Watchingtheriverflow

Walking feet along the river reveals that the Rio Grande just below Elephant Butte dam is a trickle of its former self. Water is no longer being released for irrigation in the downstream watershed areas of Mexico, Texas and New Mexico. For over a hundred years the water in this river has been manipulated according to a complex set of international and interstate treaties. And dam building.

Much though I love large bodies of water, I am not sure how I feel about these large scale dam building projects. In 1916 when construction was complete, Elephant Butte was the biggest man made dam in the world. Built for irrigation and domestic water. Milagro Beanfield wars.

Then I climb up a bank and find the approved riverside trail. Complete with interpretive signs.

And a cable car to take water level measurements

And yardsticks in the river too. Science gives a dubious mastery. Instruments to prove it here where we have messed with the strong brown god for more than a hundred years.

Shaping the future

First light on formwork for the east porch slab. Getting there. Slowly.

Oranje blanje blou

Sunset, rain and storm clouds : Fort Craig rest stop, Interstate 25 South.

Hopi Blue

Tasseling Hopi Blue corn towers over the pathways in the Back Forty

Storm clouds gather darkly. Hoping the corn plants are robust enough to withstand possible outrageous fortune.

There's a little Hopi Blue corn kernel swelling in there!

Back Forty looks like it is going to deliver Corn Mama. If it does, this will be the first time I have ever grown blue corn.

Scheherazade

Lemongrass and desert willow tea to toast the harvest moon. Citrus scented with a hint of exotic desert night perfume.

Skelly leaves

Season of skeleton leaves

Kerb appeal two

Glass bottle perimeter wall. Truth or Consequences style.

Blooming marvelous

Back Forty in bloom: lemon basil, arugula and marigolds

Seed saving

Chihauhauan desert native : Sacred Datura (datura wrightii)  to perfume  the night. 

Often called moonflower.

Caesalpinia gilliesii aka Desert Bird of Paradise

Skelly!

Sugar Skelly cookie in local store

Desert healing

Desert willow (Chelopsis linearis) blossoms to dry for medicinal tea. 

They have a mysterious sweet musky fragrance.

Paddle New Mexico

On the water again, thanks to the combined forces of acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractics,  Narayan Balm and the healing hot springs water of TorC.

This is the first time in ten weeks wielding the double blade, after an injury put my right arm out of action on 2nd July. 

It was just a little shoreline putter paddle on Caballo Lake to test the healing of ligaments and tendons.

Sky danced in celebration while pelicans applauded the act.

Kerb appeal

Desert style kerb appeal

Desert sidewalk symphony: agave and prickly pear

True blue: getting to the hub

I always was a Ford girl. 

Self portrait with antique truck. Elephant Butte vintage car show.

Horizons

Turtle Mountain from the streets of Truth or Consequences. Another perfect, blue sky, enchanted day

Watcher on the wall

Somebody surreptitious is watching me on my dawn walk around the neighborhood.

Mastered the go away look, then, have we?

Mesquite seed thief

Mid afternoon the back yard at the desert casita is a bustle of activity. 

Two rock squirrels ( Spermophilus variegatus I believe) are very busy under the mesquite tree. This one pictured looks to me to be a feeding mama.

Whaddya mean "again"?

Welcome to the neighborhood.

We don't need to "make America great again". It already is. 

The neighbors have contracted out for  lawn maintenance.