Large rock art panel

Large rock art panel, originally uploaded by craptastica.

What will we leave to those who come after?

Dawn Patrol

Dawn Patrol
Originally uploaded by craptastica

Like any good Albuquerqueian, I recently went to the Ballon Fiesta and brought my visiting friend, Zach. I never have been to the Fiesta (Fiasco as I call it) in the past. The super-early wake-up, traffic, and crowds have generally kept me away. Yet, I actually had a really good time and would even recommend it for those who haven't yet been.

Home on the Range

Nogales Cliff House

nogales_cliff_house
Originally uploaded by craptastica

Hidden in a narrow wooded canyon in the forgotton landscape of the Gallina Culture lies the Nogales Cliff house. What makes this archeological site so cool is that it was only 'discovered' in the 1990s. Its isolation has kept it unseen for so long and leaves it generally out-of-reach from the populations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Seeding

Seeding
Originally uploaded by craptastica

My neighbor seeding during monsoon season. Check out the thunderclouds building on the mountains.

Santuario de Chimayo

Santuario_de_Chimayo, originally uploaded by craptastica.

Clouds over Canon

Clouds over Canon, originally uploaded by craptastica.

I took this picture at the edge of a town called Canon, which I pass through on my way to work.

Dawn at Valle Grande

Dawn at Valle Grande, originally uploaded by craptastica.

It's snowing again and its April.

Anything but more snow.

Cloud Mesa, originally uploaded by craptastica.

Haven't written in a while. Possibly because the winter doldrums have finally stranded my soul in the open waters of apathy. Maybe just because I don't have any really interesting things to say, Well, I'm glad to say that has never stopped me before...

So I posted the mesa photo with this blog because I can't stand anymore snow photos, photos with snow in them, or anything remotely cold looking. This year has snowed constantly and this type of thing really shrinks your world when you live in the mountains. Though I really do like the snow under this frost-bit exterior (better than drought!) I think it's time for something new.

I'm also chomping at the bit a bit (bit a bit?) because I just bought a new truck! A 4x4 dodge... eureka! Country livin' with a Corolla just doesn't cut it. I could have sworn I heard the cows chuckling when I had to drive back and forth a zillion times to collect firewood for the winter in my ridiculously small road-warrior (175k miles baby!) toyota carolla. One of my neighbors just looked at me and shook his head slowly after seeing my car dragging ass by his home with a load of pinon in the back.

Despite embarrassing myself in front of the neighbors, I think the best part is that I don't have to worry about getting stuck in the mud on the way home. My driveway gets to be a mud bog when the snows start to melt and I have to gun my poor ground-hugging toyota to get from the paved road to my house for about a 1/2 mile. At first it was a blast, I'd push the car into 2nd and just slam on the gas while my car slided wildly all over the roadway between neighbors fences. I'd get home and park what looked like a jello-pudding pop swirl with tires.

But getting stuck in the mud sucks. No two ways about it. 4-wheel drive = manna from heaven.

East Fork Jemez River box

East Fork Jemez box, originally uploaded by craptastica.

snow horses

snow horses, originally uploaded by craptastica.

Outpost moon

Outpost moon, originally uploaded by craptastica.

Moonrise after a few days of snow