New Mexico time

Careful planning is required for shopping and appointments in town, since the nearest city of any size is over 80 miles away. Much of the world runs on schedules; in rural New Mexico, we are governed by the vagaries of clouds, rain and mud. The ever-shifting weather patterns determine our schedule. Even weather predictions are often off the mark. During monsoon, it’s best to be out and about early, since rain often arrives in the afternoon. Another reason to stay off the roads in the dark: huge herds of elk, which are on the move with the onset of dusk. It’s always a treat to see them as they regard us with more curiosity than alarm. Photos by Karl Phaler