Mesas to plains

We made it into ABQ on Saturday after an incredibly bumpy 45 minute flight. My husband gripped the seat in front of him and after we made it on ground he told me it was the worse flight he had ever been on.

After kissing the red dirt we made it down to Old town and walked around. The majority of the shops had already shuttered for the day. I took in the evening sunset while snapping pictures of businesses proudly displaying old dried Chile peppers that swayed in the slightest breeze. 

Sunday- 

My grandfather turned 90 years old, which earned him a visit from all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren including me... the youngest grandchild of 5. We drove 4hrs from Albuquerque to Amarillo, TX for a short but wonderful visit. 

On the way back to Albuquerque we stopped by Cadillac Ranch off of rte 40. I’ve been here numerous times over the years. It’s always different, which keeps it exciting. 

Something wonderful about driving is the scenery change. Albuquerque is snug between tall mountains, which you climb out of into wide spaces filled with mesas and bush land. The future east you go until you make it into the Texas state line you are met with golden fields of dried grasslands specked with the occasional cow or horse. You truly know you’ve made it into the panhandle, because it’s flat, wide open space and you can see for miles. An ocean of land filled full of emptiness with lots of giant wind turbines. 

Here’s some watercolor sketches from today.