After the Snow

So, as it turns out, we ended up (officially) with 10 inches of snow as a result of our weekend snow storm!  And, Mother Nature was kind enough to provide some really pretty post-snow images.....

I really loved the look of the one ray of sunlight shining down on the mountain range out off the back of our house right after the snow stopped on Sunday.  This would have been an absolutely perfect shot if only our neighbor's horse (or at least one!) would have been out at the corner of their pen, but, oh, well!  I think it's pretty cool anyway, watching the snow covered mountains trailing off into the horizon.

This is really a different view of the same shot, just zoomed in.  In this one, I again like the feel of the sun on the mountain with the homes in front of the mountain.  It almost feels like Mother Nature is telling everyone things will be ok.

I was driving into the airpark after having been into town (Albuquerque) for a bit yesterday when I noticed how blue the sky was - against the white snow, it just made for one of those images where you can just see how crisp and clean the air was!  No enhancements to the image either - this is the true color!

 

And, finally, this was yesterday's sunset sky.  It was such a peaceful and gentle sunset, with the colors glowing behind the snowy mountain.  Altho, if you compare this to the above shot, you can see the snow has already started to melt.  Still, there's enough on the ground so that we'll have a snowy Thanksgiving!

 

Enjoy!



Snow Storm ! (Yipee!)

The snow has arrived!!!   It's our first real snow storm in over a year (never had one last winter) and I am excited!  Of course, by Thanksgiving, it will be 50 and into the mid-50s by next weekend, so this won't last - I'm enjoying it while it's here!  Take a look - 

These are the pine trees just outside the door from our bed/bath to the hot tub.  So pretty!  I may have to play with this image more and maybe it will be next year's Christmas card!

Just past the little bush on the right is the runway of the airport - I don't think anyone will be flying today!  I do love the sort of moody feel to this shot, tho....

I'm looking out our front door....somewhere out there is a path to my studio.  Don't think I'll be visiting there today, tho!  It's a good day to stay inside, watch (or listen) to the Bears or other football games, cross stitch or crochet, and enjoy the roaring fire that I'm sure Jeff will be building later!

I couldn't resist this shot - yes, summer is definitely over and we won't be using the patio table any time soon!  But, the real thing I want you to notice is the rain chain behind it.  No, it wasn't that windy - the chain is frozen that way from the wind blowing over night!  

And, finally, this is a cool shot - our yucca plant is almost buried in the snow!  I'm not sure how much snow has fallen - I'm guessing 4" - 6", but with the wind, there are drifts all over and it's really hard to tell exactly how much has fallen.....and is still falling.  As for me, before I enjoy that fire Jeff will build, I need to go out there and help him with the snow blowing and shoveling!

 

Enjoy!

Misty Morning Before The (Maybe) Storm

The weather guru's are predicting a winter storm for us here in (normally) sunny New Mexico!  I have to admit, after no real winter storm last year, I am hoping for a fabulous wintry storm this weekend.  Whatever happens, it won't last very long!  Still, this morning was really pretty, a misty morning before the storm....

I loved the sort of morning glow of this image, looking toward where the sunrise was happening (behind the cloud bank).  It was so still......

The above shot evoked such a sort of melancholy feeling.  I'm looking directly north from our back patio.  There should be the Santa Fe Mountains out there - I'm sure they're there, just hiding behind the front that is beginning to make its way toward us....

A few minutes later, the sun briefly made an appearance.  The mountain here is "our" mountain, South Mountain.  It's not part of the Santa Fe Mountains (which never appeared all day), and is much closer to us, so it was not overtaken by the storm front yet.  I really love the way a cloud bank is just sort of hanging between the ground and the top of South Mountain.  Hope we get that storm!

 

Enjoy!!

Wood Block Houses!

What fun!  I saw similar wood block houses in a creative magazine I subscribe to - and I thought they looked so fun, I had to try my hand at it.  I really like the whimsical feel they have.  

The houses start off as 2' x 4' pieces of wood.  Jeff had a scrap piece laying around the hanger, and cut it up for me.  The base of the house is one piece, and the roof is a similar piece, but cut in half diagonally.



I sanded the blocks a bit and then covered them with various pieces of text and music.  I then painted them with white paint and then wiped it off, to create a sort of whitewash.  I then did the same with various colors.

I then applied some various texture "stamps"  - bubble wrap, the bottom of flip flops, hair comb teeth, etc.!  I also added in some paint swipes of other colors.  (By the way, don't you love the funky shape of this roof?  Jeff thought it was a mistake, but I think it's character!) 

I then added a number of cut-outs, stencils, and drilled some holes in the roofs to add whimsical jeweled mobiles or wind chimes - whatever you want to call them! The icing on the cake are the positive affirmation words used on each house.  I'm thinking of putting them up for sale in my future online shop - what do you think I should call them?  I'm open for ideas!!

 

Enjoy!

Incredible Sunrise !

On this first sunrise of the autumnal equinox, the sunrise was one of the most spectacular that I've seen here in New Mexico!  Take a look - 

At first, I thought the stormy clouds looked interesting as the sun first began to rise......

As the sun rose more, there was a promise of something more spectacular than usual..... 



I love the contrast of cool mist on the mountain top and fiery clouds.  Adding Jazz, our neighbor's horse, to this calm morning scene makes it just about perfect...

 



I backed out for this shot to capture the enormity of what this very different sunrise looked like, sun against the rolling clouds.....

Here's the last shot, with what I think look like fiery fingers reaching toward the sunrise.  I was truly amazed at this sunrise!

 

Enjoy!