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Part 1 is out today!!! - Dark Peaks: Tales from the Mountain Shadows 👻 🎃 A collection of horror short stories that all take place in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico! Read it now at

Prologue: The Legend of Granny Agatha

In the small mountain towns of High Rolls and Cloudcroft, New Mexico, legends and folklore are as much a part of the community as the towering pines and the crisp mountain air. Tales of haunted cabins, mysterious creatures, and unexplained phenomena are passed down from generation to generation, told around campfires and whispered in hushed tones. But of all the stories that circulate in this secluded region, none is more enduring—or more unsettling—than the legend of Granny Agatha.

Granny Agatha is a name that has been whispered by the locals for as long as anyone can remember. No one knows her real age, but she's been around for decades, maybe even longer. She lives in a secluded house, hidden behind a thick grove of cottonwoods and elms, with a mountain ridge rising up behind the property, covered in pinion and ponderosa pines, scattered juniper, and scrub oak. The only sign of her existence to the outside world is her small egg stand at the end of a half-mile-long dirt driveway, right off Highway 82.

The stand is a simple affair—a wooden table covered with a faded cloth, baskets of eggs, and an assortment of seasonal fruits and vegetables. But it's not the humble appearance of the stand that captures people's attention; it's the eggs. Dark brown with a deep red hue, these eggs are unlike any you've ever seen. The yolks are a rich, jewel-like red, and the taste is unparalleled. Some even claim that the eggs have healing properties, attributing miraculous recoveries and unexplained cures to them.

But Granny Agatha is more than just an old woman selling eggs. She's also known as a healer, a wise woman who understands the secrets of herbs and roots, who can cure ailments that baffle modern medicine. She never advertises these skills, but stories circulate—stories of care packages left on doorsteps, of miraculous recoveries and lives saved.

Yet, for all the positive tales, there's a darker undercurrent to the legend of Granny Agatha. Pets have gone missing in the vicinity of her property, and some claim to have heard unsettling sounds—cries and whimpers, the clucking of unusually aggressive chickens—emanating from the depths of her land. Parents caution their children to stay away from the end of that long dirt driveway, especially as dusk falls. And every so often, a traveler passing through the area goes missing, their last known location somewhere along Highway 82.

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Unleash your inner mischief with our Retro Badger Artwork. This design features a smirking badger, styled in vintage cartoon aesthetics, nonchalantly sipping from a coffee cup. The text, 'I'm not petty but I love when people are', adds a layer of cheeky humor and misanthropic charm. Perfect for those who find joy in life's little ironies. https://www.kcbonnell.art/high-rolls-outfitters-shirts-hats-hoodies-mugs-and-more/p/not-petty-unisex-t-shirt #Retro #Badger #Coffee #Petty #Humor #Artwork #VintageStyle

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Step into a world of enchantment with our Desert Raven T-shirt! 🌵🍄 This unique design features a psychedelic raven perched on a skull amidst a vibrant tapestry of mushrooms and cacti. It's more than just a shirt, it's a statement. Perfect for those who love to express their unique style and aren't afraid to stand out from the crowd. High-quality, comfortable, and sure to turn heads wherever you go. Don't wait - elevate your style today! Shop now at

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Lightning strikes the ground next to the water facility in La Luz, New Mexico. Sometimes I chase the storms, sometimes they chase me!

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Mother nature displaying both serene and terrible beauty in the span of less than an hour over the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. See more at https://kcbonnell.art

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Stepping back to step forward

It’s 1 in the morning and I’m looking back and looking ahead. From December 2019 I have been working full-time hours at a job that I am scheduled as PRN (fancy medical term for “as needed”). Naturally, with the way 2020 went, it was an all hands on deck kind of year. For the last year and a half I gave up my weekends as those, especially the night shifts, were especially hard to keep filled. Now it is time to get back to that which brings me peace; art, photography, and nature. It was, as you’d might expect, a trying year, doubly so working in medicine. Soon I will take a vacation for the first time in a long while. People ask the usual question “Where you gonna go”? The answer to that I think is also soon to be the theme for my fife for the next chapter, “Wherever the road takes me”. Life is short, and it is time for change.

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First design of 2021 is up at https://kcbonnell.art

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Happy 10th birthday to this fuzball. A full decade of adventures, and still going strong!

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Filed under “Happy Accident”

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When the power goes out.

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Night on the mountain

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Night on the mountain.

1:30am and it’s peaceful.  Crickets are singing their symphony, welcoming Autumn.  Occasionally a few coyotes start in with their giggling howls down the canyon. Sometimes a bull elk lets out his echoing bugle, royalty in the canyon. Rambo sleeping peacefully at my feet.  Me, snug and warm, wrapped in my milky way shirt and red flannel pajama pants, enjoying the satisfying clicks of the keys on the MacBook as I type.  I’ve always loved these quiet hours at night. Perfect moments in an imperfect world.

I would say that I’ve drawn inward, but that wouldn’t be correct.  Drawn away fits better.  Finding solace in the woods, away from the madness of this year.  A trajectory that had already been set when life came crashing down last year.  The noise reduced to an inaudible whisper, the battles now carefully picked. 

 If I have to go around others, I find that I’m taking the role of observer more often than participant.  I save my participation for the time I have to myself.  If I’m going to burn energy, it’s going to be when I can focus without distraction on the things solidly under my purview.  

I remember a time when interaction had depth.  When people had attention spans.  I remember conversations, genuine conversations, with homegrown content.  Things being said that I hadn’t already read on the internet before crawling out of bed.  I remember when opinions were unique.

The world is changing.  I don’t know if it’s time to hold my breath in hope or fear.  Something big is looming on the horizon.  All that is left is to wait and see.

[kcbonnell]

Watch "Dermot Kennedy - Giants" on YouTube