The air is thick with the smell of hay

I wish we could bail our native grass like this!

Picnic at the River

Jackson and I needed a change of pace - so we marched over to the Rio Grande, We had a grand time!

ssssnake on my rocker!

I hear all this fuss from the kitchen window - the little brown jobs with their nest up in the porch corner...its so loud I look out the window - ahhhhh!!!! A gopher snake climbing my rocking chair to get the little birds...we stared each other down and finally he went back to his nest...under the Porch!

you gotta see the baby...ducks!

I know I have been slackin...the back 40 has been taking up all the time. Might just have to start another blog about that! Plus an art show and this and that. But today I had to say awwww, and share the little fluff balls with you !

Mr. Toad looking for his wild ride...

There he was still as can be...I could of stepped on him - Jackson didn't see him. The eyes say it all I think, he's looking for trouble on the side of the ditch!

Swine Flu and the mannequin

they keep this mannequin outback year round and dress him up for the holidays, football games, any festive theme that can involve a hat really...well in the spirit of our collective anxiety they have pretected their mascot from us walking breathers...I think my stuffiness is just allergies...at least thats what I keep telling myself!

Farmer Bill

Amending the soil after testing reveals we are nitrogen deficient....it must have been last years bumper crops of beans and tomatoes. We will rotate this year and see what happens!

Saltcedar

To bad it is another one of our noxious shrubs...it smells as sweet as it looks! can you find Jackson?

Roadrunner and fake mange show

Wow -
So this is the second time I have seen this. The first Roadrunner I saw was all ready in its mange position - looking very sickly and plucked and if I were an animal thinking of eating it I would think twice. I was feeling sad for it and wondering if Roadrunners could get rabies? Then today I saw the real show...It was on the other side of the ditch doing its thing and then it saw us and plumed out its feathers like this in all directions. What a great show! Then it ran away...

correction -
Just did some reading - The Great roadrunner as its called does this strange move to warm the dark feathers underneath the light ones, so it was not scared, just cold.

Jackson and the Hairy Vetch

We had tried to get this great nitrogen rich cover crop to grow the first year we moved into our house. With a yard full of nothing but goat heads and pigweed this seemed like a great idea...well it never took, and yet here on the banks of the ditch it seems to be thriving. Maybe the birds took the seed and came for a drink and dropped them along the bank. We did at least get native grass to take.

Jackson is saying come on all ready!

Creepy Baby Croc

If only I could of captured the scale...this is only 3 inches long...how is an infant supposed to keep these on? Booties I get but infant crocs....better then Minola Blancs I guess.

Ducks walking here!

Why swim when you can stroll?

Jackson was very interested in this odd behavior. Maybe they need to do more weight-bearing exercise since swimming only can do so much for your bones...
I was sad when I found out that all that spinning I have done has not helped mine one bit, so I am out here everyday pounding the dirt way.

Ditch is on

A little early this year - maybe because we had barely any precipitation this winter. Its a lovely day today warm and clear and its nice to hear the rush of water to my right. The light was so lovely on the trunk of this pine I just couldn't get the picture to exactly capture the glow that seemed to be coming out of the tree not just being illuminated by it.

circles of fire

Don't these remind you of the Dancing Shiva sculptures, the outer rims with the circle of flames representing the cosmos and especially consciousness. To Funny, We just tilled up the vegtable bed and will soon start planting so I feel we are right in line with the Cosmo's!

Siberian Elms blooming

Beautiful isn't it? Like the gathered ruffles on a handmade gown. To bad its just the beginning of endless raking of all those little seed pods, they blow all over city like confetti when the winds pick up. These tree's are so tough they just love growing between sidewalk cracks and up against your house. We had no idea that you never let these grow. Now we are doing backbreaking work of digging many of them out of the yard.

not an everyday thing

So look who was just hangin out on that old barn....

I mean yeah, we have these around the neighborhood but this guy just sat there 2 feet from me with my dog who didn't even get riled up because this guy was like a statue.

But he was looking right at me soon enough as I tried to get closer for a better picture. I think he just figured I was out for an autograph I mean he looks like Liberace!

Neighbors Cherry Blossom

Could not resist the draw of the new blossoms on the trees ... It brings out the amateur photog in all of us, I think the mailbox in this is the best part.

It will be fun to document all the new life bursting out all over. Too bad the wind is whipping up to 50 mph the last few days. So many AHH-Choo's in the air!

Mr. Sandman

Okay, so he's not one of the enormous chalk figures which are scattered through much of the landscape of southern England. But he was a surprise and standing over 15 feet. A little spooky - just appeared out of no where. I couldn't not bring myself to walk all over him. But I sung that song for the entire afternoon!

lookout for llama's - correction Alpacas!

So its way to warm for February and everyone including me and Jackson have Spring fever. We decide to drive a mile or two down the way to walk some of the ditches that are too far to reach from the house. Its always an adventure because you have to find the easements between and sometimes through other peoples back yards. Usually its not so hard - today it was impossible. We were wondering around a culdesac for a while till we spotted another dog walker, Pastor Joe and his dog Maestro, He gave me elaborate directions, through this palatial mansion's yard up ahead...I said do you think they will mind me passing on their property "its my house he said'! Off we scrambled down the path...and soon we came across the Alpaca's - don't get to close Jackson they spit!

3 Scotties

These guys crack me up - when they bark their chin whiskers waggle like and old man. They stomp their feet in a comedic tap dance routine. Jackson really wants to play with them and will whine and bow and would do just about anything if I would let him. I'm glad they are on the far side. Its bad enough to keep him reigned in over here.

Watch out for the Guineahen!

You can hear them before you see them...they are really loud they drive Jackson nuts, half of the pictures I took are of me taking a face dive into the ditch while Jackson tries to catch one with me attached (remember yesterdays note?) . They are cute though!

Dog Attack!

Yikes - this is terrible, especially the picking up of the dogs in the green pick up, I really believe the leash laws are there to protect us all.
I walk Jackson on a leash at all times. Sometimes its a little scary when a dog or pack of them off the leash come barging towards us with the owner yelling to no effect "Stop, No, Come..." The issue is you just don't know what will happen.
Its safer for your dog and mine! Plus you get the added bonus of built up biceps if a rogue squirrel decides to dart out in front of your pooch from time to time.

too early Spring

Maybe because the last couple of weeks have been... lets say, trying; It is almost heartbreaking to see the Forsythia in bloom already. I am not ready to come out of hibernation. I also see the early bird farmers and gardeners tilling up the fields because its actually warm enough. We need to do that, we just finished burning off last years yard debris and the mustard grass is popping up everywhere. I know they say its good in salad....but its so obnoxious in the yard I just can't put it on my plate.

The last daily

Well good news I found a day job, great. I'm going to miss my daily anytime walking. I'm going to try very hard to get up really really early and get out. But to take the presure off myself I now think of this as the Weekly Ditch. I don't want to change the name though of the blog - its too cute.

Today we took a very long walk and I enjoyed it very much, I feel a little sad the freedom of being able to walk with no real purpose or hurry will be mostly a thing of the past...but new adventures and a new path will follow.

Dainty hankey

You don't see this very often, except with the weeping willow. What a little treasure, Its not even dirty. I think its a miraculous kerchief brought about by the early start to the allergy season in Albuquerque. Even Oak trees are allergic to Juniper it seems.

Hanta Virus and Plague

Gotta love the ones who remind us of the value of the critters and snakes. This is a huge pile so we should be clear of disease by at least a block radius. I remind myself that the giant bull snakes are not rattlesnakes in the summer and that they are helping in my vegetable garden, I just am happier seeing the holes they make and not the snake itself coiled around my tomatoes.

Sunrise vs. the sheds

I was up early, thought I would catch the sunrise. It was slow coming and bitter cold. I was thinking about my friend J who is losing her view of the mountain from her kitchen window because a neighbor needs more room for stuff and is building a shed that blocks her only view. That's happening around me too - all around us everyone is putting up Tuffsheds. All the backyards are turning into storage units. Me and my husband will try and keep our "almost" acre a little oasis of garden and grass. Is a garage full of stuff you don't even want in your house worth losing a view?

we call her Lee

I have a crush on this dog...we think she is a American bulldog. We think she is around 6 months old. Jackson and Lee (as in Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollacks wife) would make a great pair. But walking two 85 lb dogs down the ditch would probably knock me out. But we visit her often, she does the cutest drumming on the fence when she see's us, in the picture she is between sets.

lo-fi windmill fodder

It was busy on the ditch, a warm Sunday, a day that especially brings out the weekender's. There is lots of jogging and hand-holding going on.
I realize as I'm walking and doing the low-fi high five (that is a waist high palm too those unfamiliar) to those passing. Then a younger (teen I would say) girl walks by with her dog and doesn't salute back...hmmmmm.
I see now that the acknowledgments on the ditch run generationaly and just recently like maybe the last few years I have crossed over too the acknowledgment side of things. I used to keep to myself even a wave was intrusive...but now its more important to say in a hand gesture "lovely morning, aren't we lucky to be able to do this...". I also liked the light on the windmill...

The Mallards

I always thought these guys mated for life, and that this pair had staked out this part of the acequia for themselves. Turns out after a little reading that they only mate and then find new partners after the eggs hatch, bursting my happy bubble. I see only one pair of these ducks at this section every winter though. It is a good spot with flowing water all year long. I guess I can just be happy with the fact that now I know that the Mallord is the believed to be the ancestors of all domestic ducks.

Low life on notice

I could not take the daily ditch today - but my favorite guy my husband Bill went for me camera in hand and was my walking proxy - he found this today. Lately this is becoming more of a problem, can we blame the economy? I think its just laziness, people dumping their oversize garbage on the ditch. At least people are mouthing off about it - right on ditch people!

Wingless

A wing placed in the crook of a tree....I have made it a rule never to arrange touch or change anything I come across on my ambles. I would have liked to move this to get better light (can't take the composer out of the artist easily) but so be it.
I think its fascinating how a passerby see's something and innately wants to "place it" tack it up, make an offering, of even the smallest things. I like capturing these mini moments we all have.

Put poop here!

There are three places where some helpful neighbors have made these stations. This is my favorite one, Its very clear. The only thing that is weird (and I will document this latter) is that some people bag their doggy's business and then leave it on the trail. Who do they think is going to come by and pick that up? Even odder some how it does disappear?

Goose bumps

It is an exciting day...I think Jackson has a spring in his step, we want to hurry and watch the inauguration today so its going to be a quick and dirty walk. I love this part of the trail and on this crisp clear day the eves of the tree's seem to anticipate my good mood.

Support!

You know you live in a progressive community when the end the war posters start getting more specific!

End of the Road

At the end of the lateral and Matthew sits this old Ford, it has a lovely patina...I wonder how long it has sat here staring down all the south travelers on this path?

Have you seen Rufi?

Always sad to see a new lost dog poster go up - I see quite a few dogs running loose on the ditch, a few I know. I recognize the Shepard with half a tale, he's pretty smart and seems to navigate crossings. But seeing the posters always makes me think how I would feel if Jackson got out. So here is my public service announcement for Rufi - I hope he makes it home for dinner tonight.

Tree nail lizard

I remember when this tree got its limb amputated after those awful storms, it was about 5 years ago. When the limb was cut someone made this nail art. Its been cool to watch it rust, notice they never finished its front toes!

Don't just walk your dog...drive him!

Okay - so people are not supposed to drive on these paths - actually we are not even supposed to walk here but lets not get technical about it. So when most of us pedestrians especially with dogs and leashes see a car driving and kicking up dust and taking up all the room coming our way, we usually send the stink eye upon them. So today I see a car coming towards us super slowly. Then the driver's side door opens and I see 4 brown legs walking behind the door - I peak around and see a large lab like dog walking behind the door quite happily. I say "Is that your dog"? I get a grumpy wave off from the driver...and I realize he's walking his dog, from his car! I was in shock and didn't get a very good picture but if you look down the road, there's the proof!

Hey - you forgot your socks!

Seems like an odd thing to leave behind, but in case they are yours - west Rio Grand ditch around the Camino compound...

My view from the end of the leash

Most dog walkers know this shot. This is on our ditch going South - We are coming up to the horse and pony farm and Jackson is eager to get going. Its a very cold morning, 26 degree's that's cold for Albuquerque. But Jackson has his sweater and I my hat.

Freezing waters

I love the patterns the ice has been making in the ditches this winter.The strange weather patterns of too warm days followed by extremely cold days has made these strange Zen garden ripples throughout. If only it wasn't a symptom of the climate muddle. But what do I know...it could just be frozen.

Ditch Descanso

“DESCANSO'S show death as an actual event that arrives for a particular person, at a particular place, at a particular time”. The banks of the ditch here are very steep, was it a drowning, a car plowing down in? Morbid curiosity always arises but also brings a opportunity to reflect and ponder...what will mark our own passing?

Spider Garden

We have a pretty good size vegetable garden ourselves, but every year they get this up and running and I get garden envy, they have better light. I see only one older gentleman working it and it usually has a high yield. This is a lot of labor of love...It reminds me we need to start the seedlings.

Neighbors Farm

On the lateral going north there is this farmer with goats and sheep. Its always peculiar how we will stop and the goats ever so curious always come up close - probably other walkers offer goodies of carrots and candy bars...but Jackson does regale them in a doggy howdy-do and bow.

O Coffee Can, What Art Thou?

We moved down here 5 years ago, out our backyard to the first walk on the ditch yielded this lovely view. Why does it hang from that old cottonwood, was it a pulley for sandwiches, a bucket for pulling water from the ditch? It moves in the wind now like a metronome ticking off time.

Rio Grande Canal - South

Today the sun was out and we felt like going across the street to the larger ditch. There are not many trees growing on the west side of the ditch and the two we saw look like they don't have long for this world, the Beaver's seem hard at work to bring them down. We saw two bunny's and also heard what we think was a Ring-Necked Pheasant. I give this walk 3 paws out of 5.

Lost on the trail

January 6 is the day some call Epiphany
Appropriate for my first entry - "the sudden realization of the essence or meaning of something". I just haven't figured out what that something is.
Today we found someone's cell phone case hung on a branch like an ornament. This is local dog walking etiquette, the hanging of lost items. I have seen gloves, keys, other doohickeys. This is a first its cute, a Gucci knock off with paws. This was on what I will call the lateral ditch.