Where Fall Meets Winter

A reminder of fall against the wintry slopes of the Sandia Mountains.

Santa and the Grinch

Both Santa and the Grinch were spotted on the streets of Albuquerque last night.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town Albuquerque (2006). Merry Christmas!

Frog and Reflection

A frog and its reflection in a pond, at the River of Lights, Rio Grande Botanic Garden.

Christmas House

A house in Albuquerque's north valley, decorated for Christmas with lights and electric luminarias.

Luminarias

Luminarias -- candles in paper lunch sacks weighed down with sand -- mean Christmas is right around the corner.

Snow in the Sandias

A classic winter day in the Sandia foothills, with the light turquoise sky so characteristic of the season.

River of Lights

The River of Lights, at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, immediately after a snow shower.

Sandhill Crane

A sandhill crane pauses while browsing for dinner in a field in the Albuquerque's North Valley.

Route 66 Xmas

Kelly's Pub, an old Route 66 icon in Albuquerque (formerly Jones Motor Company), is decked out for Christmas and the Nob Hill Shop & Stroll.

Giant Ornaments

Large blown glass Christmas ornaments in front of a shop in Old Town Albuquerque.

Ponderosa at Tent Rocks

The giant ponderosa guarding the entrance to the slot canyon at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.

Windmill at Sunset

A windmill silhouetted by a classic New Mexican sunset.

Cottonwood Leaves

Yellow cottonwood leaves in a stream at Ghost Ranch.

Horse at Ghost Ranch

An old horse grazes in a field at Ghost Ranch.

Hogan Doorway

Blooming chamisa blocks the doorway of a hogan at Ghost Ranch.

Autumn Colors

Colorful fall foliage in the Sandia foothills.

Tree Branches at Sunset

An old tree at sunset, in the Sandia foothills.

Big Sky at Los Poblanos

Golden hour at Los Poblanos Open Space, with the Sandia mountains in the background.

Calaveras

A trio of calaveras prepares to join the annual Marigold Parade and Dia de los Muertos celebration in Albuquerque's South Valley.

Dia de los Muertos

Decorated sugar skulls join many other colorful offerings to the dead, in honor of Dia de los Muertos. (One of my favorite holidays, not least of all beccause it coincides with my birthday!)

Jack O'Lantern Balloon

A Jack O'Lantern special shapes hot air balloon floats in the sky, shortly before Halloween.

Cottonwood Leaf

A lone cottonwood leaf rests upon cracked, dried mud at Ghost Ranch.

Mariachi Hat

An ornamented mariachi hat, hanging on its young owner's back, after the Dia de los Muertos celebrations at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Sandias in Autumn

Cottonwoods changing color in Embudo Canyon, in the Sandia Mountains.

Manzano Maples

Colorful maple leaves, lit by the sunlight of a perfect fall day, in the Manzanos.

Rocky Mountain Maples

Rocky Mountain Maples changing color in Fourth of July Canyon, in the Manzano Mountains.

Fall at Ghost Ranch

An intense palette of rich and varied colors signals autumn's arrival at Ghost Ranch.

Burro at Ghost Ranch

A burro poses for a portrait in front of Chimney Rock, at Ghost Ranch.

Balloon Glowdeo

A constellation of familiar characters visits a special shapes balloon glow at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

Smiley

A hot air balloon, with a smiley face at the top, inflates at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Balloon Fever

The back of an obviously well-used trailer at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

New Mexico Balloon

A hot air balloon with a zia, the state symbol, rises into the sky on the first morning of the Balloon Fiesta.

Trail to Box Canyon

The trail to Box Canyon, at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico.

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock at Ghost Ranch, seen from below.

Red or Green?

Red and green chiles await roasting -- and the official state question: "Red or green?"

Chamisa in Bloom

Chamisa in bloom in northern New Mexico, a beautiful harbinger of fall.

Expo New Mexico

A spinning ride on the midway at Expo New Mexico -- best known as the New Mexico State Fair.

La Cueva Overlook

Looking east into La Cueva Canyon from the overlook on La Luz, high in the Sandias. I know it's not everyone's idea of beauty, but I think it's absolutely stunning.

State Fair Extreme

A ride on the midway at the New Mexico State Fair.

Sticker Shock

A psychedelic camper shell -- with a most descriptive license plate -- was spotted in the parking lot of Continuing Education, at UNM.

Signs of Summer's End

Dried flower heads and corn lily leaves signal the approaching end of summer.

Sandia Peak Tramway

The Sandia Peak Tramway -- longest in the USA, and perhaps the world -- traverses incredibly rugged terrain.

Late Afternoon

A late summer, late afternoon view of the Sandia mountains from the foothills.

Canada Jay

A Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis), aka the "camp robber," keeps a close eye on a picnic, watching carefully for the smallest bit of dropped food.

View from La Luz

Looking out over the Rio Grande Valley from La Luz, a trail that threads its way through the sheer granite cliffs of the Sandias.

Aspen Fence and Trees

A fence made of aspen logs -- with matching trees behind it -- near San Gregorio Lake, southeast of Cuba.

Wildflowers and Granite

Wildflowers grow right up against the granite of the Sandia mountains.

Signs of Late Summer

Cooler mornings, deep pink or purple prickly pear fruits, and yellow snakeweed are sure signs that summer is coming to an end.

Ruins at Abó

Ruins of the old church at Abó, part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.