So here is the second posting from our recent trip: Welcome to White Sands National Monument, New Mexico!

After a break from traveling, we have been on the road again. We spent two weeks in New Mexico and a few days in the southeastern Arizona mountains. We spent most of the time in the desert and desert mountains, but we also took a few days in Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces NM to soak in the hot springs and visit with friends.

We took LOT'S of pictures and will be posting 4 separate posts over the next few days to share them.


Boondocking (camping for free) at the Pecos West Rest Area.

The rest area main building.

Sunrise reflected in the rest area's main building's windows.

 On the road to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Frijoles Ranch, Guadalupe Mountains NP

 Guadalupe Mountains NP

A visit to the Smokey Bear Historical Park, Capitan, NM

Sierra Blanca Mountains, Lincoln County, NM

Sunset over the White Sands Missile Range - seen from our campsite at Oliver Lee State Park.

 Orion in the night sky over White Sands

 Sunrise and moonrise over the Sacramento Mountains.

 Cormorant in the sun - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Preserve, NM

 Dennis in downtown Truth or Consequences, NM

 Main St. - Truth or Consequences, NM

 Mike and Dennis and the Organ Mountains, NM

 Wildflowers outside of Las Cruces, NM

 Sunset over the Walmart in Las Cruces, NM

 Sunset over the Walmart in Las Cruces, NM

Season's Greetings - 2018

Original drawing and photos by Michael, inspired by the works of illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.
Images from a visit to Sugarite Canyon State Park, NM, September 2018.

We visited Brazos Bend State Park last week (and quickly ran into Houston one afternoon). Dennis lived in Houston for a while in his youth and attended the University of St. Thomas there. But we had never seen Brazos Bend before, and it was a lovely southern coastal swamp along the Brazos River. We prefer the deserts and mountains, but this was very nice. Of course, in the cold there were fewer bugs, so it was easier to like.

Some pictures:


Sunrise on Elm Lake

Morning sun through the mist, the trees, and the Spanish Moss

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks - These were far and away the most common birds. There were hundreds of them, maybe thousands.

An alligator warming in the sun. It was in the high 30s so they were moving very slowly.

Pied-billed Greeb

Blue Winged Teal

Anhinga drying its wings

Tri Colored Heron

American Crows - Okay, maybe these were the most common birds: hundreds, maybe thousands, and making quite a ruckus each morning and evening.

Blue-Eyed Vireo

Little Blue Heron

Couple of pictures of a Great Egret

And a couple of pictures of  Snowy Egrets

Another alligator in the sunshine

Black Bellied Whistling Duck walking up a tree

Mike in the woods

Dennis cooking lunch

Spanish Moss and ferns growing on a tree branch

 Sunlight through Palmetto Fronds

Broken Obelisk - at the Rothko Chapel, adjacent to the University of St. Thomas

St. Basil's Chapel at the University of St. Thomas

Inside St. Basil's Chapel

St. Basil's Chapel Stations of the Cross

and their crucifix

A recycling art project in the Montrose neighborhood

Forty Acres Lake

Red-shoulder Hawks on a cold and overcast morning