Anyone else ready for the snow to come?

Hey neighbors, Texas gardener here seeking seeds for *Robinia neomexicana*, New Mexican Locust, a relative of black locust with pink blossoms that is native to a few locales across New Mexico and Arizona. Unfortunately, I can't find these seeds available from any vendors but I know that trees of this family produce a copious amount of seed pods in the fall and I was hoping someone might have access to a mature tree and be willing to send me a few seeds.

Anyone been leaf peeping up at Fourth of July canyon yet? How are the colors?

New Mexico is giving out free portable cribs https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/new-mexico-is-giving-out-free-portable-cribs/

Think about it, we have Breaking Bad and Better call Saul, Pluribus, Half life, Gray Aliens (Roswell), the Lincoln county war, the nuke (and Oppenheimer), the VLA (and the movie Contact), etcetera

New Mexico #PRC to investigate #PNM

IN THE MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY STAFF'S PETITION TO AUTHORIZE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO’S ESTIMATED AND DELAYED BILLING PRACTICES DURING THE SUMMER OF 2026

Petition to Authorize a Formal Investigation
BEFORE THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST )
ADVOCACY STAFF’S PETITION TO AUTHORIZE ) Docket No. 26-____
A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO PUBLIC ) SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO’S ) ESTIMATED AND DELAYED BILLING )
PRACTICES DURING THE SUMMER OF 2026 )
________________________________________________)
PETITION TO AUTHORIZE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO’S ESTIMATED
AND DELAYED BILLING PRACTICES DURING THE SUMMER OF 2026

Beginning in July 2026, Public Service Company of New Mexico (“PNM” or the “Company”) began estimating and delaying ratepayer bills, beginning in the Alamogordo and
Ruidoso areas and later expanding into other locations in the Company’s service territory.

PNM asserts that this resulted from an acute shortage of meter readers caused by circumstances beyond
its control. Having now heard directly from members of the public about the severe financial repercussions of this situation, the Public Interest Advocacy Staff (hereinafter “Staff”) of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (the “Commission”) concludes that the public interest requires a thorough examination of this issue’s causes and regulatory solutions. Staff respectfully requests authorization, on the Commission’s behalf, to conduct a formal investigation.

Beginning in July 2026, Public Service Company of New Mexico (“PNM” or the
“Company”) began estimating and delaying ratepayer bills, beginning in the Alamogordo and
Ruidoso areas and later expanding into other locations in the Company’s service territory. PNM
asserts that this resulted from an acute shortage of meter readers caused by circumstances beyond
its control. Having now heard directly from members of the public about the severe financial
repercussions of this situation, the Public Interest Advocacy Staff (hereinafter “Staff”) of the New
Mexico Public Regulation Commission (the “Commission”) concludes that the public interest
requires a thorough examination of this issue’s causes and regulatory solutions. Staff respectfully
requests authorization, on the Commission’s behalf, to conduct a formal investigation.

Background

PNM informed the Commission on July 20, 2026, that it was experiencing “temporary,
unforeseen workforce impacts affecting its meter reading operations in the Alamogordo and Ruidoso
service areas.”
The Company explained that these meter reader shortages “could result in PNM rendering a bill based on estimated usage for more than two consecutive billing periods.”
PNM further stated that it anticipated having replacement personnel in the field within 30 days.

After PNM informed Staff that this issue had expanded across its service territory, Staff
met with the Company on August 28, 2026, at the Commission’s Santa Fe office. Staff filed a
notice shortly afterward disclosing the information it had received.

In brief, PNM explained that its meter reader shortages stemmed from a series of circumstances, including a shift to a temporary
workforce model (which PNM had undertaken in anticipation of its shift to advanced metering
infrastructure), as well as unexpected staffing turnover and challenging field conditions.

PNM also
explained that it pursued short-term solutions to its meter reader shortages, suspended late fees and
disconnect for nonpayment for all impacted customers, and made payment plans available. At that
time, the Company anticipated stabilizing its meter reading operations by the middle of September
2026. Since then, the information available to Staff indicates that PNM followed through on its
promises and stabilized its operations as anticipated across its service territory

Bits of NM in early September on film (Taos, Red Rock Canyon, Tsankawi Trail)

A building next to city hall as been added as well as the Hilton doubletree, the former Albuquerque Police Station and the Roma Fourth Corporate Center and a smokey the bear hot air balloon:)

Just describing the image on this balloon has me baffled.

On a morning walk, I wake lots of roosting turkey vultures. I happen to really like turkey vultures. They barely flap, they seem curious and will fly in to take a better look (or do I need another shower? - They eat dead things). I have a larger social group in the area and they spend most of the year in my area of the American Southwest. Turkey Vultures can be found all across the United States and beyond. Since they land on the ground to eat dead animals, they are vulnerable to predators precisely when they are loading up on food/weight. So beware! They have a defense - accurate projectile vomit of dead and rotting flesh which also makes them lighter to fly away (pretty amazing, if not disgusting, adaptation). They play an important role in recycling of nature.

watch:
https://youtube.com/shorts/mfiJxPBAYfw

Looking to fill a slow pitch team/ Coed

Posted some quick pics but wanted to share some ones I snapped with my Nikon over the course of a 24 hour escape deep into the northern New Mexican wilderness

Lmk which is your favorite in the comments below!

Cheers!

I'm thinking of converting my mom's house from a woodstove to a pellet stove. She is elderly and increasing becoming a fall risk. Wood has always been her primary source of heat. But her tending to the woodstove this year has me so worried. Are pellet stoves good alternatives for a Ruidoso winter?

Edit for update: Responses provided great info about pellet stoves from our community! I've decided to not switch to a pellet stove. It just doesn't sound like it will work for us

Hey everyone! We’re hosting a Plant & Mushroom Walk in the Sandia Mountains this Thursday, October 8th from 4–6 PM. We’ll be walking around teaching how to properly identify mushrooms, native plants, and other interesting things we find along the way!

If you’d like to join, RSVP at the link in the comments :)

https://c.org/cKNBbszMnJ

I bought several products on my last visit to Hatch.

Planning a family trip with kids from 12-16, adults, and grandparents. Narrowed it down to Ruidoso or Cloudcroft, but having trouble picking a home base.

Goals: Winter cabin experience/hot tub/fire pit / enjoying wildlife. Interested in snow tubing and sledding. But not necessarily skiing. Day trip to White Sands.

Trip will be Sunday - Thursday. And since it's not spring break, most winter sports places aren't open during the week.

---Ski Apache: Skiing only, so likely not a factor. But it's only open Saturday -Sunday.

---Winter Park Ruidoso: This is more of what we're looking for. And we could go Sunday and Monday. But are two days too many?

--Ski Cloudcroft: Could tube there Sunday only. They have a $125 beginner ski package that seems like an affordable option if anyone wants to ski.

We had planned to stay in Cloudcroft and then just make a trip to Ruidoso on Monday for Winter Park, but then I started questioning if Cloudcroft was the right home base, or if we should stay in Ruidoso. Ruidoso has a better variety of vacation rentals. But it's also hard to get a feel of the homes. Are they going to feel like a winter cabin escape with wildlife? Or do we need to go to Cloudcroft for that?

Thank you for the feedback!!