We also get some amazing cloud formations! Love the contrast with the dark trees and blue sky!

Flowers, etc.

In spite of having very little moisture so far this past winter, spring and summer, there are flowers everywhere!

Sunrise through the smoke of the Pacheco fire

Can't even imagine the searing heat the firefighters must be encountering - not only the heat of the flames, but the weather has been in the 90's for days...

Even in the midst of the beautiful sunset, the fury of the flames is clearly evident.

Over the 4th of July weekend, my husband and I found a good vantage point and were able to capture photos of an amazing sunset.

The irony of the fires is that in the midst of all the devastation, we have had unbelievable sunrises and sunsets due to the skies being so full of smoke, ash and other particles.

As if the Pacheco Fire wasn't devastating enough, the Las Conchas fire burst on the scene with a vengeance. Thankfully, firefighters were able to keep this very aggressive fire from taking over the town of Los Alamos and away from Los Alamos National Laboratories. Many weeks later, both the Pacheco and Las Conchas fires are still burning.




The Las Conchas fire is the largest in the State's history, burning nearly 140,000 acres to date.

It's amazing to watch the smoke as it takes over the sky...

Summer 2011 Fires in Santa Fe

Guess this doesn't qualify as "beauty" but perhaps the "terrible beauty of nature's forces" - anyway, some of these photos are beautiful, even though devastating.





These photos show the beginning of the Pacheco fire, one of eight experienced in New Mexico during the July time period.

More gates :-)

Gates in Santa Fe NM

Been wanting to get photos of interesting gates in Santa Fe for some time, so here they are. Still many more to discover, but for now I have these shots :-)