Abo Ruins, New Mexico

When in New Mexico, we took the time to drive out to the site of these ruins.  Abo ruins are part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, located about 9 miles west of Mountainair, New Mexico.

Once, thriving American Indian trade communicies of Tiwa and Tompiro speaking Puebloans inhabited this remote area of central New Mexico.     

In the early 17th century, Spanish Franciscans visited the area and found it ripe for their missionary efforts.

What remains today are the austere yet beautiful reminders of early contact between Pueblo Indians and Spanish Colonials.

Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Another great trip out to Bosque over Thanksgiving this year. 

Bosque del Apache is a wildlife refuge located just outside of Socorro, New Mexico.  I went last year and loved it, had to go again this year.

We'd start at the flight deck in the morning - hoping to be part of the morning fly-out.  Then we'd move on to the crane pond and watch the Sandhill Cranes.  It really is a haven for photographers.

I was fortunate enough to see a coyote this time.  This shot really made my day.

Even the landscape at Bosque is beautiful. 

I love the Red Winged Blackbirds!  They are so beautiful, and I love to see the flash of red when they tip their wings.  It was a great trip.  It is a truly amazing natural experience.

Bosque del Apache - the deer

Amidst all the winged wildlife, Bosque del Apache is also home to a few deer.

I think these are just mule deer, but it was fun to see them just the same.

We had three sightings throughout the weekend.

White Sands, New Mexico

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico.

Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field.  To me, it looked and felt like walking on snowbanks in Minnesota!

We were there on Thanksgiving day, 2010.  Mike and Elizabeth and I drive down from Socorro - 3 hours - and had a really fun day. 

Had some fun with the shadows.  This is me, Mike and Elizabeth goofing around.

I love this picture of Mike.  This is what we looked like all day, walking across the vastness of this amazing white sand, taking pictures.  What a fun day. 

Trudging up the snowbanks - oh, I mean the sand dunes.

I joked with friends before I left that my Thanksgiving dinner would probably be a hot dog out of a gas station, but we did find a Golden Corral that was open and we sat down - sandy, happy and having a great day.