These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Spent the day getting high and all I have to show is a bunch of pictures!

But oh what a great day!

First, I got up this morning, and there was a fiery beautiful sunrise.


 I certainly had to step outside and get a few shots.













It was breathtaking.



















Pearl and I met, dropped her pickup and started up the mountain. We were barely off the paved road when we saw these handsome guys. Would you look at those beautiful antlers? A regular stag party out in the woods! They were not worried in the least about us or the truck.







A bit farther down the road, I stopped and backed up to take a picture of this tree growing right out of the rocks. Life goes on when and how it will!


















We stopped at one of the picnic areas, talked briefly with the ranger who was making his rounds, and I found this pretty little butterfly  on the Scottish Thistles.






What a colorful one he is!












The sky was so blue today!











A stand of aspens.









Here is a very short video of the aspens "quaking."Please forgive the shaky camera operator! I was on uneven ground! Oh, yeah, and the people in the background talking! They were really nice folks, but began chatting just when I started to shoot, not realizing I was doing a video.







Random flora.












A piece of the vista.













Did I mention the beautiful blue skies? Oh, I did? OK.









Pearl found some lichen on a rock that was interesting.










It was almost florescent, green and orange.














Flora.











Nogal Peak, somewhat near where I live, but from a different perspective.










Oh, lawdy the sky was gorgeous and SO blue! OK, OK, I'll stop it!

























Don't know this plant, but it was certainly pretty.




















This is a quiet spot off the trail in the center of a circular stand of trees. It was very peaceful here, and we returned later to have out lunch here. I had a cup of the guzpacho I made the other day and a cucumber sandwich. Sweetened the end of the meal with some cinnamon coated almonds. We sat on some big flat rocks with our backs against tree trunks for about an hour before starting down the mountain. But that was later. In this pic we are still going up.


















































































































No, we're STILL not at the top!!





Finally! There is the Lookout!!























The steps going up to the lookout. I surely wish mine here in my garden were as nice as these.










And then .......













I had to throw this one in. It is Buckhorn Mountain, and those towers on top are how you reach me if you should decide to call me! That's important!!
















I took a picture of these people with the telephoto lens. We thought they were the people we had talked to at the place where I took the little video of the aspens. When I got home and loaded it to the computer to look at it full size, it wasn't them. But these young men came to the Lookout a little bit later, and we talked with them and I took a picture of all of them together. We learned that they were from Lubbock, Florida and Scotland!

And this is Ranger Frank Cannella. He spent close to an hour pointing out various landmarks to us since we know the area. He was very gracious and informative. He is heading up into the actual lookout room. This is an active lookout station for the Forest Service.
We started down, but took several side trails to check out the sights.


These rocks are on a precipice overlooking Sierra Blanca on the left edge of this shot.

I call this "Pearl on the Precipice."

She turned around and said, "It really is a precipice!"













I walked out and looked down. IT REALLY IS A PRECIPICE!




 



One last look at Nogal Peak.

Isn't that a gorgeous vista? And the sky .... SO BLUE!!  HA! I said it again, and I don't care!!!





I noticed this little train between the boulder and trees. I wouldn't, ahem, fit in there in all likelihood, but clearly someone has!



One last picture of an aspen. they are such graceful, pretty trees.












We drove down and home. It was a lovely day, full of the beauty of nature, peaceful conversation, good companionship. Every day should be so sweet.  :)


....Life is beautiful!!!!

13 comments:

  1. Your photos certainly were breathtaking Lyn! That is a little trip that I would enjoy. It reminded me of when we went to Alto Pass. I don't think my husband would like it though, too high for him! You are right, the skies are really BLUE!!!!
    Love Di ♥

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  2. Wow! Beautiful. It takes awhile for pictures to populate when I am on my cell phone, but it was worth the wait.

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  3. Great pictures all. I was a little worried about you climbing that mountain since I've always though "red sky in morning, sailors take warning." But it just turned into a beautiful day. Any idea how far up you climbed in feet?

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  4. Hey - was a bit taken aback by you getting high....drugs dont work

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  5. Beautiful vistas Lyn..thanks so much for posting. New Mexico is indeed the land of enchantment!

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  6. Di, does Jake not like to be high in elevation or does he have trouble with heights? It would be possible for him to do everything but the tower, if it is the latter. The road doesn't have sheer drop-offs, etc. We could always deposit him for a nap at one of the picnic grounds and go on up!

    Mary, I'm glad it was! I thought the pix were pretty spectacular, and I didn't show 1/10th of what I took!

    Dave, I have a red sky almost every morning, so I'm guessing that applies just to the sea! I live at about 7100 ft. I thought the sign up there said 9643 (or about that), but I tried to check it online, and I kept getting a figure of 11580 ft. So it is between 2500 and 4500 ft climb. The actual, physical, on-the-legs climb from the parking lot to the tower was not bad; I'm guessing it was just a couple hundred ft.

    Mr. Pineapples, no worry! I was spoofing! Just a silly reference to the altitude. :)

    Moni, you said it! We are blessed, aren't we? And the great thing about NM is that almost any weather/climatic conditions are here, ready to suit anyone! I would not be happy in your heat, and you wouldn't care for my cold. Everyone wins!!!

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  7. Beautiful pictures. I was also worried about you yesterday. I was glad to see that you finally posted something last night...I was worried that maybe you drove off the cliff.

    Just like Dave, I had also heard about red sky in the morning. My Dad taught me that when I was younger and every time I see a red sky in the morning I think of him and wonder if it's going to rain. Usually if there is a red sky in the am it does rain.

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  8. I wrote a post saying that I was sorting pictures and would post them later, but I hit "save" not "post"! It took a long time to go through them and pull out "the best." And I think Blogger was saying "GOOD GRIEF, LADY, HOW MANY MORE???"

    It didn't rain yesterday! Honest! I think that is exempt in the mountains. :D

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  9. But isnt sploofin' dangerous too??

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  10. Beautiful ~ Beautiful ~ BEAUTIFUL!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!

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  11. Mr. P, your life must be bleak and sad without mirth and tomfoolery! Or are you just a curmudgeon? Whatever, spoofing will remain a part of *my* life, so get used to it.

    Mel, you're most welcome! I revel in sharing the beauty that meets my eye and camera lens!

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  12. Ha ha ha Lyniloo

    You must be American.....100% American material....

    No sense of irony

    And without any radar detecting when somebody is pulling your leg.

    I have been joking....

    Oh me Gawd.....Americans !!

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  13. Oh and another thing Loobie-Loo

    What's with all these pictures?

    Godd Gawd...Mr P had to scrawl through all these boring pics of mountain goats and thorns...to post a comment.

    Why are you so hard on your guests?

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!