Today we decided to do some plein air drawing/painting despite the 30 mph winds that have been howling nonstop for 2 days. Our primary target was the Chama River canyon that begins just below Abiquiu Lake. It is pretty to look at and away from the madding crowd. We did manage to do some drawing despite the winds.
The wind finally forced us to retreat to Bode’s Store in Abiquiu for a few supplies. Then we decided to visit Dar al Islam, a mosque out in the desert. The mosque itself was closed, but it sits on land called Plaza Blanca. The white cliffs of Plaza Blanco were popular subjects for Georgia O’Keefe. We have seen several of her paintings of these formations. We will return for some drawing/painting out there on a less windy day.
An added bonus at Plaza Blanco was to find the desert in bloom. We were in this area 15 years ago. painting with Jane Shoenfeld at Ghost Ranch, at the same time and saw the bloom. Desert flowers are remarkable.
Paul
Travels With Picasso 
Awesome photos!! Thanks.
The desert in bloom; this is perhaps an extraordinary bonus. I do remember probably as a teenager, perhaps even as a teeny-bopper, a film that came out of the Disney studios. It was an extraordinary documentary called in French something like “Le Désert Vivant”. It may have been a very similar title in English or perhaps something entirely different yet. Whatever be the case, it had exquisite pictures of the desert, of plants and animals living there. Remember, this was a time when TV was not fully what it has become. Perhaps I have embellished it as time has passed; it is possible.
I am about to spend my last night in my house in DC where the weather is almost outright cold and certainly unseasonable for a month of may here in the other Washington.
I am glad that you took advantage of your surroundings to go to the drawing board. WOnderful. I am looking forward to discovering what you came up with.
Meanwhile, I am sending you a hug.
Enjoy your last night in Chez Dumont DC.
Yes, I will soon post some of my meager attempts at duplicating the astounding landscape around us.