Happy 401st!

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this  past month. Santa Fe has been around a long time.

Santa Fe, NM celebrated it's 400th anniversary (1610-2010) this past year. Santa Fe is the oldest capital in the United States. Happy 400 and going on 401 and many more!

One Way To Run The Dogs

One way to exercise the dogs after the snow storm.  Two larger dogs kept up pretty well. Little dog eventually lags behind but gave it his all to catch up when the 4Runner stopped every now and then.

Animal Clinic of Los Alamos

We have taken all our cats and dogs to the Animal Clinic often.. Now that they are old - not so often.

Partridges In A Pear Tree?

Nope! Doves in the Aspen trees. Not sure what they are talking about but they hang out in the our trees every day. Maybe because we feed them in the back yard. Here you see about 30 of the 50 sitting doves.

View From Bandelier

Looking to the south east across Bandelier National Monument from NM 4

Christmas Just Up the Street

These neighbors have quite a front yard display.

Farolitos Light The Way

Farolitos lining the streets. Farolitos are paper bags with sand in the bottom to hold the sack down and anchor the lit farolito candle (see below). Luminarias are larger bond fires. Traditionally to light the way to midnight services on Christmas Eve. (In Albuquerque and other places they incorrectly call these small bags "luminarias.")

Inflated Snowmen

I didn't have my tripod handy - so I did my best steady-cam imitation for this night time photo.

The Reel Deal Movie Theater

Hope there are a few good movies on over the holidays at the Reel Deal.

Winter Solstice Sunrise

Some of the colors left over from the full lunar eclipse on Dec 21, the Winter Solstice?  This is a sunrise view over Santa Fe from White Rock on the morning of Dec 21, 2010.

Storm A'Comin?

Storm or no storm? Clouds over the Jemez Mountains above Los Alamos as seen from White Rock.

Mesa Public Library

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Make sure your return your books on time.

Los Alamos County Mesa Public Library. At the time when built, design was a bit controversial. Click here to see the back of the building. Why such a large library? Maybe that some rank Los Alamos as having the highest rank in PhDs per capita in the U.S. (Most don't refer to themselves at Dr. and few in the community use the term when addressing each other.)

Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Lots of Ravens in and around Los Alamos. Edgar Allan Poe knew that  Ravens are supposedly the smartest of all the birds. Just ask one. They'll tell you.

Chimayo Chile Ristras

Chile ristras hanging in front of the Rancho de Chimayo

Finally! A Real Snow Storm!

We really need the moisture and the predicted 4"-8" overnight is welcomed! I'm NOT looking forward to shoveling and we are postponing a trip to Colorado Springs to visit relatives. And, what I saw this morning as I grabbed the snow shovel.

Jemez House Thrift Store

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Many volunteers donate their time  at this busy thrift store.

Very busy Jemez House Thrift Store is located in White Rock. $5 bag day is especially busy. It's amazing, the things can be found here, all for a good cause.

Busy Time Ahead at the Post Office

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. This is the busy time for the Post Office.

Here's a wordy history of the Los Alamos Post Office.

Time to Adopt a New Furry Creature?

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Maybe it's time to visit the animal shelter for a special gift?

The new Los Alamos County Animal Shelter has many pets for adoption.

Geologic Layers Through Time

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Photo shows some geologic time.

Layers of volcanic ash flows shows is evidence of several volcanic eruptions in the geologic past of the Pajarito Plateau through time.

Sunset Over Santa Fe

rTime is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. This photo a sunset time

Sunset on the way into Santa Fe for a spontaneous dinner out.

What Time Is It?

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Sometimes finding out the time is confusing.

This month's theme at City Daily Photo is "time." But, sometimes that not easy to tell as seen here in the White Rock "shopping center" just outside of the Del Norte Credit Union branch.

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. As the days get colder it's time to store away food for the winter.

Hungry Red Squirrel finishing up what's left in the backyard bird feeder. Notice the full puffy cheeks.

Relaxing Downtown

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. It's important to take some time to just sit and watch the world go by.

Everyone finds something of interest in downtown, even if it's in opposite directions.

Ostriches in the Valley

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Not sure ostriches think about time.

These ostriches in Santa Cruz, NM are part of the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das.

Time to Check Out the Holiday Lights

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Finally had time to get a picture at night.

Holiday lights around Ashley Pond were finally turned on after Winter Fest. Duck and geese still swimming in unfrozen pond. The Los Alamos Monitor printed a very similar picture.

History Museum

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. LA Historical Museum takes us back in time.

The former guest house for the Ranch School is now the Los Alamos Historical Museum and well worth a prolonged visit.

Art Around Ashley Pond

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. I needed to post these pics before too much time had past.

Some shots of Ashley Pond art taken earlier this Fall. Thought I'd better post them now so I could post frozen pond pictures later.

Ashley Pond is not a natural pond.
It is a natural depression that filled with water when it rained or snow melted. The historic Ranch School damed up the stream in Los Alamos Canyon and ran pipes to the pond for their use. After the war, the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) started to fill in the pond until the citizens stopped them. The pond does have some "ecological" problems that must be solved.

Los Alamos YMCA and LA Fitness Center

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. We ALL "should " find time to exercise.

The Los Alamos YMCA is a very active busy place as is LA Fitness Center

Otowi Bridge

Time is this month's theme on City Daily Blog this month. Here's something from the past - still here.

The Otowi Bridge over the Rio Grande has a history since 1924 when it was built.

LAFD Training Tower

Los Alamos Fire Department training tower. Firefighters often have to don their bunker gear; SCBAs with air tanks; and run up the stairs carrying a 50+ lb hose within a prescribed period of time. That's a total of about 125lbs of gear and hose. I'd do it but the gear isn't my color :-)

Tri-Scension?

Los Alamos National Bank's “Tri-Scension” sculpture  was chosen as depicting an anchor representing the sort of bank LANB is -- sturdy and strong.” Also represents the tri-cultures of NM (Hispanic-Anglo-Native American). LANB is the  largest independent bank in NM with branches in White Rock, three in Santa Fe, and home office in Los Alamos.

Who Me?

Statue outside White Rock Library entitled "Who Me?"

Ponderosa Pine Forrest

Ponderosa pine forrest near Bandelier National Monument's Ponderosa Camp Ground. Notice lack of undergrowth due to 1977 and 2000 fires.

Nice House, Don't You Think?

 I found this one while biking out in Pajarito Acres. Picture taken earlier this fall was motivated by Sequim Daily Photos of houses. Find out more about Los Alamos real estate.

Time for a Hair Cut?

Dave bought business from Ted who had bought it from long time Ernie's Barber Shop. Dave put in a lot of time and effort to upgrade the fixtures and added full time large screen TV sports.

El Parasol

Popular and good place to eat in Los Alamos is El Parasol located in a remodeled savings and loan building. El Parasol and El Paragua restaurant share an interesting history in addition to great food.

"Touch the Sky"

The May 2000 Cerro Grande Fire destroyed 200+ homes (representing 400+ families) resulted from long Southwestern drought, overgrown forests, incomplete decision making, and

strong winds. No lives were lost. This statue, "Touch the Sky" is a remembrance of that fire. (Photos taken earlier this fall)
Cerro Grande Fire 10 year anniversary link.

Take Me Home, Country Roads

NM 4 heading into White Rock. Sangre de Cristo Mtns above Santa Fe in the background.

Below, heading east on  NM 502 and then south on NM 4 towards White Rock.

Largest West of the Mississippi

Los Alamos Fire Department Station #3 serves White Rock and Los Alamos National Labs is said to be the largest fire station west of the Mississippi River. Includes 5 double bays for 10 large fire trucks and a large county meeting room for up to 90 people.

Breakfast at the La Fonda

La Fonda Hotel fire place just outside the  La Plazuela dinning room for breakfast on a quiet Saturday morning and then some window shopping on the historic Plaza. (about 35 miles from where we live)