ROAD TRIP

Finally, I was able to go on a paint-out, even though it was close by,

to the village of Placitas,

which is about 15 minutes away from my house.

I also went to Algodones and Bernalillo.

Nothing is green yet, but everything was still beautiful to me.

 This are the Algodones plateaus with beautiful winter color.

 A tumbleweed acequia. 

Empty but ready to be cleaned and filled.

 A pretty cross at San Antonio church,

the pretty little old Catholic church in the heart of the village.

I look forward to going again when the roses

are in full bloom.

Looking at the the Placitas Loop road in 

the foreground, the Algodones plateau in the

middle ground, and the Jemez mountains

in the background.

And those clouds!

 A closer look at the plateau.

Can you image that cottonwood in full bloom?

And those grey trees in the back will be

spring green shortly.

What a nice life for the horses living there!

 The cemetery in Algodones.

 A really cool hand-painted fence!

 Well, if it only had wheels?

 A roadside descanso.

 This is a beautiful but dry arroyo 

near the plateau.

I was drawn to the dark golden bushes on the right.

 Okay, someone has to go to Algodones and tell me what this is!

I know it's a cross, but what's on it?

I'm going to take binoculars next time!

 San Antonio Church

I've painted this scene several times.

 A really cool old truck

 Cholla cactus before it blooms that beautiful fuschia color.

 A winding wash in Placitas

with the Sandias as a backdrop.

Last year, on a windy day, I lost my

canvas down this little wash.

 This is the side of a pretty old church in Bernalillo.

 View of the Sandia mountains and pretty clouds.

My only painting that came from that day.

It's funny, I haven't been out on location

for a while and I forgot some basics:

my umbrella, my hat, my sunscreen.

I had a blast.

I got so many reference photos and

it was so nice being out in the mountains

with only the wind and the birds 

for company.