Enchanted Basin

Thanks Marcie!

2010-10-20T16:12:00.002-06:00

Hi
I am back and want to thank Marcie SO MUCH for the great posts while I was gone. I really appreciate it! Photo uploads are disabled right now, so I will post tomorrow!!!

pumpkin patch

2010-10-18T08:02:00.000-06:00

You know it's fall and almost Holloween when the grounds at Grace Methodist Church are covered with pumpkins. They have every size and shape for your jack-o-lantern carvings, or if you are talented enough to make a pumpkin pie from scratch.

Historic Homes

2010-10-17T19:00:00.000-06:00

The Grand Dame of all the historic houses is located at 9th and Monroe. This one is very dear to me because my family owned it from 1946 to 1955. This is not a recent picture of it, when I went to get a photo of it to post, I was shocked at the condition it's in now. I'd rather remember how it looked in it's prime which this photo deplicts.

Historic Homes

2010-10-17T18:50:00.000-06:00

This is my grandfather Ed Beal and his mother in 1947. They spent 7 years restoring the house because when they bought it, it was in terrible disrepair. The ground floor even had chickens living in it.

Historic Homes

2010-10-16T08:04:00.000-06:00

This house at 1303 Ohio gained recognition because of the blocks of white sand used in it's construction

Historic Homes

2010-10-16T07:59:00.000-06:00

I don't have any history on this house but I think it is just lovely

Historic Homes

2010-10-16T07:56:00.000-06:00

This house at 1309 Michigan was known as the El Paso and Northeastern Hospital, and from the old pictures I've seen, it still looks alot the same. It is now apartments.

2010-10-15T08:31:00.000-06:00

Please bear with me on my attempts to post. I haven't figured it out yet.They keep switching from order so you are getting the last first. This is why Autumn has this blog and not me

Historic Homes

2010-10-15T08:26:00.000-06:00

This house was built in 1904 and is present day Memories Restaruant. It has been a beauty salon and a bakery. There's a story that a previous owner had a parrot that sat on the front porch and cussed a blue streak at everyone walking by, especially the ladies. The story goes that the city officials made him get rid of the bird or face prosecution on moral charges.

Historic Homes

2010-10-15T08:16:00.000-06:00

I love the old historic homes in Alamo. It amazes me how different they are from each other when they were built about the same time. Not like the carbon copy developments we have now.

This house was the first one built here in 1903 I didn't find an old picture of it

And this one was the second one built also in 1903. It has been kept quite close to the original with only the front porch different.

stations of the cross

2010-10-13T16:02:00.000-06:00

stations of the cross

2010-10-13T09:57:00.000-06:00

While walking on a path near Three Rivers, we came across these stone pillars-shrines, that seemed to just be placed randomly up the hills. We took alot of pictures and after reviewing them, we were quite shocked to see the stained glass inserts on them. You couldn't see them until a light reflected off it, either sunlight or in this case the flash of the camera. After investagating, we found that it is called the Stations of the Cross and it deplicts the final hours of Christ. There are 12 of them, but that night it got to dark to see them all. I hope you find them as intresting as we did. -Marcie...Well, there were more photos than this but it wouldn't let me upload them for some reason, I will try again later. And thanks for your patience,

sunrise

2010-10-11T08:59:00.000-06:00

Hi, I'm Marcie, and while Autumn is on vacation, I will attempt to update her blog for everyone.While we are know for our beautiful sunsets, by the time the sun peaks over the Sacramento Mountains, it's really rare to get awesome sunrises. These are a few that I was lucky to capture this year so I thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy!!

Strange Tree End of Summer '10

2010-10-08T12:21:00.000-06:00

Not the best photo, but you get the picture.

It has straightened out quite a bit this year, I think it will be totally straight by the end of next year. I pick up a few leaves daily now, the season is over.

I wanted to throw this in. An industrious spider wove this seemingly overnight.

Sunflower

2010-10-05T11:58:00.000-06:00

How gorgeous is this?

I caught the bee busily helping himself.

These are the 2 or 3 days of autumn right now... must. capture. them.

Sky Watch Saturday

2010-10-02T11:40:00.001-06:00

Lenticular cloud.

I love that word, lenticular.

I usually see them form above mountains, so this was different for me.

Go Tigers!

2010-10-02T10:42:00.000-06:00

I love the homecoming mums!

Blocker Spring

2010-09-30T11:08:00.000-06:00

I thought this little spring house was cute. You see them still in the mountains here and there...

I would have never noticed this with out my camera.

These old homes always call out to me. I wonder why they were abandoned, what the stories of the place were, what they were like when they were new and had families.

I leave you with a shot of autumn flowers.

Balloons and Mountains

2010-09-29T16:41:00.000-06:00

These had drifted north of town...

I love the flags hanging off of this one. If I had a balloon I would want it to look more like this, or a Jules Verne balloon, lots of swags and flags!

Slainte, means Health in Gaelic. It is used as a toast in Ireland.

We were south of town here, just incase someone recognizes the mountains and calls me on it!

Here you can see them in the distance, floating above town.

Balloons close-up

2010-09-28T13:45:00.001-06:00

I see most of these balloons each year and have pet names for them now...

This one I call the Purina Balloon. Balloonist chow, champagne and propane.

Close-ups and under-shots...

This one reminds me of the old NBC (I am corrected) logo of the peacock that used to fan its feathers.

If you haven't been up in one, the baskets are sturdier than they look.

Slipping the surly bonds of gravity

2010-09-27T11:38:00.000-06:00

I can never get enough of these beautiful sky creatures...

They remind me of butterflies, their life in flight is never long enough...

Sky Watch Saturday

2010-09-25T11:25:00.001-06:00

I didn't think quickly enough and by the time I thought about a photo,

I was down the road...

This is one of the things I love about it here, you can see. Yes, it IS raining somewhere in the basin, just not where you are.

Up, up and away

2010-09-24T13:09:00.000-06:00

The balloon fiesta was this weekend. I saw many old favorites. Perfect weather! We went to the launch site in town this year.

Sac Peak Lookout....

2010-09-22T09:22:00.000-06:00

Talk about Fantastic views...

It is more of a climb than you would think...

Yes, that is my toe in the shot. This is one of the old time survey markers.

I wonder how it was back in the day when these were being placed...

Or even further back when they had mules and chains to measure and mark the land.

Sunspot Armillary

2010-09-20T11:34:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things ever!

Who doesn't want an armillary?

They have my birthday imortalized. I have always been fascinated with these. By the way, we are still up at Sunspot.

Sky Watch Saturday

2010-09-18T11:24:00.000-06:00

I don't recall if I mentioned, I got the idea for Sky Watch Saturday

from a blog I read out of Scotland.

Since I believe New Mexico has un-paralleled skies, I went forth to conquer...

This was a quick shot~ no time to get another angle away from the pesky electrical lines. I barely had time to run inside, grab my camera and snap a couple of shots before it changed.

Sunspot

2010-09-17T11:04:00.000-06:00

This is the silo building up at the observatory, one of the oldest ones on the site.

This beauty is my favorite structure there,

you dont grasp the size of it from here...

Up close....

and from a distance...

Sunspot Observatory

2010-09-15T12:29:00.000-06:00

I have been meaning to post....

I have a ton of photos from these places. It's hard to know where to begin, hence, the sign.

Yes, Sunspot is also a community.

Sunspot is worth the ride, it does have a museum/interactive center.

I really enjoyed the trip, from the moment of arrival onward. This art at the center caught my eye.

Have to give credit to the artist! Both places, Apache Point and Sunspot are huge contributors to the astronomical community, and not so well known locally. Many people do not realize that right here we have some of the best skies in the country.

Apache Point Observatory

2010-09-03T12:51:00.000-06:00

Awe-inspiring

You

Should go.

I am reminded

How vast our universe is...

Lunch at the Top of the World

2010-09-02T12:37:00.002-06:00

It was a blessed 65 degrees up here today.

You can see

for miles and miles....

Across the entire Tularosa Basin

from here to eternity?

Horny Toad

2010-09-01T12:37:00.000-06:00

Caught this guy in the mountains...

He has the same grumpy look that my cat gets.

He has red on him that you don't see on the ones down in the desert. They are more grey brown to blend with dry, dusty, desert. He posed just long enough for the photo op.

Church

2010-08-21T11:02:00.000-06:00

Mountain Church....

I don't know anything about this one

It is in Hondo

Hawk and field

2010-08-19T15:01:00.000-06:00

The fields are shorn

Can fall be far behind?

(I ask hopefully)

This guy has the best perch around, hey, it is as close to a tree as it gets someitmes...

Shrine in the Mountain

2010-08-18T10:00:00.002-06:00

This is a "Where's Waldo" sort of photo.

I spied a shrine in the mountain as we were driving...

I wonder who would build a wall on the side of the mountain

and when.

As far as I can tell, nothing in there. I half expected to see some

beady eyes looking back at me.

Sky Watch

2010-08-17T10:00:00.002-06:00

Fleeting

Storms

Lavender Springs Ranch

2010-08-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

We are back to the Capitans...

Specifically Arabela NM

17 miles off of the Highway

Lavender Springs Ranch

It is near the end of the lavender season, but there is still some left, along with raspberries, okra, green beans, squash and black-eyed peas.

To me the sunflowers are harbingers of autumn.

We didn't stay too long as the storm rolled in quickly and the skies opened up for a torrential downpour. It was a fantastic day!

Hondo Iris Farm

2010-08-13T11:53:00.000-06:00

I took this photo inside the shop at the Hondo Iris Farm, it as well as the grounds is a visual delight.

St. Francis

Relax

Spend a few hours

Forget

The outside

world

Time again for harvest

All local artwork

Awaiting

Afternoon Tea

Hondo Iris Farm

2010-08-12T11:16:00.001-06:00

We visited this weekend, and it was a delight!

Although the iris do not bloom in late summer, they are selling the bulbs right now.

Please, visit their website at: http://www.aliceseelydesigns.com/hondoirisfarm/welcome.html#click

It is unassuming from the road, then you pass through this gate.

There are things to delight the senses everywhere you look.

This is truly the work of artists.

There are tableaus everywhere you look....

Of Course, outside, the Iris is the star of the show.... There are some great photos of them in bloom on their website. They have some amazing colors and color combinations.

They sell the ones they have planted. Every color of the rainbow, just like the goddess for whom they are named! The owners were there, greeting and making us feel so welcome. Alice Seely is well known for her art and jewelry. They have a store with her items for sale as well as the flowers.

With the warm welcome and the beautiful grounds, it was a relaxing visit.

Fox Cave

2010-08-11T11:12:00.000-06:00

Fox cave is on the road to Roswell a few miles past Ruidoso Downs.

This is an old photo of it. It is on private land and now closed to the public.

This is what it looks like today. Overgrown, fading, but still in my memory as a kid.

I think of it as a 1950's era tourist attraction, but it dates back to prehistoric times when it was used by the Native Americans of the area.

These are old lodgings from when it was open. Supposedly Billy the Kid was a visitor here as well. I am not sure about the company I keep.....

Gate Headers

2010-08-10T10:58:00.002-06:00

I have some more in my gate header series.... This one falls into the air mail catagory as well.

This one is made from timber and in long dis-use.

St. Annes Glencoe NM

2010-08-09T10:56:00.000-06:00

There is the cutest little church, just off of the road...

I am not sure how long it has been here, tucked in, withstanding time and elements.

I am happy that it has been cared for and not allowed to fall into ruin.

It was gorgeous in the mountains this weekend. I was thrilled to escape the heat and humidity. I know why they call it the "dog days of summer."

Capitan Cat

2010-08-06T11:22:00.000-06:00

An obviously artistic soul lives here...

Of course, cats are my favorite.

One last fence shot of the area. It is desolate and beautiful here.

School House~Encinoso NM

2010-08-05T11:16:00.002-06:00

Abandoned Schoolhouse

in Encinoso NM

It is the only structure left.

I imagine the ranch children attended here.

I wonder where the bell went. This is outside of Capitan.

Capitan Gap

2010-08-05T11:09:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of the back of the Capitan Mountains, specifically Capitan Gap. The Capitan Gap fire is the one where Smokey Bear was found. They look tame, but they are steep and rocky and wild.

This is taken from the back road from Roswell about fifteen to twenty miles from town.

U. S. Mail

2010-08-04T11:04:00.002-06:00

I spotted this mail box this weekend. Talk about a rural route!

I love the juxtaposition.

20252

2010-08-03T11:04:00.000-06:00

Here is the famous photo of the baby cub to become Smokey Bear.

I'll bet you don't know what 20252 means in relation to him....

Here's a hint....

Yep! He has his very own zip code! The ad campaign was so successful that they assigned Smokey a zip code to handle all of his fan letters.

Smokey Bear

2010-07-26T10:54:00.001-06:00

Smokey Bear is my favorite and I am lucky to live where he was found!

The old timers still remember finding him and his trip to fame.

The town is called Capitan as well as the mountains where the small cub was found. The tiny cub was found clinging to a tree and the firefighters rescued him. Due to the bandages on his feet where he was burned, he was named "Hot-foot Teddy." He was renamed Smokey Bear and became the symbol of the Forest Service and fire prevention.

They had started an ad campaign in 1944 and Smokey became the living symbol of that. He lived in the national zoo in D.C. to the ripe old age of 26.

Windows to the Past

2010-07-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

I took these photos on our day trip to Lincoln and Capitan a couple of weeks ago.

I do sense the past closer in some places, and this is absolutely one of them....

If not for the pavement, you would swear you could see a horses and buggys....

Turtle 2

2010-07-15T10:17:00.001-06:00

Well, look what was in the street. Yep another turtle. This one was by the truck this morning. He is smaller than the other. He looks like a two year old v. a 3 or 4 year old like the other. He was quite active and insistant about being put down. Maybe Speedy is a good name for this one.....

His markings are different on his shell. The recent rains have brought them out. I wouldn't want to see him squished in the street. So...It looks as if we are becoming a turtle nursery.

Art

2010-07-14T10:11:00.000-06:00

Here is creativity! He is cute and friendly even with the horns.

Decorated blue gate....

Strange Tree July 2010

2010-07-13T10:00:00.004-06:00

This guy has grown alot so far. I am a bit suprised considering that we chopped the second trunk limb off and tried to dig him up. He recovered nicely.

RAIN

2010-07-12T10:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we got a TON of rain! Our guage read 1.9 inches this morning. It rained slow and steady. It brought us a visitor.

We had the door open to get the fresh scent of the rain and cooled air and looked who popped in?

I haven't seen a toad (of the four legged variety) in years! He was a bright green I didn't want the flash in his eyes so the photo is kinda dark. I am very happy he was out.

Name the Turtle!

2010-07-08T12:57:00.000-06:00

So we have a new pet. I found this little guy in the middle of the street.

He is about half grown. I think he is about 3 or 4 years old. He is a box turtle and we have decided that we THINK it is a boy box turtle.

Here he is wet so you can see his pretty markings. His eyes are not a discernable color yet so it is hard to tell if it is a male or female. However with the long tail and a bit of orange on his front legs we think boy.

We need a name for him now. Please leave comments and name suggestions!!

Thanks!

U.S. Post Office Lincoln, N. M.

2010-07-07T12:34:00.000-06:00

I am sure I have different things that interest me, as I said yesterday. I am loving this old post office.

It seems tangible items are becoming a thing of memory, letters, photos, all now are ephemera. Not so a generation ago.

I love seeing these still in use.

The brass door emblazoned with eagles have watched many decades come and go. Lincoln is a snapshot of a different era. A lazy Sunday easily transports you back, where the only ambient noise is the faint buzzing of insects.

Billy the Kid, Lincoln NM

2010-07-06T15:51:00.000-06:00

I received a phone call where I was told about my boggy blog....

Unfortunately, I haven't kept up as well as I have wanted lately. However; we did take a drive in the mountains on the Fourth of July. What better way to commerate than to visit Lincoln, home of the famous Lincoln County War. It was a brilliant day and a beautiful trip. This mosaic was actually on the Hubbard museum up in Ruidoso, but it is as good of a picture as any of Billy.

This is of the Torreon tower in Lincoln where the settlers would hole up and protect themselves from Indian attacks.

I first went to Lincoln a s a child and have photos of my sister and myself on top of this. They don't let you in anymore, but it is two stories, those are rifle holes you see.

This structure has always been my favorite in the town. Sure, the bullet hole in the wall of the court house is riviting....I won't re-hash the war here, but suffice it to say it is worth the trip. There are so many names from history that are alive in these mountains, Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, Susan McSween-(cattle queen), Geronimo, Victorio, General John J. Black Jack Pershing, Lew Wallace to name a few.

Fence Art

2010-06-24T17:44:00.000-06:00

These two panels face each other, flanking a gate. What I like about this one is that there is a woman in this one. I thave seen the metal scene lots of times, but this is the first time with a girl.

Long Absence

2010-06-23T15:42:00.000-06:00

Hi All,
Sorry for the long break. So here we are, in the land of the burning sun and yet, after the sun slides beneath the western horizon, the moon is bright, and the evening miracle happens. The thermometer lets its breath out. We have been having an unusually windy summer. I am not complaining mind you, it moves the air. The weather pattern is setting up nicely for monsoon season and we have high hopes of seeing a raincloud in the coming weeks. All of that said, it seems that this morning was for the birds...
I spotted this guy looking comfy in the brief green of the century plant.

Morning Doves in Ocotillo

Grocery store musings

2010-06-11T16:16:00.000-06:00

It's been several years since Albertson's closed and left Alamogordo with only one grocery store (two if you count WalMart). Now apparently Albertson's wants to come back and, according to the newspaper, there is controversy on how much economic aid should be given to get them to come.

I got to thinking about the past grocery stores.

Vacant lot on the SE corner of 16th and Florida.

I think it was on this corner that as a kid we walked to a grocery store.

This complex on 10th street housed a grocery store, Food Mart, when we moved to Alamogordo in 1960. It later became a Piggly Wiggly and ultimately the more recent IGA. I loved the Motts 5 and dime that was at the east end. There was a drug store at the other end and the 1st Nat'l Bank branch in the parking lot.

Where the hospital's Medical Plaza is now on the corner of Washington and 10th there had been a Safeway. Prior to that it was a strip of stores that included a fabric store and a wooden floored store that sold jeans. I got my first pair of button up the front Levis there for $5.00.

Safeway was also located on Cuba Street where there is now a church facility that had previously been a furniture store. I don't even really remember which location Safeway had first.

The Counseling Center on College and 10th was a Furr's grocery store and maybe others.

Flowers.com which is now closed took the old Big 8 grocery store that was there in the 80s

and into the 90s. I think they had another location as well.

And now we have just the Lowe's grocery store. Frustrating that we have less in Alamogordo than we did years ago, but for whatever reason, that's the way it is.

Road work

2010-06-07T09:00:00.001-06:00

Everywhere in Alamogordo there is road work going on. Streets are often temporarily closed. The major thing seems to be the cut-outs at the curbs like this one near the library.

Mimosa Tree

2010-06-06T09:00:00.011-06:00

The mimosa trees are blooming and this one up Canyon Rd. is a favorite of mine.

The flowers are so delicate. This is a picture from earlier, the current heat is shriveling them up now.

Bridal Veil Falls

2010-06-05T14:10:00.002-06:00

New Mexico Rails to Trails held a dedication today for the Bridal Veil Falls Rail Trail. There were quite a few people in attendance to enjoy the new trail and shelter along with information tables and much appreciated water and juice.

A plaque shows that the railroad came right by the falls in the early days of Otero County.

It was a warm clear morning and the Falls were beautiful and cooling. Water in the desert is just amazing!

Washington Park without the swimming pool

2010-06-04T10:28:00.000-06:00

I remember when the "new" pool was built, in the late 60s or maybe 1970, and now it's gone. At the time the old Oregon pool was still open so Alamogordo had two pools, the new one being a regulation length for swim meets. We loved the balcony that was there originally. This covered patio area that still stands was added on the east side of the pool years later.

Just being in the parking lot was faintly melancholy.

Ghosts of memories floated by as I sat and contemplated the empty space.

Our odd little amphitheater is still there though.

La Luz Elementary paradise

2010-06-03T10:58:00.001-06:00

La Luz Elementary School is getting a facelift with greenery.

Palm trees have gone in right next to the desert willows.

These will be the before pictures of the lush school paradise.

If there is water...

Pink cactus

2010-05-12T10:00:00.002-06:00

I spied this cactus blooming in a spectacular fashion. It felt neglected there among the Bermuda.

I always wonder at the energy it takes a plant, especially a desert plant, to bloom.

The perfect paper-thin petals, the stalk and the delicate beauty astound me.

2010-05-11T10:00:00.001-06:00

These street signs have been around a long time and I have been meaning to get photos of them. Well I noticed a couple of days ago that they are tearing them out, so I got busy! Besides the lovely weeds in the median you can see the Lady on the Mountain in the background. This is on Scenic looking south. Notice it is also coming up on election time.

Tunnel Beginnings

2010-05-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

I rounded up some more of the old photographs from the area.

These photos were taken fairly close together, but came from different places.

It seems strange to see the rock on the left, as it has been gone since I can recall.

Gate Headers

2010-05-07T10:00:00.001-06:00

I found a couple more gate headers today. I have been on quite the search for these.

I am not exactly sure of this brand, maybe it is the Walking G

Ferris Wheel

2010-05-05T22:00:00.000-06:00

The carnival was in town again about a week ago. They seem to have them on a regular basis anymore. I remember the fair being the only entertainment. I need to round up a photo of the old fair bucks they used to use. They were paper money a bit smaller than a regular bill and printed in red ink. I bet my sister still has one somewhere.

Gate Header

2010-05-04T17:16:00.000-06:00

Here we are with another gate header. This one is, I believe, one of the telephone pole variety that I have mentioned before. Onto spring, at least I think we are. It snowed four inches in Cloudcroft yesterday, we spied a dusting on the mountains leaving for work. Today?? positively late spring...I think we will be in the 90's before tomorrow is out...

Maguay Spring

2010-05-02T10:00:00.000-06:00

I took these on the 20 of April, I wanted to show the growth of these guys. If you blink you miss a foot or so.

This shoot is probably only a few days old.

Sky Watch Saturday

2010-05-01T16:07:00.000-06:00

I saw these clouds leaping like dolphins across our skies...

These were on the way home from Albuquerque yesterday. Must have been some wierd wind currents up there.

Tableaus

2010-04-30T10:00:00.003-06:00

I thought there were alot of picturesque qualities around this property. It would make a nice painting....

I loved this arch with the cow tongue cactus in the foreground.

Lantern Nicho

Happy Birthday Jorn

Can't forget the irises

2010-04-29T19:58:00.000-06:00

Spring has been slow in coming this year

which means we are enjoying a late and long show of color.

Just love these graceful blossoms.

Artistic Frugality

2010-04-29T10:00:00.002-06:00

I found this inside of a shed, obviously set up as a work area, but note the creative choice of canvas.

It makes me think of my great uncle and grandmother. Wasting nothing and making do...

The paintings aren't bad at all...

I particularly like the cowboy diving into the stock tank. I've been there....

Quail-Gargoyle?

2010-04-28T10:00:00.002-06:00

Walking up to a home today I noticed a bird on the roof. Not too strange until I realized it was a Gambel Quail.

Are You Looking at Me???

Might as well get my good side....

Strange Tree '10

2010-04-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

Well, here is my first post of my little (or not so little anymore) tree for the year.

We lopped off the second trunk so it will straighten up and grow right.

This was taken two weekends ago, It had gone from swelling buds to this in one week.

This was taken last weekend. What a difference a week makes!

The buds have sprouted and will be branches before we know it. If it is a catalpa as we suspect, it is supposed to have a large canopy. We will see as it grows.

Perhaps you noticed the digging around the tree in the previous photo. WELL, if you look close, you can see the orange spray paint on either side of the hole. Yep, planted it smak on top of the sewer line. sigh.

We dug and dug. The silly thing has a tap root several inches in diameter larger than the trunk. That tree is not going ANYWHERE. So our choice is to chop down the tree, or move the sewer.

La Azteca

2010-04-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

Another home, soon doomed I am sure. This one is down on Delaware,

Sky Watch Saturday

2010-04-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

We do have a unique situation with weather here. I caught this rain band coming in from El Paso direction.

It, of course, sprinkled just enough to make my car dirty.

Cactus and Poppies

2010-04-23T10:00:00.001-06:00

This cactus was in fine form! I thought you all needed a break from purple...

Close up of the same plant, These days make the rest of the year worth while.

Sneaking in some poppies.... I am really big on plants that come back every year and sort of take care of themselves. The less work on my end the better!

Purple Spring IV

2010-04-22T10:00:00.002-06:00

Enter the Iris growing wildly~

The sturdy stalks supporting the blooms, basic and hardy, these cheer me up every year!

You can see St. Francis peeking through the foliage.

Purple Spring III

2010-04-21T09:34:00.003-06:00

These lilacs are larger than what I commonly see, I confirmed that they are lilacs through scent....

Another old-fashioned plant that has stood the test of time...

This is typically what you see, they always remind me of Easter.

It seems like an oxymoron to say white lilac...

They smell just as divine.

I wish I could share the fragrance~

Purple Spring II

2010-04-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

Fragrant and such eye candy for us here in the desert~

Spring has unfurled her colors for us~

Wisteria showy, old fashioned, and my favorite~

Purple Spring

2010-04-19T08:59:00.002-06:00

Wow! Thanks for the comments! I appreciate the feedback from the Alamogordo group!

You guys are great. If you have any suggestions, let me know. I had 1,564 hits on Friday alone, my biggest day yet. I love it!

This desert plant reminds me of wisteria and is sweet smelling, the bees agree, it was covered with them. Obviously a desert plant, but I don't know what it is.

Here is a close up of last years seed pods, they look like peanuts.

The seeds are dark red and very hard, My sister planted some and it took two years for them to come up. I know that is pretty common with some plants.

Bluff Springs History

2010-04-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

This is an old photo of Bluff Springs from 1918. All of this is completely gone and no trace remaining. I have taken photos and it is a beautiful meadow.

This one of Bluff Springs is from 1926. If you browse back through my blog, you can see current photos of the waterfall. It doesn't look much different at all.

Space Shuttle Columbia

2010-04-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

A few days ago I mentioned that the shuttle landed here once.

1982 while I was in high school..... I got these great photos of it landing here from Marcie.

It was some sight watching it land. I feel lucky to have seen it the only time it did. I heard they had heck getting all of the sand out of the parts afterwards.

Cloudcroft Train

2010-04-15T09:17:00.005-06:00

I got ahold of some great old photos and had to post them. I love railroads! This is the Mexican Canyon Trestle. I met a gentleman last year that was a volunteer at the Malpais and we got to talking about trains. He told me that he rode this train as a child. His father was an engineer and they would run logs down to Alamogordo every day. What a great history.

This is the train depot in Cloudcroft. I love the attire. It looks like an outdoor pavillion.

Another colorized view of the same area.

I have a post of the trestle as it looks today. It hasn't changed much.

This one is labeled The Toboggan Road. It seems to be a photo of the back side of the train station. I am sure you could still find it. The name sounds familiar to me.

First Figs

2010-04-14T10:00:00.002-06:00

The first fruits of the season are now growing and evident on the trees! They have survived the frosts and if we can get them through the spring winds we will have a fantastic year!

I think it is interesting how the figs grow directly from the branches and not from a flower.

San Augustin Pass

2010-04-13T10:00:00.002-06:00

Divide between Tularosa Basin to east and Jornada del Muerte to west, cut between Organ Mountains to south and San Augustin-San Andres Mountains to the North. White gypsum Sands glisten to northeast. Roadcuts in Tertiary mozonite. Organ mines yielded copper, lead, silver, gold, zinc and flourite. Elevation 5,710 feet.

This Marker is at the peak of the pass, Jornada Del Muerte was named by the Conquistadors, aptly.

It means Journey of Death. The route was arduous to say the least for the early settlers. This pass also played a part in the Civil War with Canby and Sibly.

This is also at the top of the pass. You can see White Sands Missle Range off to the right. Distances are deceiving in the desert. Things that look a few miles off are often fifty or more. Most especially at night, you will see the lights of the town and think you are close. You aren't.

Spring comes to the Desert

2010-04-12T10:43:00.000-06:00

I took these on Easter. The poppys are some of the first flowers out. The way to Las Cruces is covered as well as the trip to El Paso.

At first there is a smattering of them as you go along.

As you approach San Augistin pass, you notice the sploches of yellow.

Here we are closer. Their time is short lived but that's the way it is here in the desert. You need to pay attention to the beauty.

Shuttle Water Tank

2010-04-10T16:08:00.002-06:00

On the edge of Cruces, lies a water tank mural painted in memory of the astronauts that gave their lives for our space exploration.

Las Cruces is home to the new spaceport, and this memorial has special meaning to me as I watched the space shuttle land the one time it did land here in 1982. It was out at White Sands, and it is still an alternate landing site today.

Painted Water Tanks

2010-04-09T08:55:00.001-06:00

I'm back! We drove around last weekend and ended up in Las Cruces. I know it isn't technically in the Tularosa Basin, but you can see the mountain boundary of the basin in the background.

I love that Las Cruces has painted their water tanks and decided it was a great day to document the ones I know about. There might be more, I just took photos of the ones I knew about.

I had to start with this one as I am an Aggie!

This was the first one painted, I remember it as a kid. It depects the Spanish settlers of the area, with the conquistadors and the monks. Simple and striking.

This one is neat as you can see the reflections in the water, This is the one for the farmers and ranchers.

Of course, we had to have a nod to the cowboys. Maybe it is a miner. I like to think it might be Frenchy coming into town from his cave in the nearby mountains.

Last one on the way out of town!

Something Fowl Afoot

2010-03-26T12:47:00.000-06:00

Hi All, Sorry about these past couple of weeks, went out of town then have been playing catch up. I am thrilled that I had my blogaversary or whatever it is. When I started this, I was doubtful I would make it a month. I am ready to get back into the swing here, spring is coming and we are all beginning to venture out with the days being longer and warmer. Speaking of venturing out...this brave one followed me up onto a porch.

This one has their red hair looking good......

Blogiversary

2010-03-20T00:20:00.000-06:00

It was on March 19th a year ago that the Enchanted Basin welcomed you from 32.90 N 105.96 W! The purpose was to post bits about the area, things about home, things that catch the eye, and just anything of interest, including the forgotten and the obscure--things that have been around so long that no one sees them any more. It's been a year of discovery for everyone who has posted on or read the blog! Since I am guest blogging today, I chose to highlight one of my favorite corners in the basin, Main Street and Alamo St. in La Luz.

I just love the adobe and blue of the southwest.

The plaza gazebo and century plant.

Catholic Church in La Luz.

And art inspired by the church.

Old high school

2010-03-18T18:55:00.000-06:00

I was at the public school administrative offices today and thought about the past uses of that area. Due to it being afternoon, the pictures aren't great, but just looking around brought memories. Those of us in 10th, 11th and 12th grade who were going to school there in Dec. 1968 left it behind to start in January at the "new" high school recently featured on the blog. It then became the Alamogordo Middle School for many years before students joined again in a 4 year high school.

A look at the school from the west. And then across the street where there used to be a football field,

is the "new" post office.

And I just can't leave out one of my favorite trees in Alamogordo which across from the post office.

Gate Header III

2010-03-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is one made from the telephone poles like I mentioned that you see around.

K-A

110 Years Alamogordo Public Library

2010-03-11T10:00:00.002-07:00

The Alamogordo Public Library celebrated it's 110th anniversary. I attended the festivities and ran into several people that I had not seen in years. The Library is such an important part of any society and we are trying so hard to get funds for a new building.

This is state representative Gloria Vaughn who has been instrumental in trying to push through funding in the legislature.

Here is the unveiling of the plaques for people who purchased virtual deeds for the building of the new library.

I found this old postcard It doesn't look much different today.

Burn Barrel

2010-03-10T10:00:00.001-07:00

What blog about New Mexico could possibly be complete without discussing burn barrels?

Those of you that live here are thinking "so?" , but those of you who have not had the pleasure of country living, this is how lots of trash gets disposed of around here.

Frankly they all look exactly the same....

Alamogordo Senior High School

2010-03-09T10:00:00.003-07:00

Well guys this photo of the school has remained unchanged for about 40 years...

I think a class in the 1970's bought the "tiger".

Alot remains and yet I do not recognize the school when I go in.

The back entrance off of First st. to the student parking.

This is from my year...

I drove by the mid-high also remembering the girls gym and the boys gym...

Thunderbird Plaza

2010-03-08T10:00:00.001-07:00

This old plaza sits on 9th street and still houses some medical offices. This is another sign from the past. Very 1950's. Typical of the Route 66 style again.

Alamorosa

2010-03-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

These signs have been up for years, so I am certain the population has increased.

I am not sure who put them up, only that the area is best described that way.

Since Tularosa is 13 miles from Alamogordo, how do you refer to the highway area businesses, and homes?