A Message From the Bowels of Hell

[CrazyCatWom]

Autumn was always my favorite season. September meant the opening of the New Mexico State Fair; you couldn't drive by a grocery store or farmers' market without the smell of roasting green chile filling the air and I would prepare to makemy first pot of green chile stew of the season. October meant the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I knew if I was inside and heard a Whooosshhh, I could go outside and there would be a hot air balloon drifting over my house--and it doesn't matter how often you've experienced Balloon Fiesta or how old you are, you become a child! Dancing and waving at the pilot and his passengers! Then, November meant one of my favorite events: The Flight of the Cranes at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge where hundreds of Sandhill Cranes (and used to be Whooping Cranes) fly over and land in the fields in the Refuge, or, well, any open field along the Rio Grande Valley. But it wasn't just cranes. It'd be snow geese, ross geese, red tailed hawks, golden eagles, bald eagles. And the occasional deer! Anyway, This photo is one of the many, many, many I've taken of the Bosque del Apache, no critters visable.

But the absolute BEST part of Fall, iused to be cooling temperatures!

That was before NM became the bowels of Hell. Cooled off?!?!?!? Oh, yeah! It's only 00 degrees F, rather than 106 degrees!

No, wait! It is only going to be 90 today. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

[rjoneslaw]

I'm sure fest is a fun and exciting event to experience this time of year

[CrazyCatWom in reply to rjoneslaw]

One of the most spectacular sites at the Refuge is to see a mini lake absolutely white from shore to shore with the Ross an Snow Geese! The cranes aren't particularly beautiful birds (they are BIG) but they are one of the oldest species of birds in the world.

[rjoneslaw in reply to CrazyCatWom]

I'm sure its really nice

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Wow, gorgeous photo, CrazyCatWom

Enjoy the hot weather if you can because I am sure that it will be colder, soon!

[CrazyCatWom in reply to carolek572]

Thank you. But I hate theat. I often say, I don't have to get drunk to stagger around like I'm drunk. I just have to be out in the heat. Now the only problem I have with cold is listening to my partner whining about being cold.

[Tinker-Belle]

Gorgeous! Would love to see more of your pictures. Watching the balloons and birds sounds ahhhhhhmazing. Stay cool...somehow!

[jimeka]

Have you took that photo because it is incredible. Please post some more and try and stay cool. When I lived in Sherwood Park, Edmonton, Alberta, they had a balloon club and they would fly right at my back door, I felt as though I could touch them and like you I was like an excited child. They are so graceful. 🎈

[CrazyCatWom]

Thank you. Yeah, I used to be a professional photographer. I live only a few miles away from the Balloon Fiesta Park. Because of so much developement around the area, the subdivision I live in specifically built public parks that are safe for balloonists to land. One of those parks is directly across the street from y house. So I've seen a lot of my neighbors in their pajamas, because on the weekends of the Fiesta, everybody'd come out with their coffee to watch the balloons land. Not this year, though, because of COVID 19. Not just cooler temps are a no go. No state fair, no balloon fiesta, no festival of the cranes. Nuthin' but heat.

[greaterexp]

What a gorgeous photo! I'm sorry about the weather.

[Mermaidia11]

Lol...A message from the bowels of hell!! Love it!

And Fabulous photo and writing.@CrazyCatWom!

Wow !

I’m smelling those smells and feelin that wind and seein those birds

For a second I could have been right there with you – wonderful writing and

Great, great title for a book?

Do it lady !

your imagery and creative writing about your state/where you live , is compelling reading

(Have you noticed how creative people with MS are as well?!)

Good job

Hope it cools down for you soon so you can take some more fabulous photos , make more magical moments and start that blog/book

[CrazyCatWom in reply to Mermaidia11]

Thank you. My brain bleeds put the kibash on my photography career (can't drive anymore, can't see the meter readings my cameras are showing--can only take pictures of my cats with my phone, now.) Now, as for writing? Umm, before I was a photographer, I actually was a writer! Because of writer's block (I was working on my 8th novel and a major publisher's editor was really interested: a romance about a rodeo bull rider being diagnosed with MS falling for his neurologist!) , I became a photographer. I used to type 120 words per minute. Now it takes me 120 minutes to type 1 word!

[pamgarner]

beautiful picture,you can feel the weather changing

[goatgal]

I hate to say it, but the weather has been crazy everywhere in the US this year...running out of names for hurricanes, devastating fires in the west, your extreme heat, our mini droughts and abnormal weather patterns. With climate change deniers in the ascendency, it won't get better any time soon....and it's such a tragedy because only we humans have the ability to change our behaviors and lessen our impact on the environment. The wildlife suffers when food and water sources disappear or dry up, we suffer when our traditions suddenly become impossible to maintain, and yet we do nothing collectively. No matter how much I try to live responsibly on the planet, it makes no difference. Treasure your memories. I was in New Mexico many many years ago in the fall, in Santa Fe and will always cherish the memories of the quality of the light, the crisp morning air, the dulcet afternoons, and yes, the aroma of roasting chilies everywhere.

[kdali]

Your fall memories sound lovely! I miss the fall of the north GA mountains. I hope I never forget the way it smells...and the colors are amazing!

We have been so blessed this year with an August so mild it already felt like fall. Now it is fall and we have a little tree that has burgundy leaves 🥰

[falalalala]

Beautiful!

[CrazyCatWom in reply to falalalala]

Thank you.

[Brindisi1]

Lingering in you is an eye for beauty. Stunning photo.

Maybe ways to work around limitations.

Peace

[CrazyCatWom in reply to Brindisi1]

Thank you.

[Amore55]

Just stunning! I can imagine being right in the middle of it all. Hope you cool off soon!

[CrazyCatWom in reply to Amore55]

Thank you!

[hairbrain4]

Beautiful pic!