A Night Filled With Light

Looking into a candlebaggio

December may be my favorite time in New Mexico. It seems as though the month isn't long enough for all the festivities. This year we started the pre-Christmas celebrations by going to Noche de Luminarias at the New Mexico State University with a group of good friends. 

To give you a little background: In northern New Mexico, a luminaria is a little bonfire, lit to welcome and guide the spirit of the Christ Child during the nights leading up to Christmas. Up there around Santa Fe, farolito is the name given to a little paper bag holding sand and a candle; down here in the southern part of the state we call the candle-in-a-bag a luminaria. Our friend, Lou, has simplified the matter by calling them candlebaggios, and many of our friends have adopted the term (see Those Little Whatcha-Call 'Ems). 

The local high school band members lit 6500 luminarias all over the NMSU campus, and a back-breaking business it must have been. By the time we arrived, the sun was just going down and we watched and strolled as the sky darkened and the luminarias began to glow.

Inside the student center, there was music and dancing and food. Outside, it was quiet and quite warm for early December. We walked and chatted and took pictures, and eventually made our way along the paths to the duck pond, where the early evening sky and reflecting waters made for some great photo opportunities.

For some really lovely shots, check out our friend Patrick's post on the evening, Noche de Luminarias.

Saturday Night Football

Last Saturday night, Beez and I went with friends to the New Mexico State University vs. Boise State football game, held at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. 

We had great seats and arrived in plenty of time to see all the pre-game drills.

The view--of both the field and the Organ Mountains--was absolutely wonderful.

Look at those mountains! We got to watch the sunset.

If I were still living in New Hampshire I would think, Hmm, game in October, seats in the shade, brr... But here in New Mexico it was a hot afternoon and the shade was very welcome. When the sun went down the air temperature was warm and balmy. Just perfect for shirt sleeves.

Boise State had no trouble with the poor Aggies. The final score was 59-0, but that was almost beside the point. We had so much fun with the folks sitting around us that we almost hated to leave, although sitting on a hard bench for several hours isn't exactly my idea of fun. Next time I'll watch the game on TV at home, comfortably sitting much closer than we were to the rest rooms and snack bar. There will be no steep stairs, and I'll be able to knit as I watch. 

Besides, I'm a baseball fan. I don't ever remember noticing any hard seats at the Red Sox games we went to in Boston!

P.S. If you would like to hear the New Mexico State University "Pride of New Mexico" Marching Band performing before the game, I've posted the video that I made of them on YouTube, so you can watch and listen. It was taking way too long to load here.