The Thinker!

I have been going into downtown more this past week because my friends were gone to Texas on a short vacation. One day the weather would be real nice and then the next the snow comes down so hard for a few hours I think to myself "how in the world am I going to make it back home!".  Yesterday I went into town again and spent some time chatting with my new friend Simon that works at the Blue Dome Gallery. Since it was a little cold in the gallery I sat down by one of the windows with the warm sun on my back. I just happened to look down at the shadow on the floor and I snapped the picture above. As I sat there, and Simon helped the occasional customer that came in, I started noticing the people walking by and sometimes just wonder what are they thinking about as they go on about their life.

This young couple went by and he was carrying her across the street, they were laughing and giggling  as he twirled her around and almost dropped her!

This gentleman had a very serious look on his face and walked in a hurried manor as if he was late to his final destination. 

This young man was so interested in the book he was reading I was hoping he didn't walk right off of the sidewalk at the corner. If it weren't for the handrail by the steps he just might have gone right off!

I decided to take a walk around town and noticed more people in their stores and shops working away. The gentleman in this shop caught my eye because of the long dread locks he had and then I noticed that he was working the kilns at a local custom tile shop. He was so into his work that the outside world did not matter at the time. I watched him working for about ten minutes and I bet he didn't even realize that someone was outside admiring his dedication and craft. 

There's so much character in Silver City's downtown district and once again I start daydreaming of the history some of these old buildings can tell you if they could talk. 

I went into the occasional store here and there but one caught my attention because Simon had mentioned to me that they might have old, rustic frames for my water color paintings. 

The Curiosity Shop is just that, many old items, or treasures if you take the time to look. The short, little heavy set grey haired lady was really nice and helpful to anyone walking in. It had started snowing and I overheard her telling someone on the phone that if it kep up she was closing and going home. As it happens I did find an old treasure. There was a shelf with tin cans and I found these. 

The real treasure was the Campbell's Recipe can. When I got back home I opened it and it still had someone's favorite recipes, not only the original Campbell's, but some that had been hand written or cut out of magazines. Sometimes it pays to slow down and you will find hidden treasures where you least expect them. 

Sometimes life is going to hand you reasons for falling!

But you just have to get right back up, get into the same frame with the one you were meant to be with, and continue to be the bright and shiny object that you are!

Sketching & Water Coloring!

Some of the road trips I've been doing lately have presented me with a lot of inspirational photo opportunities. One photo really touched me and I wanted to try something totally new to me. I tried to do a little bit of sketching while in Phoenix and so I gave it a try with this little cabin that's about to fall over any day. 

I know I have a long way to go but this is the result. 

This week I decided to drive back out to that little cabin to get more pictures of it. This time I got pictures of the surroundings. I've wanted to water color in the past but never seemed to have the time. Another subject that caught my eye was this old Volkswagen rusting in a field. 

I loved the patina on it and it was enough to get me into a store to get some water color paints, brushes and paper. This is what came of it. 

I feel good about my very first ever water color. That was yesterday, today I decided to try again. I wanted to try my hand at the little cabin again and the old Ford truck keeping it company. Two old friends sitting out in a field, watching the world pass them by and waiting for the day it all ends for them!

Not even close but with practice I plan to revisit the old friends and do them justice. 

Antique obsession!

When I started walking around my neighborhood back home in Los Angeles I started noticing old trucks and became obsessed with taking pictures of them. Back home they were usually in almost new condition and the paint usually looked brand new. I have always enjoyed seeing them show their age and yesterday on my trip to Gila National Monument my excitement was in overdrive. 

I not only got to see old abandoned trucks but also tractors, barns and buildings. To me I always daydream of what happened in them back when they were in use. The stories they could tell if it were possible. But the beauty of it all now is that I can dream up way out stories and no one can tell me they aren't true!

This old farmhouse has so much character in her wrinkles. I picture a young boy running out of that front door, jumping off of that porch in his loose pants being held up by suspenders holding a stick to whack the grass blades as if he were holding a sword. His little sister right behind him in her semi tattered dress and her bonnet wanting to join him but unable to catch up!

The old trusted tractor holding on for one more season,

The livestock barn showing its age,

The old farmers delivery trucks always ready to drive into town,

Dandelion out in the barn wanting to come out and play in the pasture,

The Bluebirds nest house up by the road will soon need a new post because the current one is threatening to come down in the next windstorm,

Driving down the old highway 35, passing old man Johnsons place you can see some more old trucks left right where they last stopped many years before. 

You go around a bend and come up on Miss Millie's place and across the road in the distance you catch a glimpse of old man Simons place. 

He runs a range on his land. 

Next door to him is a huge spread that will become famous one day!

Suddenly I get brought back to reality when my friends Hal and Ann yell "watch out" and in front of me I see this!

I love daydreaming and wondering what life was like back in the past but always looking forward to my next dream. I hope the dreaming never stops!

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Yesterday I had another one of those amazing days I seem to be experiencing lately. It was Sunday, January 11th, the weather was supposed to be in the mid 40s and clear. My friends Hal, Ann and I had planned ahead for this trip and we left early in the morning. 

I drove my car because I wanted to test out the mechanical work it had done last week and this drive was to take us up real high up in the mountains. I had no idea it was this high!

This is what it looks like from way up there!  That way down there are rain clouds over the valley. 

This above is an untouched photo and the colors were amazing!

We arrived at the visitor center and I had to walk over and get a picture of Geronimos marker. 

Even though it was a beautiful day there was still snow down in the canyon floor leading up to the cliff dwellings. We saw a few people coming down and a lot of beautiful views on our way up. 

I just can't describe the feeling I got when I first looked up and saw the dwellings hundreds of feet up on the cliffs. The Indians that built them must have been such resilient people to have been able to see what this could be for them. 

Once I got up there and looked down it was scary to know that if you took a wrong step you could fall about five hundred feet!  When I looked around and saw where they cooked...

Where they slept....

The construction....

The views they had out of the caves looked directly across to the mesas on top of the mountain where they did their farming. They didn't have any large animals like cows, horses, sheep or goats. 

Once again I am so thankful for the incredible opportunities I encounter on this journey. Thankful for all of my friends making it possible and for health because without it I wouldn't be able to go anywhere.