This is a view of the mountains from our back porch, taken in February 1999, when the leaves were off the trees and the snow hung heavy on the mountains.

An old Chevy, parked outside an equally old and dilapidated building along the Rim Road, in Arroyo Seco. This was taken not too far from Julia Roberts' house in the summer of 2000; for all I know, it's part of a movie set ...

If you didn't know better, you might think you were in Vermont or New Hampshire. But this is early fall in northern New Mexico, along the road that leads past our house and up to the Taos Ski Valley.

A view from the next-door neighbor's meadow of Wheeler Peak in early fall of 2000, just as the aspen and birch trees are changing to shades of gold and orange.

Another view from the road that runs past our house — this time looking south, toward Taos.

This was taken in the early evening, around 8:00 PM, on the evening of June 1, 2001 — from Highway 150 as it approaches the village of Arroyo Seco. In the background is Wheeler Peak.

Same area, same time — an old deserted shed, or perhaps a shepherd's cottage, nestled under some cottonwood trees.

The farmer next door herds these sheep up the dirt road each morning, past our house and into the far meadow. They were here one evening at sunset, waiting patiently to be herded back down to the lower meadow, happily nibbling at the abundant supply fresh, green grass.

Technical data: photographed on June 1, 2001 at 8:08 PM at 1/40th second exposure at f2.9 aperture, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

A mountain stream runs along the dirt road that leads from our house down to the main road; because of the constant irrigation, there are cat-o-nine tails growing in lush profusion.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/270th second exposure at f3.9 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

Walking north along highway 150, toward the Taos Skill village, there are zillions of sunflowers along the road. These two were nestled nicely beside a fencepost.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/511th second exposure at f4.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

A close-up of the same picture, slightly cropped and digitally manipulated ...

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/649th second exposure at f4.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

More sunflowers, out in the field beside the highway.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/684th second exposure at f4.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

I don't know what these small purple flowers are, but they're everywhere along the road. They're only about a foot high, despite the illusion created by this picture — which was created by my taking the picture from ground level, toward the mountains in the background.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/206th second exposure at f7.8 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

At this time of late summer, this is the way one would expect the countryside to look. I'm not sure why the field of grass in the background had faded into a soft tan, but everything else is a lush green.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/174th second exposure at f10.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

This is simply an old, falling-down shack sitting quietly along the "Rim Road" that leads up to the Taos Ski Village.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/165th second exposure at f8 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

This was taken from the Rim Road, about a quarter-mile away from Julia Roberts' house, looking up the ravine that leads up to the Taos Ski Village. A peaceful stream meanders down from the ski village, carving much of the canyon, and proceeds west and south until it reaches the Rio Grande a few miles away.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/197th second exposure at f7.8 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

More of the purple flowers, filling an entire meadow beside the road.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/342nd of a second exposure at f4.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.

At the end of an afternoon walk, here are the same cat-o-nine tails, taken from a closer position.

Technical data: photographed on August 23, 2001 at 1/60th second exposure at f9.2 aperature, with a Nikon Coolpix 880 camera.