Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for August 2008.
Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for August 2008.

What's going on on the Santa Fe Plaza this early evening?

One of the seasonal music nights in the Bandstand series......
We're off to just one of many nights we have enjoyed this plaza scene......
It's one of the times the local folks get out to enjoy their town.....
Why is the conventional wisdom that white folks can't dance........
A romantic interlude...........no, that's NOT Tim Thompson....

And a good time was had by all!
Wait---who's this guy?
Oh, it's just another evening on the plaza. (photo courtesy of Terry England)
These guys are heralds inviting people to enjoy their family circus..........
Part of the circus show........and a good time was had by all!

Welcome to the "Dog Days" of summer.....
When the bounty of the summer garden comes to fruition....
Like the "golden rain" on the Golden Rain Tree.....

And the final days of the stately delphinium.....
The garden presents so many "pretty faces" looking up to the sun....
And lush spots for moments of reflection....
Little Mei Toy frolics under a canopy of green....
And enjoys days to remember in the cold and desolation of winter...

A lovely Lilly....
And reliable phlox....
Who's the fairest of them all?........
Early evening shadows....
And cheerful bouquets.....

Our happy refuge for man and beast.....
Did I say "beast"?.....
Beware the cat!.....
They are soooo menacing......
We hope your late summer days are also full of peace and beauty!

Waymon came by today for a special reason because....

Today we had a treat!--a visit from long-time friends, Trent and Jo......

Jo relates the travails of the past year--she had both hips replaced over the winter, then went of vacation and broke her arm....
Dwight is delighted to see his old friends....
"Lunch, anyone?"
Very spirited luncheon repartee...
And lot of reminiscing about high school days and good times in Albuquerque....

It's a great way to spend a summer afternoon...
Oooops, repeat--I've got to quit doing this.
Waymon and Jo discuss existential phenomenology.....
Our new fountain is set up and ready for service...
The patio plants seem to be enjoying the season just as much as we are.

I've got hope!! And now I'll be volunteering on a weekly basis at the Obama Headquarters in Santa Fe...........

Today was the opening day for the headquarters--it was a huge success!!--an over-flow crowd and 356 volunteers signed up!
Some inspirational eats...........
Some interesting regalia.....
And lots of political banter....
Now, even the goddess Diana has hope!

Hi Yani, Meet "Patas" our only baby Flamingo this year. He has had a very rough start. We had two adult Flamingos killed this year by preditors (raccoons, we think) so when he was just an egg we put him into an incubator because we had to bring in the birds at night. . When he hatched, he had an air sac problem and kept blowing up like a balloon. We had to deflate him daily, pulling out air from under his skin with a needle and syringe. But he made it and seems to be doing okay. We can't put him back with the flock because all of the pairs will want him to be their baby and fight over him, leaving him in harm's way. Isn't he the ugliest but cutest?