Twelve Wonders of Wonderland

Into the Clouds, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Blanket of Snow, San Francisco de Asis Ranchos de Taos, NM

Taos Tipis, Llano Quemado, NM

Canal y Hielo, Martinez Hacienda, Taos, NM

When snow falls in El Norte a quiet mystery cloaks the land and a white blanket clings to all it touches. Clouds billow in the western sky bringing grandeur to the piñon, juniper and sage desert at 7,000 feet. When we wake up to fresh snow we have a bounty of nearby locations to revel in silent white. Taos Junction, the Rio Grande Gorge, the Taos Plateau, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and the towering Sangre de Cristos are our backyard. And Spanish Colonial masterpieces like the Martinez Hacienda and iconic Ranchos Church are a stone’s throw from Casa Immel.

Alpha Cloud, Ranchos de Taos, NM

Ruedas Turquesas, Ranchos de Taos, NM

Adobe at Ranchos Plaza, Ranchos de Taos, NM

Brush Strokes, La Morada de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Taos, NM

As I began this tale, I had the title Wonderland in mind. Then I considered Blanket of Snow and Adobe and Snow before arriving back at Wonderland which allows more breadth. In my article for the upcoming Shadow and Light I wrote that “I won’t know where I’ll a hang my hat till I’ve written more words and contemplated candidates for this leaner story.” By leaner I meant more focused. The hell with that. I continued, “Sometimes the words lead me where they want me to go.” Such was the case with Wonderland.

Inky Shadows, Valles Caldera, NM

Long Shadow, US 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla, NM

Dots and Dashes, Ranchos Church, Ranchos de Taos, NM

Here lies Bernardo Salazar, Valdez, NM

These are the images that will likely be part of Wonderland. It’s more than I usually post and for sure more than you need or want to see. But you’ve suffered through too many weeks of sorting contenders and deserve to see the 12 survivors. Publisher Tim Anderson typically uses ten images. Here are twelve.