Sidetracked Charley

It really isn't winter. Not winter like the northeast US is having. Not winter like 2006 (but it was a once in 70 year winter). Not the winter it looked like it was going to be in November with 18 inches at one time. January thaw started in December and continues in spite of a small snow yesterday. It was the type of snow I like - here today and gone tomorrow. And more on the mountain than here in the valley. A pretty snow. I confess to rather liking winter. Especially now with the big 4x4 pickup. All my annoying fair weather friends are gone. And with the caller ID I can avoid them calling from Florida to check on the weather. This year they are wasting their money. I have not been snowed in for real once. So I dedicated myself to getting out and about with the camera at least once a week or so. First it was Coyote Creek in search of ice. Found some ice. But mainly just clear blue water. Should have bought the fly rod instead of the camera. Was definitely over dres...

Standing alone against the night I first noticed this behavior here in the mountains of New Mexico so I cannot speak for it occurring elsewhere or not. But here we all seem to go to ground right after Christmas. Almost as if the demands of that season put too many stressors on our social networks and manners. The only communication there is seems to be via social networks, hallow e-mails, and a phone message or two. No lunch dates, no running into each other at the store, or in Santa Fe (oddly enough us mountain folk seem to meet up there a lot), or get together requests. A drive through Angel Fire to the post office reveals no friendly cars or known associates. Nor is the post office its normal meet and greet site. Then suddenly, somewhere around the 25th of January heads pop up not unlike a ground hog checking on the weather. You see old friends at a Taos grocery store restocking on depleted supplies, get an invitation from a friend for a girly night pot luck, call a friend t...