Animas Anabranch

Animas Anabranch

15” x 10”
Watercolor

I found this lovely spot where a branch of the Animas River departs from the main channel in a location you might not expect—behind the museum in Farmington, New Mexico about an hour south of home. The trees had yet to show their leaves this early spring day, however the muted colors and grace of the bare cottonwoods caught my eye.

When I left home it was 34 degrees, so I had layered up to be ready for a cool and windy painting session along the Animas River.

But as usual, spring had a surprise up its sleeve, thumbing its nose at the weather report and warming up well beyond the day’s prediction, which foretold rain at noon. By the time my painting session came to a close, it was 78 degrees and I was overdressed!

Despite that, it was a gorgeous wind-free day. I drove into the rain on the way home.

Early Snow at Bandelier

 
Early Snow at Bandelier

Acrylic on Reclaimed Cabinet Door
15” x 12”

We planned a fall trip to Santa Fe and as usual, October gave us a surprise snowfall. We never curse storms, because water is a precious gift here in the southwest.

We left a few days after the storm. The highway was clear and the sky a deep blue. A perfect fall day. We wanted to take a circuitous route we’d never explored through a section of New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest that would take us to Valles Caldera National Preserve and ultimately, to Bandelier National Monument.

In between our turnoff from highway 550 and Valles Caldera was a section of dirt road over a pass that still held a good amount of snow and in the sunny spots, slimy mud. It appeared the storm had dumped much more snow southeast of Durango.

Despite the mud and snow slowing us down and making for a little excitement, it was a beautiful drive, and we encountered only a few cowboys and a truck or two along the way. Valles Caldera was spectacular!

We arrived at Bandelier to find this lovely view along the only trail that wasn’t closed due to ice and snow. It’s quite a place and we hope to go back to explore it sometime after the heat of summer has waned and before winter gives us a snowstorm.