Desert Photos - Bringing the Southwest to the World

There was a trio of scare crows, the blustery fall wind, dried leaves, and moldy pumpkins it seemed like a normal late fall day in any small country town. But it was not a normal day and it was not a small country town. It was 2012 Relay for Life kick off festival at the beach band shell in Carlsbad NM.

In a little town on a quiet street there were home town businesses and a beautiful courthouse with a lovely green lawn and dozens of rose bushes filled with color.

The towns people would wander through the streets and shop the local stores. Talking with their neighbors, sharing memories and plans for the future.

All was well in this town. Peaceful and quiet. Until one fall night when the evening turned chilly and the lights flickered. Then as the shop owners watched from behind glass, the streets filled with ghost, goblins, witches and ladybugs? Hundreds and hundreds of little creatures with bags and tubs, hands stretched out all of them echoing the chant from their world “Trick or Treat, Trick or treat.” The shop owner, frightened and weary of what could happen answered the chant with the only thing that would subdue the little beasties…..SUGAR!!!!!!!!!!!

For hours the shop owners fill the bags and tubs of the invaders. Hoping beyond hope that by giving them what they want no harm would come to the town.

Awww Fall. Crisp mornings, changing of the leaves, pumpkins in the yard, and the Rocky mountains on Alameda st?
This is what you see when you go to the Third Annual Fall A Palooza. This was a day of fun and laughter, games and prizes, faith and sharing. A number of local churches got together to put on this event to help kick off the fall holidays.

Not only fun but a chance to learn some valuable safety tips. That was the plan behind Nana’s Fire and Safety Festival. This is a goal that was accomplished this weekend at the Sheriff Posse grounds in Carlsbad NM.
Firemen, police officers, city officials, as well as many of the groups in town whose purpose is to enable the general public in living safer in our community, came out to teach and share with their neighbors.
But the day was not all lectures and lessons. The day was filled with games and laughter, mud volleyball, dunk tanks and Elvis?

Quietly under the radar there is a group in our community that has been helping those who need it the most. To assist those in the community that might be overlooked and the tireless groups that try to make a difference.
But who is this group of caring individuals? Well here are a few hints the rumble of motorcycles, huge hearts, a quiet respect and the courage to be themselves and do what is right. That is what you get when you talk about the Brotherhood of the 74 Annual food drive. The goal is to benefit the Community Kitchen.

Zoom in to SouthEast New Mexico, closer still to Carlsbad make the shot just a little tighter to St. Peter's Lutheran Church on Pierce St.
Date October 8, 2011
Time: Bright and early Mountain Standard Time
A Tractor trailer arrives with precious cargo. As the truck backs into a space… even more precious cargo climbs out of the vehicles parked around the area. They arrive in sweat pants and shorts, Tee shirts and tank tops. But most importantly they arrive with a purpose. To GET THOSE PUMPKINS OFF THAT TRUCK.
A group of eager pumpkin handlers climb up through the now open doors of the trailer, prepared to start the transfer. Those remaining on the ground quickly form lines to carry those pumpkins to their temporary home on the lawn of the Church, before the final transport to homes all across the Carlsbad region.

From the destruction of fire to the rebirth after a gentle rain. All around us we see the steep slopes, the breathtaking vistas, natural beauty of nature's own, right down to a ranch family moving their herd. The trip to Dog canyon gives one a small sense of the grandeur of southeast New Mexico, what we jokingly call New Mexico's Dixie. Even the hummingbirds delight at the Store and dinner in Queen. The world around us changes every day.

Just like every year the Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition, all their volunteers, all the Hosts, the Permian Basin Regional Training Center, Devon Energy Corporation, Cavern City Runners and so many others helped to put on two great evenings of fun, education, and fellowship. We at Desert Photos were very proud to play a small part in this event and hope to share with you the event with our photos.
Fun Run 1 | Fun Run 2
Parties 1 | Parties 2

From Cavern City Runners

National Night Out Fun Run sponsored by the Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition in partnership with the Cavern City Running Club

The year, 1961. The place, a small town in New Mexico’s Dixie. Loving New Mexico, a place that would come to be know as the First Home of the Western Commerce Bank.

This year, thanks to the vision and guts of a few people who saw a need and went out and took the risk, Western Commerce Bank celebrates 50 years of service to New Mexico.

A romantic night by the glow of the camp fire, the snap of the logs, the warmth on your face…

WAIT A MINUTE...

That is not a camp fire…

The Loop the loop the loop is on fire.

This summer has been crazy for the wildfires. We did what we could and got as close as possible so that our friends in the mid west and north can see our fires and maybe get a little warmth in their wet and cold places. We do wish though that they would send those wet and cool conditions.
Fire Photos

The sun was shining the kids were on the bikes laughing. The adults were in the shade talking. Sounds like the perfect saturday afternoon.
Now add in police, paperwork, and instructions. It changes the image to something no one wants to think about.
Fortunately for the people of carlsbad it was an instructional day for the children so that nightmare image does not happen.
Thanks to walmart and the carlsbad police the children were able to attends the bicycle-scooter rodeo. Now these children are educated in how to safety ride their bikes on the city streets.

Chili Cook-off

The sun shone hot on the Pecos River and the Pecos River village was even hotter. With spatulas in hand 14 cooks stood over simmering meat and spices that would make a grown man cry. All grown men not just the wimpy ones. These cooks were waiting, waiting for that moment when the first of the crowd approached in trepidation, for the one brave soul to step up and say “Here Chili Cook is my Cup for I am brave enough to try your unearthly concoction.”
For hours the cooking teams served to those brave souls. For hours the teams made those around them aware of their skills. For hours you could hear “Remember this number when you cast your ballet” Much like a political race we saw the heat and the ballots. Until what moment when finally the ballots were cast and the votes were in and we had no hanging chards.
The team to take home the gold, ok really there was no gold but they got a really cool plaque, is MOSAIC POTASH.
So until next year when the cookers and the spatulas come out again, train your pallets and test those chili and prepare for (dunt dunt dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn) CHILI COOK OFF 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
camera 1
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cooks

Helicopter Rides

Car Show

When the people of Carlsbad New Mexico talk about Extreme things, they talk about the extreme Wind, they talk about the extreme heat, and they talk about the extreme drought. Well as of today, May 6 2011, they can add one more thing to their list. That would be the Extreme Relay for Life that we all were just a part of.
100 Teams, the most teams ever for Carlsbad, 2600 luminaries and the best number yet 240 survivors.

People talk about making this spinning blue ball we call home a better place for the future. The best way to do this is get up and volunteer to take that one step forward. It is happening in Carlsbad and so many other communities all around this great country.

Today, thanks to a group of locals, Carlsbad is a little better. The city is a little less hazardous for the Children. No problem goes away over night but with the push of willing hearts and drive for a better tomorrow there is a difference being made.

The music was pumpin, the kids were jumpin, the breeze was blowin, and happiness flowing. All of this took place at the first annual Spring Fling at the beach bandshell in Carlsbad on March 19,2011.
Laughter and chatter echoed along the river as family’s enjoyed the kick off to a safe Spring break. From the Jumpy houses to the DWI driving course there was fun for everyone.
The community at large contributed to the enjoyment of the day. Everyone showed up to support the general theme and to show that Carlsbad is full of people who care about the community.