Photos of a Surrealistic December

I am just in from a walk on the Land Grant and it is 54 degrees out there! It feels even warmer in this high altitude sun.

I live in the mountains of northern New Mexico, at 8500 feet, it’s December, and other than remnants of earlier dustings that cling to the shadows, there is no snow on the ground!

This is my third winter here and I have to say it’s sort of surreal. I mean, my first winter, we’d already had numerous serious storms by now with lots of the white stuff on the ground to stay.

We usually have significant snow before Halloween. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. It’s quite wonderful and it simplifies many things, like not having to plow my road (yay!) or shovel my decks (double yay!).

Of course we’re hoping for enough snowfall to bring the water we’ll need through the spring and summer, but there’s time for that. Right now I’m relishing the beauty of this unexpected respite. So I wanted to share our surprising winter blessing with you while it lasts. Here are my photos of a Truchas winter’s walk, December 2010: