R. Doug Wicker — Author | Stories of Mystery and Adventure

November 23, 2011 · 4:00 am

Sage Advice before the Sage Dressing

T’was the day before Thanksgiving
And all through the mall
Not a shopper was stirring
No on at all

The red tags were stacked
In the stockroom with care
In hopes that TV ads
on Thursday would air

They call it “Black Friday”
And it starts at midnight
While you’re still stuffed with turkey
And can’t stand the sight

Of stuffing and pie
And mounds of green beans
While searching larger sizes
In the aisle with blue jeans

Through stereos, through TVs
Through gizmos galore
You’ll stumble ‘round electronics
‘Til you can’t stand no more

But tomorrow’s Thanksgiving
Give shopping a rest
Time with your family
Is the time that is best

So think not of cameras
And tablets and stuff
Spend time with loved ones
The rest is just fluff

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Filed under Author, Writing

November 21, 2011 · 4:00 am

Fall in the Chihuahuan Desert—Part 1

Yes, even here in the midst of the Chihuahuan desert we have trees. Yes, even our trees change when fall arrives. And, yes, the colors here are also spectacular.

While El Paso’s annual rainfall is less than nine inches a year (with most of that falling between mid July and mid September), there is extensive irrigation in the valley using water from the Rio Grande. Along this stretch of irrigated land are pecan orchards, cotton fields, and row upon row of chili, corn, alfalfa, onion, and other crops.

But aside from the farmed lands, various homeowners also landscape with trees of all types, bringing forth this time of year an explosion of color. Sure, it can’t compete with the Northeastern U.S., or even the beautiful aspens stretching from the mountains just a short drive north of El Paso and well into the Rockies, but it’ll do.

7 Comments

Filed under Photography, travel

November 18, 2011 · 4:30 am

Random Shots of the Anti-Winter

Winter is still over a month away, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Time to get out pictures of a nicer time in a warmer clime. These photographs were taken in September, 2007. See if you can guess where: