The Pacheco Fire

The Pacheco fire in the Santa Fe National Forest up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the Santa Fe Ski Basin has been burning for over a week now.

The fire has consumed over 6,000 acres of steep rugged forested land, and at last report was 18% contained.

I took these pictures yesterday afternoon, when the visible smoke plum from my house appeared to have gotten much larger:

My tomatoes 2011

Despite the sadness and upheaval in my personal life, planting tomatoes makes me feel good, so I am considering this year's tomatoes a healing exercise. It is nice to have something healthy and growing on my portal.

June 2, the day I planted my tomatoes:


Today, June 25:






My first tomato:

Tony Hillerman's Landscape

I love this story ... it comes from the book "Tony Hillerman's Landscape" by Anne Hillerman ... this story is told by Hillerman and ocurred some years ago:

"Traveling on a train to Los Angeles, I walked to the observation car to take in the full expanse of the same landscape. The tracks parallel the highway for much of the route from Albuquerque to Gallup. Towering cumulous clouds cast deep shadows that moved across the plan and canyons. A thunderstorm growing over Mount Taylor looked ominous and powerful and the low angle of the late afternoon sun made the desert glow red.

I shared the car with two men from elsewhere wearing suits and ties. The businessmen stood silently for a moment, looking at the sight. Then one said to the other, 'My God, why would anyone want to live here?' From the tone of voice, I knew that he couldn't imagine it. But I was thinking, 'Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?'"