Tuesday Night Moonrise

As I drove home Tuesday night, coming north from Santa Fe, the moon began to rise above the hills.  It was quite a beautiful sight, and I pulled over to snap a few photos.

Chester, Part 2...

Well... Chester, the handsome orange kitty I introduced in my last post, is really making himself at home here!  I was walking around the kitchen a little while ago, and happened to look up, and discovered Chester snoozing in the cat bed on top of the fridge!!  I still don't know if he is my next door neighbor's cat, or if he might be a stray who actually needs a home.  It occurred to me last night, when he was also in and out of my house, that if he is the neighbor's cat, he might be unhappy at home because of Crazy Simba being there.  I can't imagine Simba being at all pleasant to a new cat in the house!   So maybe Chester is just hanging out here to get a little peace, without having Simba glaring at him...  Whatever the issue is, Chester's not telling me.  Here is on top of the fridge, where he still is as I write this:

Chester Comes Calling

A gorgeous new kitty appeared in my yard yesterday.  He stayed around my house most of the afternoon and evening, and I even spotted him IN my house twice, once helping himself to a snack up on my cats' feeding table!  I don't know who he is, but I suspect he may be the adopted brother of Crazy Simba, my next door neighbor's cat.  I had recently heard they now have an orange & white cat, but I'd never met him.  I have no idea what this cat's name is, but I've begun calling him Chester.  He's a sweetie.  Here are some photos he posed for yesterday:

Spring Is Springing

The photos below speak of spring in northern New Mexico to me.  The first photos show early morning ice crystals on the rear window and front windshield of my car, taken yesterday morning.  Aren't these formations beautiful?  And the last three photos show one of the many robins that seem to have suddenly appeared in great abundance around here, taken this morning... Ah, such charming little creatures!

Scribble I Scribbled

A recent staff meeting scribble... 

I Drove Through Beauty

Last week I went out for a drive, heading south and east, up into the mountains.  It was very beautiful... I wish I lived up there.  Actually, there is a house for sale that I would like to own, but it costs about $50,000 more than I can afford.  If you happen to have $50,000 you would like to donate towards making me happy, please do let me know!   

Meanwhile, below are a few photos I stopped to take along the way.   Once I got up into the mountains, where the altitude was over 8,000 feet, there was still a lot of snow on the ground.  This first photo gives you a good idea of just how much snow there was, as you can just barely see the very tips of fence posts that are probably 4 or 5 feet tall.

These next ones are of a stream that was still partly frozen.  I was taken with this beautiful weathered tangle of roots from a fallen tree which was resting in the stream.  In the first photo I really like the green reflection of the wood in the still water.  And in the last photo you can almost make out the figures in the roots; they look as if they are hugging each other, or perhaps dancing together!

Another site that caught my attention was 'El  Lodge', with it's funky old sign directing you to a driveway filled with several feet of snow...

And these last photos are my favorite, of the clouds that so clearly look like smoke signals coming off of the hilltop.

Raggedy Ears

I've noticed some of my older cats have ears that reveal their history as warriors. Take a look:

(cough, cough) Flu (cough, cough)

I've been very sick with flu for the past week.  Blechhhhhh.  The house has been filling up with snot filled tissues.  Happily, today I am feeling a wee bit better, and was able to take out the trash before the cats and I became totally buried under disease debris.  

My illness doesn't seem to be bothering the cats, as long as I'm able to keep on filling their bowls.  Above is Gracie, taken a few minutes ago, relaxing on a window sill by my desk.  She looks pretty content, don't you think?  Or is there a certain sadness in her expression, one that is saying, "Gosh, I wish the human felt better..."?   

Alright, now that I have posted this, I shall return to my coughing and nose blowing activities.  Please send me good juju for a speedy recovery.  Thanks!