Skeletal Remains

A well-dressed skeleton wishes you both a happy Halloween and feliz Día de los Muertos.

Halloween Balloon

A special shape balloon gives off a Halloween glow.

The Eyes Have It

A spooky picture in honor of Halloween's approach. The trees are real and so are the eyes... more or less.

Chimayo Store

A little store in Chimayó, next to the Santuario. Each of the prayer flags has the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe printed on it.

Flowers at the Santuario

Flowers blooming last weekend at Santuario de Chimayó.

Ghost Ranch: Autumn

Ghost Ranch -- and the weather -- were truly spectacular last weekend.

Mt. Pedernal

View of Pedernal from Ghost Ranch.

Autumn in the Foothills

Autumn colors in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, at Elena Gallegos Picnic Area in Albuquerque.

Chair at Ghost Ranch

An empty rocking chair is framed by red rock cliffs and a gate at Ghost Ranch, north of Abiquiu.

Santuario de Chimayo

A gorgeous fall day at the Santuario de Chimayó.

Chamisa & Butterfly

The painted lady butterflies are still going strong in the Sandia foothills -- and there's still some chamisa blooming as well. It's been a very warm fall so far (I know I'm tempting the fates by saying that!).

Mountainair Banana Split

I drove past this banana split -- which sits on a trailer in Mountainair -- and was compelled to go back and photograph it. Apparently it's an advertisement for the "sweet shop" next door, which, although the sign said Open, did not appear to be doing a brisk business at the time -- or indeed, any business at all.

If you look real closely at the Drive Up sign, you'll see that the two little black marks on it are actually microphones.

Sandia Rockfall

The foothills of the Sandia Mountains were glistening with autumn color yesterday morning.

Bienvenidos

I swear I didn't put the chile in his hand. I just happened to notice that it was there.:)

Church Window

One of the windows in a small New Mexican church.

In the Manzanos

Autumn colors along the Manzano Crest Trail.

Santa Maria de la Paz

Santa Maria de la Paz church in Santa Fe. A contemporary church built in a traditional style.

Portrait of a Mule Deer

I think s/he was fairly young. There were several other deer who ran away from me, but this one kept looking at me as if s/he was trying to decide whether I was dangerous or not.

Autumn in the Manzanos

Colorful maple leaves at the Fourth of July campground in the Manzano Mountains.

Gas Balloon and Shadow

By an accident of fate, I ended up hanging around the balloon field at the start of the Gordon Bennett Cup Race this year. It was the first time I'd seen gas balloons up close and I was fascinated. Two men were using a cherry picker to adjust the ropes on one of the balloons; I caught their shadows above.

Rainbow Pinwheels

Rainbows of colors at (where else?) the Rainbow Ryders booth at the Balloon Fiesta.

Rio Grande Sunset

Sunset overlooking the Rio Grande. I wasn't the only one taking photos!

Aspens in the Sandias

The vivid and various colors of autumn aspens frame an expansive view from the Sandia Mountains.

Autumn Aspens

The aspens in the Sandias are really colorful right now.

Inflating Balloon

The top of a colorful hot air balloon as it inflates.

Hot Hair Balloon

Ri-ja Voortman's hairdo -- in the shape and colors of a balloon -- reflects those inflating in front of her. Ri-ja is visiting the Balloon Fiesta from Holland.

Balloons Over White Sands

Hot air balloons rise over White Sands.

Virgin of Guadalupe

The Virgin of Guadalupe peeks out of a 300-year-old cottonwood tree behind the San Felipe de Neri church in Old Town, Albuquerque.

Gas Balloons

Gas balloons inflate immediately prior to the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race (Oct. 1, 2005).

Balloon Fiesta!

A balloon launches at the 2004 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Chamisa in the Foothills

The chamisa is probably at its peak right now in the Sandia foothills (from Elena Gallegos Picnic Area).