that I found on the edge of Sandia Crest.

Aspen Tree in Sandia Mountains

This is an aspen tree we saw on our recent trip to the Sandia Mountains. This was what is considered the 'backside' or west side of the Sandias. It is a narrow, usually single lane, dirt road that goes up the mountain from the town of Placitis, NM, which is north of Albuqueque.

Arts & Crafts Fair

Well the first A & C Fair was a complete loss. I didn't even make enough money to pay for the entrance fee. I could have done better having another yard sale.
And it wasn't just me. I didn't see or talk to anyone that had sold much. We were all very disgusted and won't go their for a fair again. It was a nice but small church but they stuck a lot of us off in little rooms away from the big room and expected us to sell to customers that couldn't find us.
On top of which it was the same day as a very large church on the main street through town was having theirs.
As my dad would have said, " What a bunch of 'hooie'. "

Crafts Projects

The following photos are of the crafts projects that I have been working on to sell at a couple of up coming local Arts & Crafts shows. The first photos are of the gourds I grew last summer, dried last winter and made into birdhouses and artificial flower vases. Then is several of the Dream Catchers that I have been making and some of the wooden Howling Coyotes that I like to make.
The first crafts sale is this weekend.

Red Gourd Birdhouse

Natural Gourd Birdhouse

Blue Gourd Vase

Large Black Gourd Vase

Large White Gourd Vase

Thunderbird Dream Catcher

10 Inch Dream Catcher

5 Inch Dream Catcher

Pair of Wooden Howling Coyotes

10 Inch Howling Coyotes

6 Inch Howling Coyotes

Hello, Again

It's been a while but will try to update the past few weeks. Have been busy or feeling like heck. Have been trying to make some craft items to sell at a couple of Arts and Crafts Fairs that will be held in the nearby city of Rio Rancho, NM this month and next. I made some wooden howling coyotes, some dream catchers, and some birdhouses and artifical flower vases made out of the gourds that I grew last summer. I have more gourds from the vines I grew this summer but they are still to green to make anything from them yet. They need to dry all winter before they can be opened, the seeds extracted and then the hull made into what ever. I will try to get some photos of the birdhouses and vases posted soon.

National Parks Shows

I have been watching a really great series of shows on our local PBS channel by Ken Burns about the history of our National Parks and Monuments. It has been very interesting but wish they had done it over several weeks instead of bomb-barding us with it all in one week. If you get a chance take a look at it.

Huge Bird? or What Is It???

Of course when you go to all these wonderful forests, state and national parks you might find your self face to face with some unusual sights. Like this great, huge, burnt looking - - well, is it a bird? or a monster? or just what is it?

Spa Treatment and Another Wind Storm

I spent most of Tuesday doing spa treatments on two of the horses, Sunny, my old paint and Nita my Quarter Horse. They seemed to really enjoy it. I soaked them well with the waterhose, then soaped them good from a bucket of warm water and expensive shampoo from the Dollar Store. After I shampooed each quarter of the horse I would message it with a rubber curry comb followed by a quick rinse. When I had shampooed and messaged all four quarters of the horse I did a complete rinse with the waterhose. All of this was followed by a sweegie to get the rinse water off and then a dry with a couple of towels. Next each horse was allowed to be a four-legged lawn mower for a few minutes and a cottonwood tree trimmer for a few more minutes while on a halter and lead so that they didn't get right down and roll in the dirt after all of my hard work. This included a short bit of ground work to remind them of the basic manners all horses should know.
They were so pretty and clean and soft after all that.
Then today we had another of our putrid wind and sand storms. It has blown all day and sand has seeped into every crack and crevice in the house, the hay shed, storage shed, and my skin. There is desert sand all over my tomato plants that are now producing nice, ripe, red tomatoes. And sand all over the last of my flowers. And of course there is sand all in the nice soft coats of my two horses that were so clean just 24 hours ago. Still have three horses that need the same spa treatment but it will have to wait until this storm is gone.

Rough Road

This is a really rough part of one of our favorite roads in the Jemez Mountains.

Chipmunk

Look hard and you can see the tiny chipmunk on the left side of the tree stump. We saw him last time we went to the mountains.

Ponies

Eye to Eye

Yellow Rose

Cosma

Thunder Storm

We had a heck of a thunder and lightning storm last night. My border collie, Tuffee was glued to me, or so it felt like. She is terrified of thunder, and fireworks as are so many dogs. We can't stop the thunder but the firecrackers, and other loud fireworks noises need to be outlawed. Here it is the middle of September and nearly every day we here one or two firecrackers. Just enough to cause the dogs and us to have freedom from this noise. It is against the law, but the overworked police has more than they can do now. What enjoyment do people get out of making loud noises? I will never be able to figure it out.
The storm last night did bring us a little bit of moisture, just a little bit.
Today we are getting clouds, thunder, and lightning again but again no rain.

Food Prices

We were glad to have a WalMart come to our neighborhood. The local grocery stores are so high in price compared to WalMart. But 2 years later we see Walmart prices as high or higher than Albertsons and Smiths. Guess I'll go back to buying at the other stores. And how do all the stores expect us to buy even the basic food stuff and household supplies when the prices keep going up and up and up and paychecks don't match them. Especially for those of us on fixed incomes.

Santa Fe, NM 400th Birthday

Last year Albuquerque, NM celebrated it's 300th birthday and this year, in fact this weekend, Santa Fe is celebrating it's 400th birthday. From 1610 to 2010, although there were Native Americans living in the area long before the Spanish arrived. Maybe up to 10,000 years ago. Santa Fe is the capital city of New Mexico. go to http://www.santafe400th.com/ for more information. Santa Fe is known for it's fantastic museums, art galleries, Spanish and Native American arts and crafts, and as the home of lots of famous actors, actress, and other well known people now and previously.
Santa Fe is known as the oldest state capital city in the US and also, at 7000 feet above sea level is the highest.
The Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuous government building in the US.
The Loretto Chapel was built in 1878 where a staircase was built by a carpenter with no means of visible support and no nails.
San Miguel is the oldest church structure in the US.San Miguel Church. The original adobe walls were built by Indians in 1610. http://www.milebymile.com/main/United_States/New_Mexico/photo_20034.html

Baby Elephant

Rozie the elephant that I saw as a baby 16 years ago now has had a baby on last Wed. 09-02-09. I hope to be able to go see this baby girl when she can be seen by the public.

This photo came out really small when I posted it. It is someone elses photo and can be seen at this site

http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/elephantcalf.htmlt It is always wonderful to hear about the birth of animals and especially those near extention. The Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque is known for the gariffe births that occur frequently. I think there may have been a baby gariffe born earlier this spring and there were snow leopard cubs born in May this spring. Snow leopards are extreamly endangered. The Rio Grande zoo is doing really well at raising endangered animals.

White Cats

A friend sent me a long email with a bunch of the old favorite photos that are on the email circuit. this one caught my eye. Congratulations to the photographer for getting all the cats in one photo. It makes me appreciate the fact I am only trying to get a photo with 3 solid black cats that don't want to cooperate together.

A Rainbow Beam

Friday afternoon it clouded up and I thought for sure we would get a good shower but we didn't. We did get to see a part of a rainbow in a really dark cloud.

In the Woods

We took our first trip to the Jemez Mountains last Thursday to start woodcutting for the winter. When we got there we had to sit in the truck and wait for a rain shower to pass before we could start cutting. After the rain I noticed this nice pine tree with lots of green moss on the left side and the log and rock at it's base to make a nice photo.

On the Road

I took this through the windsheld of the truck as we were driving back from our woodcutting day in the Jemez Mts. Those are the Sandia Mts you can see in the distance. We were driving east toward Albuquerque here.

Big Cloud

We saw this really big nice looking thunderhead cloud on our way home from the Jemez

Rock Ridge

Cool Cloud

I saw this cool cloud over a rock ridge at a rest area we stopped at.

Wiley in the Trash

Our kitten Wiley decided to play in a little trash can the other day. He looked so cute I had to take his picture.

Problems With Delivery Companies

I had problems getting an order for a new cell phone through FedEx. Now I have talked to someone else that has had even worse problems getting their phone through FedEx. There is no excuse for these problems. It sounds as if the main problem is lazy people not doing their job properly and getting a big paycheck from a big company that doesn't care about their customers anymore.
Talking to a couple of other people I hear about the same problems and they weren't shipping or receiving cell phones. It was all kinds of products some of which were perishable and were not usable do to the long delays in getting the products.
FedEx and UPS were started as alternatives to using the US Post Office. Now they are just as bad and no one seems to care about customer service any more.

Walking the Continental Divide

Last night I accidentally found a wonderful program on our local PBS station which is KNME here in Albuquerque. It was a two hour show on walking the CTD or the Continental Divide. You ask what is the Continental Divide. The Divide is the geological area where the rivers and streams decide which direction they are going to flow. East of the Divide rivers flow east. West of the Divide rivers flow to the west. On the North American Continent it starts down in Mexico (that I know about) and runs north into Canada. Or I always thing of it going from south to north because I have been on more of it in New Mexico than any other state. This program was about a man who walked it from Animus, NM at the US/Mexican border to Glacier National Park where it enters Canada; a distance of about 3,100 miles. Thats a lot of miles and a lot of walking and he did it from early spring through summer and into fall. It must have been a heck of a trip. Of course it was of so much interest to us because we have seen so much of the Continental Divide considering we have lived so near it so much and took road trips that went near it at other times.
My sister lived near Animus, NM for a long time. From there he went up through Lordsburg, NM to Silver City, NM to Grants, NM to Chama, NM and the NM/Colorado border. We lived in Silver City for a number of years and have visited the other places. We have been near the Divide in CO, as well as where it wanders up through Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana on our road trips. This show has some of the most beautiful scenery you could ask for.
If You are interested in seeing this show contact your local PBS station or go to /www.flaglerfilms.com/

Stop Paper Waste

We keep hearing about how everyone should go paperless and YET everyday I get more and more and more junk/garbage mail. Business' could save lots of trees by not sending out so much garbage to people that really do not want all that junk mail. We probably throw out tons and tons of junk mail each year. If we didn't get the postperson wouldn't have to deliver it and maybe they could get important mail to us. If we didn't get it we wouldn't have to throw it in our landfills. If we didn't get it we wouldn't have to take the time to send it to the landfill or to the recycle place where someone else has to take the time to send it to the right box and through the recycle program. We and they could use the time to do something more constructive and to recycle something else.
And really - how many people actually read their junk mail.
Please - Big Bussiness - could you please try to stop sending so much junk/garbarge mail.

New Phones

My new cell phones did come in today. Fedex finally got it together and delivered them. Now to figure out how to use the new ones.

Not My Day

Does everyone have trouble with big business' or is it just me. I decided to order new cell phones from Verizon as it had been several years since we had new ones. So I did and the guy at Verizon was really nice, much nicer than reps at Verizon call centers usually are. He said my phones would be overnighted to my by FedEx. That was fine, as I had plans to be home all day and could be here when they arrived. We saw the truck go by one way very fast and went out to the gate to see if he would come back to our place. He went down the street turned around and came flying back, and right on by us, through the stop sign at the corner of the street which is also the corner of our property and off down to the next street over when he stopped when to the door and then took off for parts unknown. Oh well we thought, our phones didn't get shiped out the day before in time and we would have to wait until Monday. Remembering I received an email from Verizon so I could track the phones I pulled it up, got the website and tracking number and looked it up. Oh!!!!! It said that our package had the wrong address listed and was back at the FedEX office. So I called them. They said it was wrong, and would be delivered Monday since I had called and corrected the address. I called Verizon, they said it was right. Verizon called Fed EX who said it was wrong but they would deliver it Monday and call me before they came. Everyone said the driver was wrong for not calling to find out correct address. It was pass the buck time. Will I get my new phones on Monday. Who knows. Not only am I upset about this I now have to spend another day, all day expecting a delivery.
To top it off I notice on the tracking that my phones went from California to Memphis, TN and then back to Albuquerque last night before the driver came to our little out of the way comunity. Why did they go back and forth across the US? Only some pencil pusher in an office could answer that and they won't.

Flycatcher

I got this shot of a flycatcher sitting on the same plant stand to catch the cool air as the mockingbirds I told about in the previous post.

Mockingbird

This isn't the best photo because I took it through the window screen. This mockingbird, his mate, and three chicks have taken up residence in our back yard and like to come onto the patio to eat the bugs that the bug zapper light attaches each night. I like the fact that they come eat the bugs but the male mockingbird had apparently lived somewhere where there was a very tinny, cheep sounding windchime before he came here. And he had learned to make the noise of that windchime and used that noise to call his chicks to come eat bugs. It sounds sort of like a small, tinny, cheep bell and can be quite irritating after several hours of hearing it. Mockingbirds are known for imitating the songs of other birds, and learning to make odd noises like sqeeky gates, kids toys, barking dogs, meowing cats, and now windchimes.

Also you would have thought that the mockingbirds would have got used to me watching them out the window. Oh, no. But they would let my old cat lay outside on the patio and watch them. The cat is closer to them than I am. That was fine. But me at the door or window with a camera. Never. I was finally able to get this shot through the screen and it is the best I have managed so far.

And smart birds that they are, this family of mockingbirds has also learned that if they sit on that plant stand that the bird is on that they get a little of the cool air that comes through the window from the air conditioner. We have a swamp cooler and they do better if a window is cracked open. I didn't realize that I was putting the plant stand in a direct line with the window when I put it there. I haven't been able to use it for a plant as our bad winds have knocked off the ones I have tried there and I gave up and let the birds sit on it.

Bullriding VS Cyling

The bullriding is finally back on. The riders had about a 2 month break from the PBR but most of them were still competing at the less known Challenger tour events and the Calgery Stampede was held while they were off. Most of the Professional Bull Riding events are televised on the channel Versus but Versus has seemed to be not showing as much of the bullriding as they were which wasn't enough for any of the fans before. They waited 2 weeks to show the Tulsa events because of all the cycling. I don't know any one that watches or is into the cycling events. I do know lots of people that are bullriding fans. Now they are showing Indy Car Racing instead of showing the bullriding as early in the evening as they used to. Versus needs to get it together and remember that a lot of us only have their channel so that we can watch the bullriding. As it is they don't show the Friday night rounds in the events and we would love to be able to see them as well. The thing is the only thing they show on Friday night is re-runs of their hunting shows. So why don't they show the Friday night rounds of PBR. Go to www.pbrnow.com