I often write quite late at night in the old pink armchair, my feet up against the wood-burning stove, super comfortable!Late one afternoon, I buy snow boots in a store at the other end of town. After having tried on an impressive numbers of boots, I find those that I currently have on with wool socks [are] keeping me very warm. The lady from the store is being helpful by showing me how to tighten them, and so on.… While the store is emptying out gradually, we find ourselves talking politics. First about Obama and as everybody usually says: "he is great, but he can’t do much against the Republican opposition”.She goes on and on about Bush and his horrific Republicans who drove America into the ground: “They are not only ultra-liberals desperate to hold on to more and more money, but also ultra religious conservatives thinking it wouldn't be bad if everything would really fall apart and finally put an end to this earthly world, hence their anti-eco-freak and warmongering policies, and so on.… They couldn't care less about our children or the world. They’ll take advantage of others as much as possible since they are the wealthiest, and that, literally, by the grace of God. Long live the Apocalypse!”Sitting here in my room next to the stove… I still can't get over it.Then she told me about herself who has always worked in the shoe business all over the world especially in Europe, when she worked at Doc Martens, which allowed her to indulge her passion for travel.- I'm guitarist; I was part of a rock band that was once successful in Germany.- And now?- Now I’ve started playing the banjo, and that lets me get in on jam sessions and I love it. I like playing at the Eskes pub.- Do you take walks? Do you know the area around Taos well?- Hiking?- Yes! Mainly along rivers.- Anyway, in winter you can't really hike but along the rivers, you’ll find beautiful spots along the Red River.And going toward Santa Fe, there are magnificent areas along the Rio Grande.She shows me some old snowshoes in the window; a real eye-opener.- So, that's what you need to do, rent a pair of snowshoes, it's cheap, and there is even training if you wish. There is an ad in the local newspaper, here, take it. I'm doing it, it’s fantastic! I go out and find wildlife tracks that I follow. These shoes you just bought are perfect for snowshoeing, however don't wear cotton socks, they are too warm and will make your feet sweat and then freeze.All this sounds very exciting and I envision running into elks and many other animals, and so on…Well, I can just see myself, all alone with my snowshoes, trudging through the snow surrounded by coyotes, elks and bears!Or maybe just a cautious quick walk around our favorite casitas… greeting neighbors…at the other end of the field… going to do laundry a quarter mile away.We swap email addresses, so she can let me know when she's playing next. Tells me how pleasant our conversation was and see you soon. I reply likewise.5:35pm, night is falling, without thinking about it, instead of driving back, I turn to south, then west at the large painted panel of Saint Francis of Assisi. Blurred vision! Illumination for a dashed off instant, colorful moments gently captured. Just like last time, another world, a winding road, ruts, immaculate large fields where the snow has not melted, sheep with thick fleece, horses, their figures flattened by the night, houses with no frills, thus cheaper to build. From time to time an estate… no… a ranch, slowing down… and taking a picture of its portal without leaving the car, but 10 meters further, a police car, 2 police men verifying the identity of a guy. So, I’m moving along…