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Today... my daughter, a great friend, and I all went to the Open Space Visitor Center; located on the westside of ABQ off of Coors Blvd. It was incredible. The space was having a special event, entitled: the Return of the Sandhill Crane Celebration Weekend ... and it was all about the return of the Sandhill Cranes to New Mexico as part of their winter migration.

For tomorrow's post... I will showcase some of the featured artists at the art show there...

BUT for today... I just wanted to show some of the gorgeous scenery that is the Open Space area.



...the outlook landing area...


...and a couple of the cranes relaxing in the sunshine...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

Pueblo Montano park

photos by Elaine A. Russell

Fall is coming upon us. It is my favorite time of year. I love the chill in the air, how walks at night become a little more brisk, how the sunsets seem more vibrant, how the moon seems more full, how the leaves make that cool rustling noise when the wind blows... it all speaks to me.

Yesterday the hubby and I took a short walk around the Bosque near Montano bridge, and the open space park there that features wood carvings by Mark Chavez. Mark was a fireman back when the Bosque suffered a horrible fire back in 2003. Most of the cottonwood trees succumbed, and many suffered severe damage. Out of that catastrophe, Mark, who is also a wood carver/ sculptor.... made art from the remnants of tree trunks and fallen trees. It is gorgeous... and a testament to our own lives... how we can build beauty from ashes if we just try.


See this link: http://www.examiner.com/x-1972-Albuquerque-Travel-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Hidden-Albuquerque-Pueblo-Montano-park-and-the-wood-carvings-of-Mark-Chavez