Petroglyph National Monument

We have been enjoying getting to know our new area in New Mexico. The other day we took a little trip to find Petroglyph National Monument. We do truly live in the land of enchantment. 

You could think of petroglyphs as ancient road signs or ancient graffiti. But they are cultural carvings in volcanic stone. They are a migration map of cultures on the move. They have been defaced, used for target practice, and stolen. When development threatened the area a group started taking a study of them. They expected to find and catalog hundreds and instead found thousands. Monument status was given quickly to reduce further damage but we did see some defacement. Unless class of 98 meant class of 1898. (No I didn't take a picture of that one.)

I should have taken more petroglyph pictures but do you see that sky. I don't think I will ever fall out of love with the New Mexico sky.

Those are the Sandia Mountains in the distance. I'm falling as much in love with them as I am the beautiful sky. Yes I know that is a lot of brown and I will always miss the lush greenness of Oregon, but you gotta love the one you're with. Brown is a beautiful color in its own way.

The volcanic rock starts out light and oxidizes to that beautiful deep grey color.

Our friend J of previous sock worthiness posts came to get a sunshine fix, boy do I think we fixed her up good with sunshine that day. Never leave the back of your neck exposed.

 One of the first things we did here was get sunglasses. It is a far more comfortable beauty with sunglasses. We were over dressed for the day but that sun sneaks up on you. At least my knitwear is getting a workout here. But that is another post for another day. I love that shawl it is easy to wrap up in and get cozy and unwrap and get cool with.