Fall Leaves on Jemez Creek

Cottonwood trees along Jemez Creek. Most had already lost their leaves when we were there last week.

Leaves in My Yard

A few of the leaves in my yard that have turned a little bit since fall is in the air. First two photos are of one of my Bradford pear trees. In the second one you can see the tiny dried seed pods that are left on Bradford pear trees as it is considered an ornamental tree instead of one that has pears for eating. It has beautiful white blossoms in the early spring.

Photos 3 and 4 are of my other Bradford pear tree who seems to have different color leaves and no seed pods.

Apple tree leaves.

Redbud tree leaves.

 Again the second Bradford pear tree a couple of days later when the leaves had turned to a deeper rusty red. This tree is by my front door.

Local Birds

some of the quail that stop by everyday for a drink of water and then go on their way. You can see the one quail going through the slightly larger space in the fence that we cut for them so they don't have to squish through the smaller spaces.

A raven that stopped by to chat with my mare the other day.

Coronado Monument

Alpacas

 I went to an arts and crafts event last weekend at Coronado Moument near Bernillo, NM. Someone had 3 alpacas there and they had some of the raw fiber, (wool) and some yarn and products made from the alpaca fiber. Very interesting and the little critters were sure cute.

Wiley Cat

Wiley Cat and Tuffee Dog keeping watch on the garden.

Ankle Brace

 If previous posts I mentioned that I had a tendon in my left ankle that didn't want to support me any more and I would have to wear a brace from now on. It finally came and this is it. Not sure it was really worth all the money I and my insurance company had to pay for it. I had a choice of colors. Plan plastic white or one with stars, or butterflies or spots or lots of other things. Since blue is my favorite color and I knew I would be wearing it every day I chose the blue swiral. In the second photo Twinkle is checking it out after I put it in my shoe.

this is how it looks on my ankle. I just hope it is worth it and the hassle of wearing it. It is hard to get on and off. But my ankle doesn't hurt as much with it on, so guess I'll have to get used to it.

Sunrise & Morning Glories

What Happens to a Tree

We go to the mountains and cut firewood every fall to use in our wood burning stove over the winter. The first photos show the trees as they look while growing.

The next photos show the tree after it dies. So why does it die? No one really knows why one tree dies and the ones next to it don't. Maybe it didn't get enough water. Maybe to much. Maybe it was struck my lightning or burned in a fire. Or just lived out it's life span. This one was a aspen tree. After it died the upper part fell off.

Then someone comes along and cuts up the part laying on the ground. Rules say you can only get the 'dead and down' wood. The part that was still standing we arn't allowed to take. Many birds and other wildlife could use it.

Then the chunks of wood are loaded into a pickup and brought home.

 Here is a photo of the pile of wood after it thrown off the pickup and then we split it with the log splitter, (we are to old for using an ax any more) and afterward it will be stacked in the wood shed so it won't get wet if it should rain or snow. (you can see the woodshed behind the wood pile)

If a piece of wood is very lucky it will not be burned. If it looks like a good piece that can be turned into something pretty on the lathe that is what happens. This piece will be a vase eventually. It was still to green to finish at this point. It will have to dry for a while before being sanded and a finish put on it.