Blog Archives
Trash, and a burro
There’s a one-block-long street in Santa Fe called Burro Alley; in the 19th century it was the place where firewood sellers would park their wood-laden donkeys. And then, apparently, the sellers would spend the money on booze and hookers.*
Now it’s just a little side street, with a burro-festooned gate and some trash containers.
Burro Alley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
photographed 12.24.2015
*Historical note: in over seven years of blogging, this is the first time I’ve used the term “booze and hookers.” I mention it because I thought you’d want to know.
Angels are the first to go
My patient spouse, who grew up in Nebraska and is much more familiar with snow than I am, is the one who recognized the remains of someone’s snow angel in front of this church.
Las Trampas, New Mexico
photographed 12.24.2015
Blocked
The thing about going someplace like Santa Fe is that all the regular stuff has been photographed about a million times. (I’ve made those shots, too: it’s some kind of law or Photographer’s Code or something, I think.)
But after that’s out of the way, it’s time for peering down alleys. And walking around back.
And that’s how you find a short alley, blocked by a trash container, with a discarded Christmas tree in the far corner.
I like it a lot better than another photo of the Palace of the Governors.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
photographed 12.24.1015
Roadside Attraction, winter
Tinkertown was closed for the winter, but I still wanted to swing by and make a few images. (Here’s another article that mentions Tinkertown.)
A couple of years ago I attended a writing conference where I met a wonderful writer, Tanya Ward Goodman. She was receiving an award at the conference for her memoir, Leaving Tinkertown, the story of growing up at Tinkertown, which was built by her father, and of her dad’s early-onset dementia. Tanya’s writing is funny, poignant, and honest. During my dad’s recent decline and subsequent death, her words were in my mind often. If you’ve been wanting to read a well-written memoir, I can recommend Tanya’s book without hesitation.
The other thing about Tinkertown is that I used to go by it often when I lived in Albuquerque – it’s on the way to the mountains – but I never even noticed it! What the hell was wrong with me?! So, because I met Tanya and read her book, I went a tiny bit out of my way to see it. Now, I just need to go back when it’s open.
Sandia Park, New Mexico
photographed 12.23.2015
The Thaw Before the Storm
The snow was melting on Christmas afternoon and on our walk along Canyon Road, we picked our way between puddles and icy patches of snow, trying to keep on the dry pavement.
The weather was changing, though. In fact, we left a day earlier than planned to beat the storm, and we barely made it: new snow was already falling when we left.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
photographed 12.25.2015
One Day | One Image 