Autumn in the Mountains

I just can’t get enough of Autumn. And we’ve really been treating ourselves to it this year!

Two weekends ago we headed north, to the Sangre De Cristo mountains about 3 hours from where we live. I’m not great with directions or exact locations. Except to say I really, truly enjoy most anywhere in nature we happen to land. Especially when the leaves are sporting their blushing, neon, boisterous fall colors and the mountains are pausing in that last crystalline sheen before being covered in white.

One of our more amusing encounters was with this cheeky little burro. As we glided down into a small valley community, this little fellow appeared right on the road. We stopped, he stared at us. It seemed like a dare. Do NOT interfere with me. I own this place!

As a matter of fact, he was in the process of leading 6 or 7 horses (nearly twice his size) into the brush just behind our van. In other words, he was the alpha.

We drove through the village, a step back in time. I imagined how it would be to live here without fences, surrounded by aspen, pine and the meanderings of the little burro and his herd of horses. The air was thin and fresh, the light New Mexico magic. For a brief time I forgot all about elections, covid 19 regulations and how to make our website work more efficiently.

Of course, even my real life is awfully pleasant. But there is just something about the really high elevations, and of course the riot of fall colors. Our land is mostly juniper and pinon, with one deciduous tree that turns golden in October.

I would love to hear what an autumn hike in your neck of the woods is like! Tell me about it!

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry