View from

Quemado, New Mexico.

       Third Saturday of the month so off I went to Albuquerque to play with George and Debra and stay for the session/jam led by Tom.

       I have not taken any snaps for a week and today on the way home I kept stopping to take snaps.  The spell was broken by a couple hiking the Continental Divide trail.  I stopped to chat as they crossed a fence they'd managed to get on the wrong side of.  No I didn't snap their predicament.

        Before reaching Quemado I stopped at the place between Mile Posts 18 and 19 on Hwy 36 to re-acquaint myself with the story of one local ranching family, the Green's, and a favourite horse that was killed by lightning near that spot on a fall day in 1994.

       "The paint mare .... had a unique personality, you didn't have to catch her, she came to you. She loved working cattle in the pasture and the pen.  She was one of the most durable animals I have ever seen, you could ride her every day, she was ready to go when you were. . . . . Mother would ride her all the time when doing ranch work and never have a worry, but once in a while she would buck with Dad just for the fun of it ; then she'd get back to work. She was reminding you that you'd better appreciate what she could do and you'd better not go to sleep. . . . . Take a look in the pasture beyond and there's a good chance you'll see horses probably mares and colts.  If not, just close you eyes and imagine a beautiful paint mare with striking sorrel and white markings, running through the brush, head up, tail catching the breeze; bucking every once in a while just for fun."