THANKSGIVING POWWOW
EVEN MORE SNOW
The third storm was by far the most plentiful, turning even an unassuming tangle of arroyo weeds into something enthralling. Familiar outlines of the mountains went missing in the fog alongside references to many smaller landmarks.
I wanted nothing more than to lay the first set of tracks in the field behind the courthouse, but hesitated remembering how many burrows there were and how unfortunate it would be to step directly into one. It turned out the den entrances were more pronounced than ever—as was my satisfaction at kicking up an untouched layer of snowflakes.
Snow day shots of the studio, outside and in.
SECOND SNOW
As stunning as the dense, wet snow that blanketed the residency this morning was the scene not six hours later as it melted everywhere but the mountain, leaving an evening light in such an illuminating, hazy pastel I stopped in the grocery store parking lot in an attempt to capture some bit of the splendor.
TAOS MOUNTAIN BALLOON RALLY
I never had one bit of interest in watching hot air balloons lift off until they were scheduled to do so around the corner from the Wurlitzer and a couple of favorite people were game enough to brave freezing temperatures on a Saturday morning to watch them take flight.
The scene was the now familiar dusty field behind the courthouse with scattered vendors hawking wind-powered lawn ornamentation. Many of the patterns looked like they were straight out of the 1970s, a reference no doubt bolstered by the booming soundtrack of classic rock radio and the nonchalance with which large amounts of propane pumped into open enclosures at close proximity to small children and dogs.
At one point there was uncertainty that the balloons would be able to lift off, due to concerns about them landing on Pueblo land. This was communicated by a rally participant and I’m not sure I totally understood the gist of all that was at stake. Ultimately, they did all get up into the air, many of which landing shortly thereafter in an almost comedic anti-climax in adjacent fields, signaling an apt time to wander home and reheat numb toes.
FIRST SNOW
Overnight things turned quite seasonal. Forewarned that the first snowfall reliably occurs by Halloween, I downplayed the possibility until waking up this morning to a world of white, which had already started melting by the time I, alongside the sun, ventured outdoors to look around.
SAGE HARVEST
Recently I noticed the tips of the sage turning brown, which sent me into something of a panic. It seems I hadn’t even considered the possibility it would not remain green and fragrant well into winter. Sensing my chances for doing so diminishing, yesterday I decided to harvest a few bundles and while I could have just peeled off behind Taco Bell, I went for scenic instead. Zoom into the picture below to see totaled cars and rotting appliances at the bottom of the ravine.
At the post office, sending off what I thought were several very well packed parcels off to friends without the wilderness at their back door, the clerk at the counter weighed each one and without looking up, remarked, “sending some sage, huh?”
