Tag: Arroyo Hondo

Scenes From Winter Past. 02-26-2025

Geraint February 26, 2025 6 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a few scenes from winter past. It was 64º F (17.5º C) yesterday. Tee shirt weather, almost. It got me thinking about the winters we’ve had in the past.

I pulled a few images I found while submitting 40 images for the New Mexico Treasures 2026 Calendar. I believe this year’s 2025 calendar has sold out.

The first image was shot in December 2005. The snow came and went, came and went again frequently that winter. It was a cold day but not cold enough to freeze the river. This image is one of my best sellers and one of the first digital vertical stitched panoramas I’ve made.

December from winter past — December on the Rio Hondo from winter past.

The next image was shot in February 2008, a good year for snow. Here’s the same location in summer.

Rio Grande in snow, from the Taos Juncrion bridge — Rio Grande in snow from the Taos Junction bridge.

Winter Past in the Ranchos Valley was also shot in 2008 looking north to Taos Pueblo Mountain.

Winter Past in the Ranchos Valley also shot in 2008 — Ranchos Valley fields with Taos Pueblo Mountain.

This piñon pine tree stands out against the sky on the ridge descending from Bobcat Pass elevation 9820 feet (2,990 meters).

Tree on ridge at Bobcat Pass — Tree on the ridge at Bobcat Pass.

Out the kitchen window in December 2013.

Blowing snow, San Cristobal NM — Blowing snow, San Cristobal, NM.

Just a few miles downstream from the Taos Junction Bridge in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument is this scene, shot in December 2014. Sunny but very cold.

December 2014 Orilla verde recreation area — Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds was shot in January 2016 in Arroyo Hondo across from the liquor store and market. This year we’ve had many larger flocks in our cottonwood and elm trees.

Red winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo NM — Red-winged Blackbirds, Arroyo Hondo NM.

Finally, the image below is not from a past winter but from May 1, 2016. It sure looked and felt like winter. Of course, the sun came out the next day and it vanished leaving muddy dirt roads and trails in its wake.

Snow in Arroyo Hondo, in May — Arroyo Hondo Valley

As always, thanks for looking. Have a great week. G.

Blue And White, Taos Mountain, Fences. 02-21-2024.

Geraint February 21, 2024 5 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week blue and white, another sky over Taos Mountain and one man’s fence.

We’ve had a lot of days recently with blue skies like this. The old adobe buildings especially, and this church, lend themselves to photography on blue-sky days.

Blue and white at the Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM.

Perhaps you prefer the black and white below.

Black and white Saint Francis church, Ranchos de Taos, NM — Saint Francis Church in black and white.

Driving to Taos a few days ago I saw this sight. I think that these were dispersed contrails from a couple of passing jets. It took three wide-angle shots stitched together to get this much of the scene. I didn’t get it all in as it continued and terminated on the horizon to the west over my shoulder. See below.

Here’s a cellphone shot out the car window looking west to the horizon. Highways in the sky.

clouds, contrails — Clouds or contrails?

Robert Frost wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors” in his poem Mending Wall. Below are abstract shots of one man’s fence in Arroyo Hondo, NM. In order of appearance along the roadside, from west to east.

Chainlink fence #2, Arroyo Hondo, NM. — Chainlink fence #2.

Chainlink fence #3, Arroyo Hondo, NM. — Chainlink fence #3.

Chainlink fence #4, Arroyo Hondo, NM. — Chainlink fence #4.

Chainlink fence #5, Arroyo Hondo, NM. — Chainlink fence #5.

I’ve driven by this window many times but never noticed the thoughtful pattern of the blue and green window panes. There’s always a first time for everything.

Arroyo Hondo church window and wall — Church window and wall in Arroyo Hondo, NM.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Hondo, Winter Scenes. 02-07-2024.

Geraint February 7, 2024 9 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week two sides of winter in Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo.

As they say… “if you don’t like the weather, wait for five minutes”. The scene in the second image was shot a few days apart from the first image and about a 20º F warmer difference in temperature. Looking outside today we’ve had rain sleet, snow, hail, and blue skies. Tomorrow?… tee-shirt weather, who knows!

Arroyo Seco Lane — A winter scene in Arroyo Seco, NM.

The weather in the mountains continues to leave a lot of snow in its wake. I heard that the ski areas are doing well from the last three storms that moved through the area. That’s good for the spring run-off and the farmers. The skiers are enjoying it and apparently, it’s good powder skiing, but that part is lost on me. I’m looking forward to the peace and solitude of cross-country, and snowshoeing again.

If you look closely in the sky, upper right, in the following image you can see a flock of birds, commonly named Pinyon Jays. I waited for them to come closer but they had other intentions. Last year we had very large flocks of Pinyon Jays in the thousands in our San Cristobal Valley. I just counted 157 in this shot, a small number of the ones I saw.

Arroyo Hondo, winter — Cottonwood and Willows, Arroyo Hondo, NM.

On the day I shot the image above I drove with the windows down from Taos, across the mesa. When I got to this spot I made a U-turn to photograph one of my favorite locations.

The Pinyon Jay was outside the kitchen window feeding off seeds on the fence that the squirrels stole from the bird feeders and dropped. I was watching the bird through the iPhone wifi tether app on my camera with a 300mm lens.

As always, thank you for looking. I hope it’s a good week where you are. To all my friends in California, stay safe. G

Bearded Iris, Arroyo Hondo, Ramada, May 25, 2022.

Geraint May 25, 2022 14 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, a week when the rains came and the bearded iris opened in its striking glory.

Down in the Arroyo Hondo Valley, the rain clouds came and opened up not only here but on the fires bringing cooler temps and much-needed relief for the firefighters around the state. So I thought of a celebratory picture of one of our beautiful bearded iris with raindrops against a backdrop of rain and reflections on the windowpane.

Bearded Iris with raindrops San Cristobal — Bearded Iris in the rain in the garden, San Cristobal, NM

I’ve photographed this scene many times in all seasons. You may remember it. It is fast becoming my equivalent of Monet’s “haystack” series.

Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood Willows Acequia — Cottonwood and willows along the Acequia in Arroyo Hondo, NM

The ramada below was something I came across many years ago and found it again digging in my archives this week. I like the minimalist simplicity, which was what caught my eye. The clouds and sky helped set the scene off.

Ramada, Santa fe, NM — Ramada on the road in Galisteo, NM

I’m happy to post a couple of uplifting images this week after the doomsday-looking pictures of the fire over the past few weeks.

As always, thank you for looking. I look forward to seeing you here a gain next week. Have a great week. G

Snow Day, Snow Week

Geraint February 17, 2021 20 Comments

I hope you are enjoying winter. I know some of our neighbor states are getting weather they don’t normally experience. Stay safe and warm where you are. Here are some images from a trip around the extended neighborhood this week.

The first image may look familiar to many people as I stop here often in Arroyo Hondo on the drive to and from home and Taos.

Red Willows and cottonwood tree — Red Willows, Cottonwood Tree.

The sun came out on the way home today and the landscape looked pristine. Here’s my favorite “stretch gate” and farm road.

Stretch gate, Hondo Mesa — Stretch Gate, Farm Road

A stretch gate in San Cristobal on my morning walk yesterday.

Stretch gate San Cristobal — Gate and Snow, San Cristobal

Martina’s Hall, formally Old Martinez Hall directly west of the Saint Francis church in Ranchos de Taos, has some nice lines accented by the snow.

Martina's Hall Ranchos de Taos — Martina’s Hall, Ranchos de Taos.

The beautiful mission church of San Francisco de Asis in Ranchos de Taos.

A view of the church in a location I’ve not shot before. The morning sunlight breaking through the clouds caught my eye from highway 68 which runs through Ranchos de Taos.

In San Cristobal this morning our garden Buddha wore his full snow blanket. The snow is still coming down as I write. We are warm and cozy with the wood stove filling the room with a golden glow as well as heat. From the sofa we can watch the snow falling all around the valley.

Thanks for looking and have a great week. G

Sun, Fire Smoke, Wind, Taos Valley And Beyond

Geraint September 8, 2020 10 Comments

Sun and fire smoke with wind across the Taos Valley and beyond. A few images from yesterday evening when smoke from Colorado, California and New Mexico filled the skies over most of the state. I had fun finding locations most of which I’m very familiar with so it wasn’t too difficult. Rather apocalyptic looking. Stay safe, be well and thanks for looking. G

Arroyo Hondo, Lightning, High Desert, Green Pastures

Geraint July 19, 2020 6 Comments

Arroyo Hondo, lightning, in the high desert and green pastures. As Monty Python would say, “and now for something completely different!” Today we had a good downpour, although I would have liked it to have continued for a couple more hours at least. Always on the look out for a rainbow, I settled for a lightning strike instead. This is one of my favorite times of year, especially when my dry sinuses along with the landscape moisten, clear up and we both begin to breathe easier. The scent of wet sage on the air is a sensation to die for. Ask any New Mexican. Thanks for looking. G

American Kestrel, Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico

Geraint April 3, 2020 4 Comments

American Kestrel, Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico. This beautiful creature embodies spirit. Fear? none of it, I’m sure. I’ve watched and photographed these birds for a couple of decades. I wish to return as a kestrel. Perhaps I already am, and Geraint is a figment of my imagination. Thanks for looking. Be tenacious, stay well and be safe. Thanks for looking. G

Full Moon Setting Over The Coyote Fence

Geraint February 9, 2020 1 Comment

Full moon setting over the coyote fence, Arroyo Hondo, NM. I drove out this morning for, perhaps, a dramatic shot of the moon setting across the plateau. I settled on a few images of this iconic coyote style fence on the hill, north of Arroyo Hondo, with the moon beyond. Thanks for looking. G

Arroyo Hondo Pond, Horses, Moon Set

Geraint December 12, 2019 No Comments

Arroyo Hondo, and horses with this morning’s moon set reflecting in the pond. A beautiful dawn to behold in northern New Mexico. The moon doesn’t know what day, month, year, decades or millennium it is. It surely doesn’t know that this is the last full moon of the decade reflecting in the pond in Arroyo Hondo. I feel sure it’s as impervious to this fact as the horses in the pasture. I’ll say “good night… good morning moon” for a long time to come. Life goes on. Thanks for looking. G