Saturday, October 27, 2012

Wedding Day for My Daughter, Mary

Today is the Day!  Mary and Matt are getting married!


We've been very busy entertaining all week.  We've had so many out-of-town guests this past week, it's been wonderful although it's been hard for me to remember everyone's name!

Amanda and Ron


Alan, Tracy and Jeanne

Cousin Tracy and sister Amanda

Mary's Step-Father, Ron and Uncle Alan

Mary's Step-Mother,Blanca  (or Bonus Mother, as she likes to say) and her father, Mark

Mary, Matt's Mom and Dad (Bill and Carole), and Matt


Matt's sisters, Sherry and Pam, and Niece Melissa




John and Sherry, Matt's Brother-in-law and sister.



Bill with Brian, Pam's SO



The guys enjoying some cigars and scotch



Celebrating Bill and Carole's 50th Wedding Anniversary

The bride and her bride's maids on top of Sandia

Melissa, Amanda, Adrienne, Mary, Marissa, Ashley and Lauren


Blanca, enjoying the view



Dinner in the High Finance Restaurant

Mary and her Bonus Mom, Blanca

Carole (Matt's Mom) with daughter, Pam

Ashley, Amanda, and Mary


Mary having a blast at her Batchelorette Party



Getting ready for the Big Event



The Groom looking especially radiant

The Marriage Ceremony with Father Raney

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. - Mary gives a cheer

Bride, Groom, and the Mothers and Fathers shared dinner together

Friends and relatives share the joy

Walt and Linda, my neighbors, were there.  Linda made each of the bridesmaids and the bride earrings for the occasion

The reception in the Fireplace Room of the Hotel Albuquerque


Romantic candlelights

Step-mother Blanca and Mary's Father, Mark

My happy daughter and her husband

 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Tuck it in for Winter

I love October, when the fall colors spread through the mountainscape and we begin to tuck ourselves in for the Winter.  Today we got a thunder shower.  Early, before the first light, I heard the rumble of thunder, followed by a hard rainfall.  Flashes of light electrified the dawn.  I decide I must go outside to see what the final days of warm weather look like before the winter snowfall arrives later this month.
The rain storm over the Sandia Mountains to the west

One Seed Juniper lifts its boughs toward the rain

Pinon trees soaking up each drop of rain

These are the last days of glory for the Blanket Flowers

The Rock Moss bravely blooms just a few days more

The last of the tomatoes will have to be picked green in the next week or so...

...before a frost turns them black and inedible


Soon the cold white drifts of snow will fall on my backyard pathways...


...and the scrubby oaks lose their leaves.

My roses still bloom as if in defiance of the approaching season

Bright yellow and red marigolds thrive in this season

The Holly berries have turned bright red


The Texas Autumn Sage is at it's peak

Quan Yin offers quiet serenity to this garden soon to be covered in a shroud of whiteness


The water barrels are filled with precious fluid

The wild grasses sow their life-giving seed for next Spring

The scrubby forest and yucca landscape brace themselves for the harsh winter winds


The beautiful porch geraniums will soon be shuttered inside to protect them from the winter chill


Sunflowers offer their last smiling faces
















Trees burst forth
in yellow hue,
flower petals
drink in the dew.
'Tis the season
they call the "shoulder",
wedged between
hot and colder.
Look upon these flowers tender,
now get to work -
and tuck it in for winter!