Airmail

This cracks me up.  I remember seeing these once in awhile when I was a kid, but you don't see them often now! 

Moon over Tenth

I snapped these on the way home the last night.  The moon was incredible!

Actually, a fairly decent shot of the A also.

The light is ever changing here as the sun begins to set, it baths us in the yellow gold glow before casting the purple shadows on the east mountains.

Winter Light

The light was amazing this morning making even the winter fields beautiful.

Everything takes on an abandoned desolation in this season.

I look at this and think that this could belong in any time.  I would not have been suprised to see a 1930's era tractor.

Painted tanks

I came across these tanks while driving this morning.

It is a shame that this one is peeling.  One of these days I am going to get and post photos of all of the painted water tanks in Las Cruces.  I know they are not technically in the basin, but they are too cool not to include.

Labyrinth de La Luz

The elementary school in La Luz has this fantastic labyrinth.

It is filled with rocks that have been painted by the children and the staff.

Something about this blue mans expression caught my fancy.

I think that is a great activity to build one, to paint the rocks and then to enjoy!

I am of course biased since I built one in my back yard a few years ago.

The Spiral Sun is one of my favorite symbols...

I now leave you for a few moments of meditative peace.

Straw, mud and sun

I was not quite sure if this should go under the orange door or the adobe catagory.  Nothing wrong with a pop of color in the brown desert when you have adobe (read brown mud) bricks.

It is interesting how straw and mud sun-baked bricks last longer than we do!

Heavy Artillary

I have driven past this a thousand times and don't think about it.  It is another juxtaposition amongst the mailboxes.  I am sure it is WWII vintage.  Surplus?

Al-O-Mar

Who hasn't eaten here?  They do have a great green chile burger!  This is an old fashioned drive in.  You just sit outside and eat in your car!

Gate Headers II

     I have a couple more for the gate header series.  Some of them are quite simple some are very elaborate.  Usually the elaborate ones entail some metal work.  I have even seen them made from old telephone poles.

This one is dressed up with the skull and antlers.

Coyote Fences

You will see many different fences around.  The ones that have the most appeal to me are these.  I like the combinations of the different materials.  The adobe bricks, the metal and wood.

These are whats known around here as coyote fences. 

Sierra Blanca

     This is the drive back to Alamogordo from Las Cruces.  Long stretch of flat highway.  You can see the mountains in the distance with Sierra Blanca on the left and snow covered.  It was 60 degrees outside.  The mountain is over 100 miles from where I took this photo.

That is not snow, that is the White Sands in the foreground.

This mountain is on missle range property, just before the border patrol checkpoint.  Have you heard the story of Vicotrio Peak and the gold?

             

End of Watch

This is a recent addition to our town, it is on the corner of Tenth and Michigan, next to the State Police Building.  It is where the town Christmas Tree used to be.

Last year, they put this in.  They finally decided that the old juniper was dead and planted a new one.  It was sorely needed.  The poor old tree had seen better days.  The new tree will make a fitting memorial for the fallen.

Sheriff William Rutherford

Lt. James M. Vigil

Office Bruce A. Richard

Officer Christopher Mirabol

Deputy Robert W. Hedman

Agent Julio E. Baray

Lt. Michael Avilucca

Downtown Alamogordo

Hi, Happy Valentines Day!

It seems forever since I have posted, between work and the weather, I have fallen behind.  I am back, today is a glorious day at 57 degrees and clear outside!  I saw a silly tree in bloom this morning.  So much for the fruit trees.  Downtown is basically deserted on Sundays.  We don't have much of a downtown, only one block of old buildings.  The ones that are there are fascinating are in various states of upkeep and repair.  These three businesses listed on the downtown sign have all been out of business for MANY years. 

This sits atop the building on the Southwest corner of New York and Tenth. 

There are amazing details left, the old Victorian touches...

This is the best landmark downtown.  You can see it in all the old postcards and photographs dating back to the turn of the last century.

This is one we pass by every day and never pay attention.

This building used to be Brunells clothing store.  There is still one in Ruidoso.  The upstairs windows were boarded over in the 1970's but they are still there.  The original tin ceilings with the original tobacco stained colors, the dance floor and stage are still all intact upstairs.  It used to be a gentlemans club in the early 1900's.

Cattle Guard

This is for my friend Gina.  I was talking to her one day and mentioned a cattle guard.  She had no idea what I was talking about.  I guess it isn't her fault she was raised in NYC.  She could not picture it when I tried to describe it, so here is photographic evidence that I was not making up stories.  For anyone else out there that doesn't know what this is, it is to keep the cattle from wandering.

Ravens in Winter

I know the farmers are not thrilled with the ravens, but I think they are beautiful, the stark black against the winter landscape.

These were in the pecan orchards scamming leftovers.

I have been amazed at our soggy winter.  It has rained again all day today.  Maybe not noteworthy in other areas, but our average annual rainfall is about 9 inches.  NOT much. 

I am enjoying it. 

Pecan Picker-upper

I thought this was the neatest gadget.  The frame is lightweight piping and the green rubber fingers are pliable.  very portable and light.  What a great idea!  I only have one tree, so this wouldn't make too much sense, but what a back saving device!  For those of you not in pecan country, they get ripe between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so there are plenty still around town waiting to be picked up.

The whole thing only weighed a couple of pounds.

They get scraped off into the "bucket" and off you go...