Fall 2012

The arrival of fall in the high desert of New Mexico happens pretty suddenly.  One day it's mid-90 degrees during the day and in the 70's at night, the next it's only in the low 80's during the day and the 50's at night.  Like last week when there were two record lows recorded for that date in history.

The humans went on Sunday to one of the harbingers of fall---a hot air balloon festival.  This one was at White Sands National Monument, long professed by them as one of their favorite places.  From the pictures, it must have been very cool.

balloons rising above a dune

up up and away.....

just cruisin'

a baloon shaped like an airplane

Smokey the Bear was there

alomg wih a cheeky, winking Klingon Kat

The humans left at 5:30 in the morning---we slept in in the Nargle.  Balloons are cool but we'll wait until they lift off closer at a more accomodating hour.

Another sign of fall is their increased activity which usually means we get more time in the Nargle to train for assaults on the Klingon Kats.  Recently they went to the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park for a show about animals in the park.  You can see those videos here.  Our favorite is the javelina because Dweezil sort of loks like one, all the wiry hair......

Dweezil

But the most reliable portent of autumn is the behavior of the chihuahuas.  These little Southwestern natives have been insisting on getting under the covers on the bed or the afghan on the sofa.  As Anton Chico demonstrates, it doesn't take very cold temps for them to need their blankies....

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