Isn't Charleez soooo cute. I know i am biased, but anyway out of the hundreds of photos to blogg this is one of my favourites. I will post somemore soon.

CHACO CANYON. This was by far my most favourite place that i visited in New Mexico. I wish i had visited it earlier so that i could have gone back. These pictures don't even show half of what it has to offer. It is the largest ruins in New Mexico and you can spend a whole day there and still not have seen it all. It was also very pretty to see with the snow which made it all the more special.

AZTEC RUINS. Wow these people were small. These ruins were also amazing. It was interesting how you had to go through mult doors to get to some rooms. I wonder how tall they were?

ACOMA

Another name for this place is sky city, which as you can see by the last picture that it is a city ontop of a large rock. Still very traditional and a very interesting place. It was one of the first places i visited after my return from Oz as it was only 40min from where i lived and the start of my quest to visit every national park/monument in new mexico before i ventured off again. I was very fortunate also to visit with a friend to share the experience with.

SNOW STORM IN ALBUQUERQUE

Once i got back from sunny Australia i got to experience living in snow. I didn't expect this much though and as i was told this was abnormal for new mexico to get so much snow. Apart from the driving with all the dick heads that had no clue it was a great experience. And i got some great photo oportunities.

EL MALPAIS This was a very interesting 3mile hike where you thought you were in the middle of nowhere and then suddenly there were caves. This place is very popular for caving and bats. I took a little venture down one cave but no bats to be found.

MORE PICTURES OF CHACO CANYON. Here are more pictures of my favourite National Park in New Mexico.

DAYS SPENT WITH FRIENDS I managed to catch up with almost everyone during my 4 week visit to Australia. It was great to see old friends again. I will miss everyone but look forward to catching up again next year and also to see the new editions that will be there. Just as i got to also meet the new babies on this trip.

CHARLEE'S NAMING DAY
Today November 19th we celebrated Charlee's Naming Day and i become one of the grandparents. Afterwards we had a family photo with the new edition to the family.

Charleez has her first bath at home. Then afterwards has a nap because she is exhausted. How cute.

CHARLEE'S SECOND DAY
Today Charlee had her first bath. She wasn't that keen but at least she smelt nice and clean. She also opened her eyes today and we got to see her beautiful blue eyes. I also got to have a hold of her. She is very good and hardly cries. She also likes to suck her thumb.

CHARLEEZ IS FINALLY BORN

At 0936hrs today November 2nd 2006 Charlee was born weighing 6.1 pounds. Mother and baby are well. We are all very excited as this is the first grandchild/niece/daughter. And we are looking forward to many happy times together as we watch her grow. Congratulations Shane and Tash on the birth of Charleez Lotte Zerha-Doherty.

WHITESANDS NEW MEXICO In the middle of nowhere South of Albuquerque there is an area of land full of white sand hence the name of the place Whitesands. It was an amazing place to visit and the sunset that night topped off a great day. Unfortunately the clouds were too low for the full moon shot i was waiting for. I guess that gives me another excuse to visit again.

CARLSBAD CAVERNS & BAT FLIGHT I finally got myself down to Carlsbad Caverns and had a tour around the caves and saw the bats take flight at sunset. Althought slightly rushed it was a fabulous cave with loads of detail. And when they say there are thousands of bats taking flight they really mean it. I was a little disapointed though at how small the bats were. But i guess the numbers made it just as impressive. On the way home there was an awesome full moon which i had to stop on the side of the road and take a picture of but it didn't portray how big it really was.

BALLOON FIESTA - ALBUQUERQUE
This year i experienced my first balloon fiesta. I was very lucky and fortunate to be able to experience this first hand by crewing for a group and then being allowed to go up in the balloon. It was awesome and i am very grateful for the opportunity to be involved. After my balloon ride i was then initiated and toasted in the traditional way to my first ride. It was a great day. When Esther then visited me I also took her to the festival as tourists enjoying the dawn glow and then the mass ascension. Unfortunately the weather was not so great and not so many balloons went up, but all in all it was still a great day.

HALLOWEEN 2005 V 2006


This time last year i was experiencing my first halloween in the US. My friend and i got costumes (i am the skeleton) and hung out with her neighbours who had gone all out, doing up the lawn as a cemetry with lights and sound effects. Very impresive i thought. We gave away loads of candy and scared many kids. This year was different. I was back home in Australia and enjoyed the night with my family. My Dad and i were having competitions on who could photograph the best sunset from the balcony. Here is mine. I am looking forward to many more sunsets like this while i am at home.