Val in Real Life
banner
valinreallife.bsky.social
Val in Real Life
@valinreallife.bsky.social
💻 Writer | 📸 Photographer | 🏍️ Motorcyclist | 🌼 Native plant gardener | 🏚️ Home renovator | 👀 Observer of life | 🤬 Cussy alter ego of @ValWestonNM

Fumbling my way through life, one #ThisWasNotInTheBrochure moment at a time. 🔗 https://valinreallife.com/
Reposted by Val in Real Life
November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
🚸 How we design roads dictates the speeds that drivers adopt, regardless of the posted speed limit.

👟 🚲 🚌 Research shows that narrowing vehicle travel lanes can reduce speeds and create #saferstreets in communities.

Read more in our latest blog ➡️ buff.ly/xxKOAxu
November 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Here's where I admit I've been working on this piece off-and-on for years. But with the SCAA Fearlessly Independent show coming up fast, I had to get 'er done. So here it is—Abandoned Homestead.

#ValWestonNM #PhotographicArt #SilverCityArtist #VisitSilverCity #SilverCityArtAssociation
November 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow.

Today's reflection is on #Bright light after a storm.

📸 Usury Mountain Regional Park, Arizona (2019)

valinreallife.com/postcards-fr...
November 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
When there's nothing else to photograph, look down.
#photography #shoegazing #reflections #water #trees
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
📰The November newsletter is out.

🤩And yes, we've officially added another website to the Val in Real Life family.

🤯Our biggest one ever, in fact.

Check it out👇
🔗https://mailchi.mp/valinreallife/2025-november

#ValinRealLife #ThisWasNotInTheBrochure #Newsletter #LaborOfLove
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

@jcbrandon.bsky.social and I like to spend the #evening having happy hour and decompressing from the day. And sometimes those evenings are extra pretty.

📸 Indian Pass Wilderness, California (2021)

🔗https://valinreallife.com/postcards-from-real-life-evening/
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I *finally* hit 40K on the Adventure Beast. But it took a 💩ton of time to get there. Saddle time has not been abundant.

More on the blog.
🔗 valinreallife.com/maintenance-...

#ValinRealLife #ThisWasNotInTheBrochure #R1200GS #MakeLifeARide #WomenWhoRide
November 4, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Know your rights when voting today.
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Halloween and keep your eyes on the road, lots of ghosts and goblins will be out and about today.
New Mexico has the highest per-capita pedestrian fatality rate in the nation, a record we do not want to keep.

#Halloween #TargetZeroNM #NewMexico #ENDWI #NMDOT
October 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

This is one of my favorite #Autumn images I've captured in my time in the Smokies.

📸 Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2012)

It wasn't fun and games getting it though. 😬
🔗https://valinreallife.com/postcards-from-real-life-autumn/
November 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
This is the 2nd book from the series of 4 books. Each taking the reader riding a different section of the 8 year round the world journey.

This book takes you from Australia, through SE Asia, Asia, parts of the Middle East & into Eastern Europe.

#motosky #motorcycle #travel #book #motorcycles #RTW
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
The Oaks overlook on Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, 22 Oct 2025.
#stunday #blueskyartshow #eastcoastkin #photography
October 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

Here's a katydid hiding #Inside a Gerbera Daisy.

📸 Suwanee, Georgia (2011)

🤩 And some more about the joy of exploring the intricate details of our world.
🔗 valinreallife.com/postcards-fr...
October 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
The Carmel Valley Road in CA. Starts off with vineyards, then rolling golden hills that are dotted with clusters of oak trees, & then as it drops down in altitude, the road twists through woodlands like this. The twists can be tight!
It's a 'pay full attention' type of road...
#motosky #motorcycle
October 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Hi, friends! In case we haven't met you yet in our travels talking about this project, we're Val & J.—founders of Southwest Art Towns. We're based in Silver City, NM and we're looking forward to getting to know all of the great art communities and creators in the southwest through this adventure.
October 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow! Here's a ladybug friend in a sea of #vertical plants.

📸 Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2016)

I'm still going strong blogging about the images I've been sharing. (We'll see how long that lasts. 😅)
🔗https://valinreallife.com/postcards-from-real-life-vertical/
October 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The October newsletter is live. I love me some #GreatSandDunes and I finally made it back after a looooong absence.

Read more and tell me about your favorite places!

mailchi.mp/valinreallif...

PS – I hope you have a faboo weekend. 🥰
October 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to capture the #Glow on this gnarly old tree. 😅 #PhotographerProblems

📸 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado (2014)

valinreallife.com/postcards-fr...
October 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Photos from today's walk at the Seattle Japanese Garden (thread). I was quite taken with these red leaves, dangling by a bit of spiderweb in a way that made them look like they were falling.

#photography #PNW #autumn #FallColors #nature #red #31DaysOfHalloween #SeattleJapaneseGarden
October 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
A few weeks ago we swung by the #EspañolaValleyFiberArtsCenter. What a tremendous resource for fiber artists. And the mural is simply gorgeous!

Be sure to check out everything they have to offer–supplies, tools, classes, and more.

#SouthwestArtTowns #ConnectionCommunityCollaboration #EspanolaNM
October 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
Reposted by Val in Real Life
New month, fresh art!

My display at the Grant County Art Guild gallery is refreshed for October with moody pieces to fit the season. Plus I'm featured on the screen at the checkout desk with three fan-favorite pieces.

#ValWestonNM #GrantCountyArtGuild #SilverCityArtist #VisitSilverCity
October 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Val in Real Life
🤯 It's October already?!?

☕️ Time to stock up on our exclusive mugs for your hot autumn beverages and coasters to match. Shop today!

🔗 sierramountainpasses.com/shop/
October 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM