THEME: HERO (Post #62; Day #59)

THEME: TEXTURED (Post #61; Day #58)

This is the side of one of the white blocks in the memorial below. I loved the texture.

THEME: ARRANGED (Post #60; Day #58)

These carefully arranged blocks make up a station called "The Fallen Friend."

THEME: EMOTIONAL (Post #59; Day #57)

My Dad was in the Navy during both WWII and Korea. I felt an emotional tug when I stood before this, the Navy uniform (see yesterday's post). For some reason, those empty shoes were especially touching. Our generation had big shoes to fill, coming along behind the "Greatest Generation."

THEME: REMEMBRANCE (Post #58; Day #57)

I stopped at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial yesterday. I was alone there, and the sky's powder blue was beginning to cloud over. I was almost overwhelmed with emotion as I stopped and considered each of the stations.

This one is in honor of the five branches of service: U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. On the outer edge of the circle are five bronzed uniforms, one for each of the branches. Each uniform "hangs" on a hanger, with the hat placed above and the shoes beneath.

THEME: OVERCAST (Post #57: Day #56)

There aren't many overcast days here, but this afternoon the clouds moved in.

THEME: CIRCULAR (Post #56; Day #56)

THEME: STOREFRONT (Post # 55; Day #56)

Our local Apple Store. In case it's not clear -- I think those are silver balloons in the window, on the floor. You can see one of them "floating" above, with an Apple MacBook Air tied to it. The idea, I guess, is that the Air is so light that a balloon can carry it away. Cute.

THEME: FENCE (Post #54; Day #51)

THEME: LEADING LINES (Post # 53; Day #51)

Los Poblanos Lavender Fields, with rows of lavender leading the eye eastward. Later in the year, these gray-green plants will bloom and the field will be filled with the color and scent of lavender.

THEME: FLUFFY (Post #52: Day #51)

THEME: ON A FARM (Post #51; Day #50)

THEME: DEPTH OF FIELD (Post #50; Day #50)

THEME: IN THE CITY (Post #49: Day #50)

Looking down Central Ave., which was the old Route 66, running through Albuquerque.

THEME: TRACTOR (Post #48; Day #50)

THEME: REPEATING PATTERNS (Post #47: Day #50)

THEME: EMPTY (Post #46; Day #44)

Empty swings. Empty park. Even the trash cans are empty.

THEME: ART (Post # 45; Day #43)

Coming upon this from the back side, it appeared to be just a huge chunk of nondescript rock, but after walking around to this side, I saw that it was a man's HEAD lying face-up on the concrete! At the brow, it was 6 to 7 feet tall. I wasn't sure whether to use this photo for the ART theme or the ODDITY theme, but decided that the sculptor would rather have me call it art.

THEME: WILD (Post #44; Day #43)

The sandhill cranes winter in Albuquerque every year. The birds in this particular flock were smaller than typical -- young ones, I guess.

THEME: STATUE (Post #43; Day #42)

THEME: METALLIC (Post #42; Day #42)

A metallic sculpture outside the downtown library.

THEME: BENEATH (Post #41; Day #42)

THEME: ARCHITECTURE (Post #40; Day #42)

THEME: PRICKLY (Post #39; Day #42)

THEME: RELIGION (Post #38; Day #35)

The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is tucked away among the shops of historic Old Town Albuquerque. It is said to be the smallest church building in Albuquerque. Despite its obvious Catholic character, it was originally intended as an all-faiths chapel for artists seeking a spot for relaxation and reflection. It is open 24 hours a day, every day.

THEME: DAYBREAK (Post #37; Day #35)

THEME: WINTER (Post #36; Day #32)

Winter arrived in Albuquerque last night. Having previously lived in Alaska, I can understand why most of you think this shot of our back yard hardly qualifies as "winter," but what you don't see are the roads, coated in a solid sheet of ice. The city is not equipped with much snow equipment, so driving is tricky. My normal 20 to 25 minute commute took more like an hour and a half, only to find that my workplace was closed because of inclement weather, so I had to get right back on the roads to return home. Got home two hours and 45 minutes after leaving. Should never have left!