Saguaro National Park, Arizona

I tried to make friends with this Saguaro Cactus, but he was a bit prickly.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Don't often associate cacti with waterfalls, but there it is. At least for a day or two!

Tombstone, Arizona

Heading to the OK Corral with new friends Morgan, Doc, Virgil, and Wyatt!

Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, Arizona

Snow geese, sandhill cranes, and wood ducks are just a few of the bird species that, like some humans, winter in beautiful southern Arizona.

Benson, Arizona

There's a "museum" in southern Arizona that makes the case that aliens have steered the course of earth's history, from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the rise and fall of empires to modern day events. We were skeptical, but they do have an alien body in a dimly lit cave, so maybe...

West Turkey Creek Valley, Arizona

Ringo's grave, but no tarnished star.*

*see the song "Ringo" by Lorne Greene - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-rsTAD0B78

Very Large Array, New Mexico

On a remote plateau, twenty seven huge radio telescopes work together to explore the far reaches of space. They are called The Very Large Array, a name that somehow seems uninspired for such an impressive accomplishment!

Santa Fe, New Mexico

When the Loretto Chapel was nearing completion in the 1870s, a mysterious stranger appeared in response to prayers and built this spiral staircase with no assistance. This "miracle" staircase contains no nails, glue or hardware, and it has no center column or support beams. The stranger completed the work and then disappeared without being paid. The original structure had no railings, but they were added a few years later after the staircase was, understandably, deemed too scary to use without them.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Meow Wolf is sort of a mystery, sci-fi, immersive art exhibit. You start in an odd house where almost everything (fireplace, fridge, closet, etc.) leads you elsewhere. This dryer goes to a portal through space and time. Yes, we did go through it, and that's when things started to get weird!

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Snowy morning!

Los Alamos, New Mexico

 

View of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from the Kwage Mesa Trail.

Pecos National Historical Park, New Mexico

 

Beautiful day for a winter walk among the ruins of the Pecos Pueblo, some dating back almost 900 years. 

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

One of the most popular scuba diving locations in the US is in, of all places, New Mexico. The Blue Hole looks small, but it's deep with a series of underwater caves. It's also a constant 62 degrees, so it was steaming on a frigid morning!

Lubbock, Texas

The American Windmill Museum has hundreds of windmills from the 1800s to present day. I was blown away!

Lubbock, Texas

I just can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched.

Lubbock, Texas

The National Ranching Heritage Center has a huge collection of branding irons. Ouch!

Lubbock, Texas

Prairie Dog letting us know that the chance of being attacked by a prairie dog is low, but never zero.

Abilene, Texas

Ruins of a hospital at once-thriving Fort Phantom Hill, one of the many Texas forts built in the mid-1800s as settlers moved west.

Abilene, Texas

Horton and KC Hear a Who! Abilene calls itself the Storybook Capital of America, and downtown is populated with sculptures from children's books.