Finally

I have a new camera....a dslr. It was waiting on my doorstep when we returned home from vacation. I have not had an opportunity to really use it yet. I had so much to get caught up on after being gone. Then, a new version of my internet security software really, really messed up my computer.  All of that has now been fixed. YEAH!

I still haven't had a chance to do much more than snap a few shots to test the camera.
These little guys are everywhere around the house. They certainly aren't attractive but do have very pretty eyes.

Back in Texas

we were stopped at a train crossing next to some grain elevators. I thought the lighting and subtle colors on the elevators were interesting.

What a difference

a day makes. We had left Taos, New Mexico and just crossed over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. This is the view across the high desert towards the Sangre de Christo Mountains. There are several earthship homes built in this area.

The Last Day

we got up really early to explore as much as we could before we headed home. As a result, we were able to watch as the sun came up over the mountains. Magnificent!!

A Colorado Favorite

are the streams that flow down the mountainsides, especially in the spring and summer.

Exploring

the countryside, you could always find a critter or two. This chipmunk was really enjoying his dinner.

Potpourri

While the color and variety of the flowers was not as diverse as I had hoped, there were so many of them that the air smell like a bowl of potpopurri.

And we found some

This was outside Crested Butte starting toward Kebler Pass.

To find the flowers

We headed to Crested Butte.

We went for the flowers

But, there were not many around Silverton. These were on top of Molas Pass.

Added bonus

The wildflowers along the side of the road was an attraction to the butterflies.

The Next Morning

We spent the first night in New Mexico. The next morning we were up bright and early going into Colorado over our first pass.

Capulin Volcano

We went on vacation...to Colorado!! I'm not sure that was a wise decision. We had been in the fall for the colors and I wanted to go back for the flowers. Don't get me wrong. It was wonderful and the temperatures were just perfect for me. Unfortunately, we had to come back home to the heat. Having been fabulously cool for a week, the heat is harder to take.

This picture was taken in New Mexico. I have been up to the top of Capulin Volcano many times. Not this time though. This was taken from a moving car as we were speeding by.

60,000 years ago 4 lava flows formed the volcano. It's almost a perfectly shaped cone that rises to an elevation of 8,182 feet above sea level. It is extinct. You can drive a winding 2 mile road to the top. If you are continuing on to the mountains of Colorado, it will give you a taste of what's to come. Paved trails lead down into the 400 ft. deep crater. If you are lucky, you might see a deer, wild turkey, or black bear amongst the pine forest that covers the volcano.