4 Corners

 

 

 

 

 

 

from Wikipedia:

The Four Corners is a region of the United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, northwestern corner of New Mexico, northeastern corner of Arizona and southeastern corner of Utah. The Four Corners area is named after the quadripoint where the boundaries of the four states meet, where the Four Corners Monument is located. It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. The majority of the Four Corners region is part of semi-autonomous First Nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute and Zuni tribal reserves and nations. The Four Corners region is part of a larger region known as the Colorado Plateau and is mostly rural, rugged and arid. In addition to the monument, commonly visited areas within Four Corners include Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The most populous city in the Four Corners region is Farmington, New Mexico, followed by Durango, Colorado.

We visited the 4 corners area many years ago with our children. They were both car sick and ill from the altitude. Afterwards, we would always joke that they had vomited while standing in 4 states.

  Recently, an attractive monument has been built that includes places for the Indian artisans to display their wares.

colorful Rockies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more photos of the fall color in the southern Rockies. In some photos the yellow trees are cottonwoods, in others aspen. The fiery reds are oaks. We were told that the best part had passed, and that we were late.

Farther north the aspen had already dropped their leaves.

Since I had only seen them in summer, it was a beautiful sight!
 

north New Mexico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing north of Santa Fe, we drove through Georgia O'Keefe country. We didn't stop to see her place this time since we were rushing to catch fall color and it was disappearing fast. We vacationed in this area many years ago, often spending time in Colorado, too. Sadly I found that the altitude affected my heart and made it ache. So I had to take most of my photos from the car. So please overlook the bug splats on the windshield. The colors are stunning and the landforms intriguing. It makes me want to turn artist every time I see it. Maybe I will try the Grandma Moses thing and  become an untrained artist in my senior years.

Santa Fe

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the first stops on our road trip was Santa Fe. It is always one of our favorites because of its rich cultural heritage. The plaza, pleasant with its shade trees, musicians, and food carts, is a nice place to stroll and people watch. We grabbed a quick taco from the food cart and spent an hour on a bench watching the tourists.

The architecture is reminiscent of pueblo style, using rough beams and stuccoed walls. Visiting there gives one a feeling of being somewhere different--unique and not like most American cities.

One one side of the Plaza is the Palace of the Governors where  Native Americans display their jewelry and other handmade wares.

The city also has many Hispanic residents, and there is a strong flavor of things Mexican--in the food and decor.

Our major quest on this trip was looking for golden aspen---so we didn't stay here long--just a quick visit to remember times past.

synchronicity

 

from Wikipedia:

Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that are apparently causally unrelated or unlikely to occur together by chance, yet are experienced as occurring together in a meaningful manner. The concept of synchronicity was first described in this terminology by Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychologist, in the 1920s.^[1]

The concept does not question, or compete with, the notion of causality. Instead it maintains that, just as events may be grouped by cause, they may also be grouped by meaning. A grouping of events by meaning need not have an explanation in terms of cause and effect.

When I stepped from the car after watching the film of the previous post on my iphone,  I found this butterfly at my feet. It seems to be same species that is in the last frame of the film. It is the first time I have ever seen this type, and I do not know the name. But it gave me a nice shiver to think that I could see it twice in a few moments in events not related.

Beautiful film

Hummingbirds performing incredible feats, bats, butterflies, bees--the pollinators.

This is beautiful.......be sure to watch closely (around 2 min 40 sec) and observe the baby bat under its mama.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0

East New Mexico

Pronghorns----
We saw a hundred or more.
The most I've seen on a trip this way.

Prost!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since much of central Texas was settled by Germans, there are many opportunities to celebrate Octoberfest. It's always fun to attend--lots of German food, dancing, and of course, BEER!

Watching the young and old dancing together, some folks even carrying their toddlers to participate is a great joy---  Polkas, group dances, and everyone's favorite, the chicken dance, give everyone a chance to join in the fun.


Eins, zwei, Drei g'suffa!
Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi,
Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi,
Prosit!

West Texas

Cotton and oil, cotton and oil!

Miles of it !

October! Harvest Moon!

 

 

 

 

 

One of the loveliest months of the year! Cooler days, bright skies, leaves beginning to turn, pumpkins everywhere.
The full harvest moon is so bright that it is hard to sleep. It seems to call me out to admire the landscape under its silvery light. I take binoculars and look at the moon. If I am lucky, I can see migrating birds passing across it luminous surface. I study the craters, dark shadows and bright "maria". Overhead I hear the sounds of birds calling to each other as they migrate. Good birders can identify them by the calls they make to each other as they fly. I can only make out a few thrushes.

Soon I will buy pumpkins and Indian corn. After Halloween, I will process the pumpkins for use in pies and breads for the holiday season, and hang the Indian corn for Thanksgiving.

The roadsides are lined with sunflowers and the pomegranates are ripening on the trees.