The Yard

There are several very large abandoned buildings in downtown Albuquerque that were once a steam engine company.  A few years ago a group got together to turn at least part of the real estate into something that would serve to bring the community together.  The Yard, as it is known was spruced up just enough to meet safety code and it now opens every Sunday from noon to about three in the afternoon to serve as a combination farmers' market, small local vendor outlet, local food servers and, of course, with some local entertainment.  My brother, Steve, has wanted to shoot on the site for years!  Finally, we could go in with cameras and enjoy the festivities.

There are several large buildings on the site.  Only one is open for the festivities.

A pano shot of one the inside of one of the buildings.  You cannot go in.  But you can take shots over the fence.

Vibrant green weeds actually offer a nice contrast to the endless gray.

This image of a wall is part of the refurbished building.

Still standing in one of the corners of the opened building.

The glass is rather pretty.  But, it can give a green hue to your photos1

This tarot wizard is placed at the entrance to the building.  He has a goose in the back of his booth!  The kids are picking their cards.

He is explaining to the young lad that one of the card he drew suggested that he would be very successful, but only if he worked hard and was a good student.

Walk through the door and you know you are in New Mexico.  If it ain't color it ain't NM!

Combing my purse for loose change . . . . 

Friendly guy with lots of advice for anyone wanting to grow heirloom tomatoes.

Bright!

Bright!

Bottle tree.  So much color, so many lines.  A busy photograph.  But at some point I realized that over-stimulation can be a problem in a place like this.

Have a seat.

Wiling to show and let you try it.

Ok, veggies, tacos, soap, candles and all sorts of attire are great.  But what people really want to do is dance.  After all, this is NM and there has to be some great rhythm going on.

Coordination is the key to dancing well . . . style too!

The band leads the way with some hip swinging, dancing down the aisles.

We had a really great time.  I hope to return with Tom.  This is a festival not to be missed if you are in the area on a Sunday.

Mormon Lake

We left the Arboretum in Flagstaff and drove to Mormon Lake.  This normally dry lake bed does have some water in it, just enough to make it smell foul.  Upper Lake Mary has more water than I have seen in the past but we did not stop there.  Had there been a sailboat the decision to drive on might have changed!

Lovely pano!

The light was not particularly helpful in the middle of the afternoon and we soon tired of shooting into the sun.  Greg knew the road to take to drive around on the west side of the lake, including a stop at Mormon Lake Village.  If you have a chance, take that route back the next time you are up there.  Lovely meadows and large trees more than make up for the lack of lake bed view.

This abandoned rock house is believed to have once been a general store.

We enjoyed the trip around the lake.  From there we drove back to Flagstaff and had dinner before returning to Phoenix.  Always fun to shoot with friends!

Flagstaff Arboretum

According to Wikipedia, the Arboretum at Flagstaff is home to over 2.500 plant species that are representative of the high-desert Colorado Plateau.  I have never been there and was motivated to check it out by a great friend who thought it would make a great photography trip.  She was right!  First, it does not feel like a desert as the 200 acres include a generous pine forest and the open areas look like meadows.  There is an abundance of wildflowers and birds, chipmunks, lizards and insects. There is also a raptor 'free flight' at noon and 2PM.  Admission is reasonable and if you happen to be a member of Desert Botanical Garden take your membership card for free entry.  They are closed on Tuesdays and through the winter months.

You can get wildflower photos along the roads around Flagstaff.  The images below were captured along the road leading to the Arboretum.

If you are looking for a way to get out of the summer heat this is a good trip to take.  There are picnic tables should you want to hang out for the day and take your lunch.  You are sure to attract the attention of the birds as you unzip that lunch!!  The Visitor Center offers some nice exhibits, books and an interesting assortment of things to buy (plus you can hang out there if there is a brief afternoon thunderstorm.