Ladder and Snow

Snow on a ladder and icicles across the eaves of an Albuquerque house show the effects of the second big snowstorm we've had in Albuquerque within ten days (it's still snowing as I post this photo).

Bosque Cottonwood

A cottonwood tree in the Rio Grande bosque is silhouetted by the setting sun.

Fruit Tree

Along a trail in the Sandia foothills, a tree is decorated with edible ornaments: a cranberry garland, apple slices strung on grass, and clove-studded oranges.

Old Town Cat

A cat in Old Town Albuquerque regards the photographer with deep suspicion.

Fire Hydrant and Luminaria

Luminarias (also called farolitos) are everywhere on Christmas Eve.

Luminarias and Candles

Entire neighborhoods in Albuquerque are renowned for their Christmas Eve luminaria (farolito) displays, but some folks routinely go above and beyond -- the yard to the left of the curve in this photo has hundreds of lit candles each year in addition to the luminarias.

Five Luminarias

Luminarias -- also called farolitos -- are a Christmas Eve tradition throughout most of New Mexico.

Winter Wonderland

An amazing amount of snow for Albuquerque, maybe the most I've seen in the 21 years I've been here. In search of snow photos, I managed to get my car stuck in the snow here (Elena Gallegos Picnic Area) for no fewer than three days. I'm not at all sure the photographs were worth it!

Vigas and Icicles

Snow piles up on vigas while icicles drip down from rain spouts.

House and Luminarias

A house lit up with rows of luminarias (which are also called farolitos in some parts of New Mexico).

Let It Snow!

The weather outside was truly frightful today (but beautiful in a way we don't often see).

Ladder, Luminarias, and Horno

A ladder decorated with Christmas lights is accompanied by electric luminarias and a blazing fire in an horno at Coronado State Monument.

Pond of Lights

A large sphere -- lit with Christmas lights -- reflects in the pond at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, during the annual River of Lights display.

Spider and Web

A spider lies in wait in her web at the River of Lights display.

Jack in the Box

A large, lighted jack-in-the-box at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden's River of Lights is a favorite among children (you can see the kids as blurs at the lower right).

Galisteo Church

A beautiful little church in the town of Galisteo.

Jemez Luminarias

The annual luminaria event tonight at Jemez State Monument, with 1600 luminarias. Luminarias -- called farolitos in the northern part of the state -- are a New Mexican Christmas tradition.

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas ornaments sparkle in a shop window in the small town of Arroyo Seco (if you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the photographer).

San Rafael Church Windows

Looking through an old window pane to another window on the other side of San Rafael Mission Church (Salman Ranch).

Galisteo Graveyard

Looking through the gate to the old graveyard in Galisteo.