I'm BACK!

Hello everyone!

My poor little blog here sort of got left in the dust this last year. It's been a crazy year, but since Dade is now out of school for the Summer, I've decided to dedicate more time to this travelog. My Mom and I have planned out some new trips to take and I'm excited to be able to update this blog once more.

Stay tuned!

Wendi

High Rolls, New Mexico

25 miles above the sprawling landscape of Alamogordo, NM, sits High Rolls nestled in the mountains. A small, quiet village known for it's cherry and apple orchards and gorgeous mountain living. I can trace my ancestry (father's side) back to a tiny fruit stand that still stands on the side of the highway to this day. As my children ran around in the dead leaves next to the fruit stand, I realized they were the 4th generation to play in that spot.

(Please click on pictures for full size image)

The family fruit stand.



Another old fruit stand.










One of the oldest buildings in High Rolls. Most likely an old bar or general store.



I have an interesting story about this next building. From the front, it seems perfectly quiet and quaint, all while still mysterious. I think it was once an old store. As I walked around back, I got the most uneasy feeling I've ever had next to a building. (And I've been around some creepy places in my life, even as a little girl.) Nothing has bothered me as much as being next to this building. I felt uneasy and didn't want to get closer to the back portion than I had to. Almost like someone or something was watching me. SO creepy!

Front


Back- it still kinda creeps me out.

Magdalena, New Mexico- haunting and amazing

Roughly an hour and 1/2 south of Albuquerque, lies the sleepy town of Magdalena, NM, teeming with history. Established in 1884, Magdalena was once a bustling, wealthy rail town, which supported mining communities such as Kelly, New Mexico on it's outskirts. Sadly Magdalena peaked in 1925. Many amazing buildings still remain within the small community which is nestled below the Magdalena Peak. My friend and I happened into town after a pretty good snow storm, and was able to catch some amazing shots of snow on the mountains, as well, as the town itself. We were unable to access Kelly, as the road had not been plowed, so we missed out on one of the most amazing old cemeteries in the state. (I visited as a kid.) So, it's my mission to one day go back and photograph Kelly. Magdalena did have a seriously impressive cemetery however.

I will let the photo's speak for themselves.



Magdalena Peak


Leaving town


I thought the children"s section of the current library was hauntingly beautiful.

 
 

A house with a fence. Old Town: Albuquerque, NM

A house, a lonley road.. Nestled in the new, is the old.

No words- just beauty

Enjoy some photo's from the day in Alamogordo that I fancied up just a little. It's amazing how easy it is to photograph normal things and make them look fantastic.


The railroad to?




Old sawmill kiln no longer in operation


Action shot!

Monte Vista Cemetery- Alamogordo, New Mexico

Nestled close to the Sacramento Mountains in Alamogordo, is the Monte Vista Cemetery and also the final resting place for my Dad, Sam Pilgreen.



This cemetery is hauntingly beautiful in that it's a very, very old cemetery. There is an older section to this final resting ground secluded from "general population" where the gravestones date back to the early 1800's late 1700's. I could not find an exact date this cemetary was established, but a quick run to the local library today should do the trick.

Some gravestones in the eerie older section of this cemetery have no markings, just  lonely small gravestones from years ago. Weathered from age, story-less, and alone. I find this truly disturbing. Luckily the cemetery is kept clear of debris and trash. It's a true step back in time when gazing upon this section of the cemetery.

La Luz, New Mexico- Artsy and Rustic

Immediately North of Alamogordo, New Mexico (where my Mom resides) lies a teeny rustic community nestled in the Tularosa basin, called La Luz. A small town where one lane roads criss-cross and intersect and take you back somewhere in time. I can only imagine the history of this small village that contains an old village plaza, houses and barns set back behind huge cottonwood trees, original gates and fences made of wood, and a creek used as an aqueduct system that runs down the side of Water Road from the mountains.

Rustic and serene, an artist's paradise, La Luz feels and breathes peace and quiet. The large trees sway in the breeze of the crisp Winter day, lazily releasing their dried leaves of gold to the ground and across streets. Truly and amazing step back in time this peaceful town is.





La Luz, New Mexico is located approximately 10 miles North of Alamogordo, New Mexico, just south of Tularosa. La Luz was established around 1864 (though there is some dispute over this) and was part of Mexico until 1848. La Luz is currently mostly residential and agricultural.

I urge you to visit La Luz and take a special trip down Water Road where time seems to stand still.

Thanks for reading!