Cloudcroft, NM

In the mid-week of July, we headed up to New Mexico for relaxation, reading, and cooler temps.  We've been going to Cloudcroft, New Mexico since I was a very young child.  My great-grandmother had a home there, then my grandparents, parents, etc.  Now, since no one owns property there, we just pick a big house, rent it, and anyone is welcome.  It's a true respite from the heat of the summer and the fast-paced techy lifestyle that we all lead.  I love it desperately.  It feeds my soul.  Hopefully some of these shots (I took over 400) will feed yours, too.  (These are not in any kind of order... I hate blogger and its cranky photo placement tendencies...)

The Cloudcroft Hotel - along Burro Street - the only "town" street - isn't it pretty at night?

One of the amazing wooden train trestles here in the Sacramento Mountains.  We call it "Grandaddy's Trestle" because my great-grandfather was one of the men who worked to build this huge passage across a mountain canyon in the early 1900's.  It's really called the Mexican Canyon Trestle.

Said Trestle from the other side of the highway, this time at dusk.  I am not a good enough photographer to capture this in all its magesty... yet.  :)

The view from the Trestle hike across the canyon toward Alamogordo and White Sands.  

Rain droplets on the windshield on the way there... my camera kept focusing in and out from the trees to the windshield. SO cool!

The hummingbirds... oh, the hummingbirds.  You can see my fascination with them in the pictures that follow.  I simply could NOT put my camera down.  

Wind turbines along I-10 way out west - LOVE these and they are everywhere!

Ranch Weekend

A few weeks ago, we went out to the ranch of a friend's Grandparents in Chappell Hill, Texas.  I took the opportunity to shoot some of the amazing Texas countryside.  One of the things I love most about Texas is how the sky goes on forever.  So very Texas to me.  :)

A great weekend with the girls!  

Dub and Baby K

Had a FANTASTIC time at the Houston Zoo last week with the nephews.  They are some of my favorite subjects, for sure!  Here's a few non-edited, non-cropped, untouched images of my boys... Aunt B does love her some nephews...

Shiner, Texas

A couple of weeks ago, I headed out to Shiner with 2 good friends to pick up their husbands.  The brave husbands traveled the 100 miles from Houston to Shiner on bicycles!  Wowza!  We meandered along the roads and beat them there, of course, with a couple of stops on the way.  The best part was that the Shiner G.H.A.S.P. ride ended at the brewery in Shiner.  A hot, sweaty, sunburned Spring day that ended with cold beer.  Nothing better!  I really enjoyed playing with the lighting on my camera and captured over 150 images.  My few favorites are here to share...

A great day!  Good friends, good beer, sunshine, and my camera.  What fun it was.  :)

Bluebonnet 2010 - Brenham, Texas

Over the weekend, I headed up to Austin via a stop at to scout for Bluebonnets near the Wildflower Capital of Texas, Brenham (Washington County).  Sure enough, after very little searching, I found a few fields of the blue beauties along with Indian Paintbrushes, buttercups, wild daisies, and more. 

At my first stop, a little kitty was playing in the grass!  He didn't stay long, but I caught him heading the other way before I shot a few flowers in a gorgeous field off of FM 50. 

I also spied some gorgeous bulls (cows?)... not sure... who were happy to pose before wandering off to find more to eat away from the lady with the camera.

I took a ton of pictures, but here are a few favorites... I'm still working on settings and playing with natural light...

This American Flag was whipping in the Saturday post-storm wind... just begging to be photographed.  I couldn't quite capture its mystique, though... surrounded by fields of bluebonnets... its top corner a bit frayed from proudly displaying itself...  but there's always next time.

Grandad's 90th

 

Over the weekend, the family got together to celebrate my Grandad's 90th birthday.  According to him, turning 90 was no different than turning 89 or 91, but we are blessed to have him in our lives and we all enjoyed a lovely afternoon in the backyard at my parents' house.  And I spent much of the day with my camera in my hands.  My brother and cousins' children are adorable.  They made great "test" subjects.  Here they are below... some of my favorites from the day...