In a series of snapmammas’ posts that began this past January, you were schooled on aspects of the Dia de los Muertos [Day of the Dead] holiday that falls on November 1 and ends on November 2.  Seeing a colorfully decorated skull is part of the remembering and celebrating of one’s ancestors. The skull, the head of a skeleton, is a dominant theme and called a calavera.

During a recent morning of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a rogue wind current pushed a handful of hot air balloons easterly towards the Northeast Heights foothills; over and into our neighborhood.

One of the ballloons blew into and landed in our arroyo’s open space. I walked over to offer assistance (which they didn’t need) so I snapped photos of the crew and the passengers deflating and packing up the balloon. It was a tricky process since the field is essentially covered in thorny cacti and other unfriendly desert plants.

An Advert for Albuquerque in October

Before the air can be deflated, a giant tarp is spread out (carefully) over the cacti and scrub

I kept my foot on the edge of the tarp: to help keep it from lifting off the ground and blowing around

Removing the air takes a few minutes

Peek-a-boo!