Blog Archives

Prairie Window

This old church is the main – some would say only – landmark in Taiban, New Mexico. It’s on the route between home and Albuquerque or Santa Fe, and I stop in nearly every time I’m through town. Last spring, the glassless windows were nice frames for a view of the prairie east of town.

Taiban, New Mexico
photographed 5.25.2018

Blurry crosses of Chimayó

The walk from the parking area up to the sacred church has a chain link fence on one side where people leave crosses and other items woven into the wire. On my most recent visit, as I stood looking at the artifacts and to the building beyond, I let me eyes focus on the distance, which blurred the fence and its contents. And I made a photo.

Later, the blurry crosses and the diamonds of the fence started to make me think of women’s hats, that kind with the dotted-net veil, and this scene started to feel like what the world would look like from behind a hat veil.

I know. None of this makes any sense: welcome to the way my mind wanders around.

El santuario de Chimayó
Chimayó, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019

The other cross

Sun + shadows + pipe + downspout = one more cross at this ancient church.

San José de Gracia Church
Las Trampas, New Mexico
photographed 3.16.2019

Who am I to doubt these mysteries?

It’s been a while since I’ve posted song lyrics that (in my mind) relate to the day’s image. This photo made me think of the song “Guadalupe” with the fantastic line “Who am I to doubt these mysteries?” and here are two versions of it. This one is by Tom Russell, and this one is by Gretchen Peters, with Tom Russell. (If you like the way Tom and Gretchen sound together, you should look for their album One to the Heart One to the Head.)

I found these well-used candles in the church in Terlingua, Texas’s most famous ghost town.

Terlingua, Texas
photographed 1.20.2013

What leaving looks like

If you go to Valentine, Texas, and think the church will be unlocked and then discover it’s not, this is what you’ll see as you leave, trying not to be too disappointed.

Valentine, Texas
photographed 12.22.2018