seven, at el pilar
We were in Española. And we were hungry. (“Hungrig” in German, which I only mention because I have completed 40 days IN A ROW of online German classes.*)
Our criteria was “something that looks good” and to mix it up a little bit, our actual criteria for “good” was not defined at all. Just up the road from a bar called Saints and Sinners** we noticed El Pilar Restaurante so we pulled in and had a nice New Mexican breakfast.
Española, New Mexico
photographed 9.20.2026
*Ja. German. My granddaughter Hannah is taking German this semester and her sister and I decided that we needed to learn German so that when Hannah comes home for the holidays we could all converse in German. Goals are important, I guess, even if they are doomed to failure from the start.
**Yes. That’s the actual name. You’ve probably seen pictures of it.
just stop
I made the drive from Española to Santa Fe taking the access road for as much of the trip as I could. Stuff like this was the reason: I could see the possibilities from the main highway but the actual Good Stuff seemed unreachable.
To be honest, while I did get some photos I liked, the things that seemed so photographically alluring when I caught only fast glimpses and had not way to photograph them were not that great when I got close.
But I tried, at least.
near Santa Fe, New Mexico
photographed 9.20.2026
like angel wings
I found this little cemetery up the hill from the regular one, which is noted on the map as the Catholic Cemetery. I guess this one is, then, by default, the one for everyone else.
At any rate, the two plastic trash bags looped over the post looked like a pair of droopy angel wings.
unnamed cemetery
near Abiquiu, New Mexico
photographed 9.19.2026
drizzle/saint
A light rain fell as I wandered the cemetery; it made everything seem quiet and close and I didn’t dislike it one bit.
But I was glad that the saint and little blonde toddler Jesus had found shelter in case the rain got bad. And up there in the mountains, winter weather’s probably not to far away: they need to just stay inside until spring, probably
Abiquiu, New Mexico
photographed 9.19.2026
that light, that yellow
I have gone on and on lately about the light, haven’t I?
I am sure you’re relieved that you weren’t with me on the afternoon I took about 30 shots of a yellow newspaper vending machine. It takes a lot of patience to hang around with me. That’s pretty much a general statement, no matter what I am doing. But it’s also very specific when it comes to me when I’m in The Right Frame Of Mind to do crap like this!
Unrelated: I often travel by myself.
Santa Fe New Mexico
photographed 9.20.2026
