Rock Formations in New Mexico

Out here in Pinon Springs, we travel 45 miles for weekly groceries and to go to New Mexico Tech for events and to use the library. It is always a thrill to go through Box Canyon where the NMT students train in rock climbing. That's my son Brendan Wenberg, a daring climber.

Pinon Springs Sandstone Formation

Yesterday, I went for a hike and discovered a new canyon with this beautiful sandstone cliff face. One of the the most wonderful things about New Mexico is exposed rock formations.

Tent Rocks, near Santa Fe, NM

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument,
 located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico
 (near Cochiti.) I was here on Dec. 26, as were many other 
hikers from around the US. 

Why journal in nature?

I love my digital camera and it is full of beautiful nature items and vistas from New Mexico. These digital images give me ready access to inspirational reflections. A great passion is also to take my nature journal on a hike and sketch what catches my interest. This is relaxing and takes me to a deeper level than just snapping a picture. I have time to note the time of day, the weather, the season, and a description of the nature object. Nature journaling also insures that I will spend time outside observing closely. This is a picture of me at the Bisti Wilderness near Thoreau, NM. It is a magical place full of hoodoos and sandstone sculptures. In the picture, I'm deciding what I'm going to sketch which isn't easy at the Bisti.

A great inspiration is the Rio Grand Gorge near Taos, NM. The photo is helpful to capture the immensity of the gorge. Because of the wind, I found it helpful to sketch and journal this experience back in the room.

What pictures have inspired you of nature and your travels? Do you journal in nature? Happy shooting and sketching, Ruth Hamilton

I saw a beautiful moth outside my door yesterday. The moth was a beautiful tan, about 4 inches, and had "eyes" on the wings. This moth clung beside the door all day and night. How I wished I'd taken a picture or at least sketched it for it is hard to identify from memory. I thought it would be there in the afternoon when it was more convenient for me. This is a lesson for me that next time I will capture these nature opportunities.
In my internet search, I found out that Albuquerque is besieged with Miller's moths which are huge like my moth. These moths have come down from the mountains looking for water.
Have you had a similar experience when you thought that nature would wait on you and you didn't record wildlife or plant life?

The Healing Power of Walking in Nature

Hello Everyone,
Yesterday I took my small notepad and hiked up the high ridge road that leads from our high desert home. My mission was to list at least 10 things that surprised and delighted me. This was easy in that here in Pinon Springs New Mexico, I rarely have visitors except for critters. I can see vistas that stretch for hundreds of miles, including the Bear Mountains. I found  an old Pinon pine log, sat down,  and looked over the forest. Colors of pink caught my eye coming from a distant cone shaped mountain. Soon I filled up my nature delights page and started home. On the way back, I saw a cottontail bunny pair sitting very still and not at all afraid of me. They eased into their hollow log home and peaked out at me. What a delightful time I had on my nature walk. Tell me what you have seen that delights and surprises you in nature. Happy walking, Ruth