Adorable Alpacas and an Assortment of Animals!

 When we first signed up with Harvest Host 
I wanted to stay on an Alpaca farm.
 Near Durango, Colorado we found one 
 and it was fantastic!

35 acres with over 70 Alpacas.

They were just sheared last week. 

Very curious and cute.

This one doesn't look so happy.

There were lots of animals on the farm including 

this African Spur Tortoise who was very active 

and he loved eating his banana. 

Several babies.

It was a great time to experiment with some night

 photography for two reasons. One, I was still awake 

and two, her farm is miles away from other light sources. 

Scott stayed up and saw the Milky Way!

From Durango we headed to another one of our favorite

locations to stay, Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument

 just north of Taos, New Mexico. 

We have been here several times and have never 

seen the Big Horn Sheep. 

Here are a few that visited us in the early morning. 

And then later in the afternoon, two more surprised 

us by coming up from the gorge side 

which is only a few feet from our picnic table!

After a nice visit in Taos, New Mexico with Skye

 we headed to Cochiti Lake in Pena Blance, NM

and stayed at the campground for several days. 

These are my first lightning photos, 

which I am so excited about, because it is hard 

to do without special equipment.

We spent a day in Santa Fe and went to the

 farmers market. Caramel Pinon Nut ice cream

 was fabulous along with a pastry that we split!

 Also picked up a sage stick with dried flowers 

because we love the smell of sage.

 You can't get away from it in New Mexico. 

 

In Albuquerque we went to the Anderson Abruzzo 

Balloon Museum but the most interesting thing was the 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 

It is a must see if you ever go to Albuquerque!

If you have followed us for a while, 

you may remember that we went 

to the Santo Domingo Pueble Feast Day in NM

 but you are not allowed to take photos. 

At the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center they had

 a dance at 11:00 am and photos were allowed

because these are not ceremonial dances. 

Corn Dance performed by

 the Kallestewa Dance Group (Zuni).

Rainbow Dance because they know the importance of rain. 

Deer Dance because they are thankful

 for a good hunting season. 

The leader of the group was so pleased that his 

son wanted to be taught the traditional dances.  

They go around to schools, 

and many places to keep their traditions alive. 

What a treat!!