WORK AND WONDER

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, and off to work they go...

Can't you just see those little dwarfs in Disney's Snow White singing and marching to work.

That's just the way Vannie and Dave leave me in the mornings.  Yeah, right!

Sometimes I do hear a little whining, but they are still hanging in there.



Here's Dave filling up one of the hummingbird feeders.  Yes, that is in his job description...feed the hummingbirds.  Those little buggers can drink up that stuff, too.  Dave says that sometimes he finds dead bees around the feeder.  Poor things...just too much sugar for their little systems.  Dave said that he could relate to that very situation.  LOL

Ummmm...Hummingbird feeders or toilets...which would you prefer?

 

V and D started their day with a cup of joe at The Way Coffee Shop in Red River.  They were headed to a Wild Flower Walk at the Community House.  Look at what they spotted in the coffee shop.  Now, that made them feel special and right at home.

 

 

Here we go a-wondering...Join our Happy Song...

And wonder they did..The Community House is in the background.  It was established in the early 40's.  V says that they have all kinds of activities during the summer...stuff of kids, music, worship, games, movies, etc..  The Wild Flower Hike is only about 2 miles and is right in town.  Vannie is standing in front of a scrubby cinque foil.  They come in just flowers along the path or in this bush form. Scrubby Cinque Foil...Makes me think of Cinque de Mayo...always a happy time!

 

Judy Miller was their guide for the hike.  V said she was probably in her 80's.  She and her husband, John,  have lived in Red River for 50 years.  According to her, they owned a clothing/toy/science store for ages, but are retired now.  They volunteer for the Community House.  They also have a snow shoeing/cross country skiing area on the outskirts of town.

 

I know...I know...A red glover...big deal.  I thought this was an exceptionally good specimen, and it even has a little fly getting his fill.  Vannie had to be quick to get that shot.

 

On the path along the Red River.  That's the beginning of the ski lift on the left.

Wild Rose

Snow Berry

 

Wall Flower...Vannie said this name brought back memories of some of those high school dances..."wall flower"...Ummm!

Wild geranium

 

Looks like Paul Bunyan's legs

Another variety of the Wall Flower

Pussy Willow

This was the old site of Copper King Mine. They were actually finding little pieces of rock with blue and green tidbits of copper.  I used to be filled with old copper pipes that were leaky and just plain pitiful...so glad those things are long gone.  I feel much better without them. 

 

Look who greeted the merry hikers upon their return to the Community House.

Now, isn't that the sweetest EVER!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



STROLLING THROUGH SHAKESPEARE, SUNSHINE, AND DOWN THE GARDEN PATH

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

"What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine."  Bet you didn't know that was first said by William Shakespeare.  Well, I have to admit, he might not have been the first, but it was one of the lines in his black comedy, Measure for Measure. Vannie and Dave enjoyed seeing this play at the Taos Brewing Company last Friday night.  This is a restaurant/bar out on the Rio Grande Gorge Road.  According to Vannie, the owners have built a very interesting amphitheater out back.  It is built in the style of the earth ships out on Highway 64 north of Taos. Everything is build from recyclable materials.
 

These are two "ladies of the evening" performing in Measure for Measure.

As the sun went down, Dave said the theatre and the actors seemed to glow!

 

V and D were up-close and personal...pays to be there early.

 

Before the play, V and D enjoyed lunch at one of their fave restaurants in Taos, El Gamal.

It is Middle Eastern with yummy vegetarian delights.  Dave is wolfing down an eggplant concoction.

Cool little shop next to El Gamal.  Check out those hollyhocks.  Vannie loves those hollyhocks.  She said her dad used to grow them in his flower garden in Mrs. Thaxton's field behind their house in Bernice, LA.

Just some pretty scenery Vannie snapped during their walk around Taos.

V and D always love to stop by Igar Jirby's Studio on LeDoux Street Taos.  She is quite a character and fun to visit with.

 

Yes...seeing is believing...another hike. This one was up by Sawmill Creek.  It was a 4 1/2 mile hike.  V and D went with a group from the Community House in Red River.  Dave said he loved going with groups like this.  There is always someone that is a history buff and gives out all kinds of information about the area.  They were not disappointed on this hike.  One of the guys showed everyone "The Big Ditch".  The "Ditch" was created around 1867 to divert water from the Red River. Because of the mining boom, the creeks of the area were found to be inadequate to supply water for the mining operations and the citizens of the area.  Although it did not bring in as much water as hoped, it was used until around 1900. The "Ditch" was 41 miles long.  All the work was done by hand.  About 420 men were employed to do the work. A huge undertaking for the time.

 

Look at that Dave...He can always find a place to rest.

 

Vannie said that the wildflowers were out in force.  Here you can see Crimson Columbine and Wild Strawberries.

A flock of daisy-like flowers called Gazania.

Oh my goodness...Reminds me of another Shakespeare play, Midsummer Night's Dream.

This, my friends, is a beautiful Fairy Slipper.  Vannie said they didn't see many...but oh so sweet! 

Bet you didn't know I was a Shakespeare buff...lol

A Bristlecone Pine Tree...Dave said they saw a 1000 year old one.  1000 years old...come on...were they sure.  Guess I can't argue.

A Field of Wild Blue Irises...Looks like the beautiful blue Louisiana Irises...

V said it was just a taste of home.

 

Half way point...Lunch time...V and D said that they were keeping their eyes open for elk...but, alas, all they saw was elk poop.  They did not know what elk poop looked like, but one of the other guys was pretty sure it spotted some. Ahhhh...to be able to identify poop...a life long dream! 

 

Have a good day...and find some poop to analyze.   Yeah...right! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



VAL-DER-RI, VAL-DER-RA

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

I just feel like singing...so here goes.

 

Val-der-ri, Val-der-ra

Val-der-ri, Val-der-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-

Val-der-ri-, Val-der-ra

 

I love to go a-wandering

Along the mountain track

And as I go, I love to sing

My knapsack on my back



Just look at Cousin Kathryn...came down all the way from Crestone, CO just to see me.

Well, I guess she was pretty glad to see Vannie and Dave, too...but when she saw me (in real life), she was all a-dither! This group shot with the 3 of us is so special.

V and D's hike #1 of  the week...Cabresto Lake Trail

V says those logs across the trails are great for a quick rest!

Green trees, green weeds, green bushes, green shirt...dang Dave...you are just too coordinated.

 

More singing...

 

I love to wander by the stream

that dances in the sun

So joyously it calls to me

Come join my happy song.

 

(Kathryn said that it was a holy ritual to put your bare feet in a mountain stream in New Mexico...sooooo off with the socks and shoes and splish splash.  V said it was so cold that your feet were numb in seconds...but it was so worth it...and what a blessing.)

Hike #2...Questa Cemetery

 

Look really close...do you see me?  Vannie was taking this pic from the cemetery looking down.  You can just see me peeking out from behind the tree. 

Dave said this road was behind the cemetery...so they decided to check it out.

V said it kept getting steeper and steeper and rockier and rockier.

Modern day petroglyphs ... happened sometime after spray paint was invented.

Looky there...Seniors '14 left their mark on the mountain. V and D said they remembered doing crazy things like that.  ...not on a mountain, of course...being from Bernice and Farmerville...maybe the fire tower or water tank...LOL

There's the town of Questa far below...and that mountain is where the next hike will be.

Awwww....a shadow selfie!  Too Cute!

 

Hike #3...Las Vistas de Questa Trail

 

...more singing

 

I wave my hat to all I meet

And they wave back to me

And blackbirds call so loud and clear

From every greenwood tree

V and D are heading toward that little hump...V said it wasn't that little.  They walked for about a mile through the sage brush...then headed up the trail among the pinion trees to the top.

Look at that view...Wow...sure wish I could get my big self up there.  Not happening!  Although, when I think about it...those wagon train people would just strike out...so I guess I shouldn't say "never".

I'm going to let Vannie sing the last verse.  Listen carefully, she is already going at it!

 

Oh, may I go a-wandering

Until the day I die

And may I always laugh and sing

Beneath God's clear blue sky!

 

(3 hikes in one week...plus their jobs in-between...a couple of tough cookies)

 

 

 

 

 

 



THE BIRTHDAY WEEK

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

Vannie's birthday was June 4.  That's as much information as she would divulge to me. No year was mentioned...for sure!  She had a great week.  It included peaceful evenings, hard work (never hurt anybody...can make you a little sore, though), eating, friends, and fun.

Hello, Mr. Moon!

Out my back window in the sweet glow of the late afternoon

 

 

Heavenly!

 

Vannie was walking early one morning and spotted these deer on the slopes.

Can you see them?  There are 3.  The ski lift is in the background.

Working Man!

The Back...The Back! 

8 barrels, 5 pots, 2 hanging baskets, 1 flower bed

purchased in Taos

What a team!



 

Ah...break time!

Vannie's birthday...They got the day off.

Headed to Arroya Seco...small little artsy community.

Ate at the Taos Cow restaurant...Yummy!

Dave had the Turkey/Brie Sandwich...

Turkey and brie with mixed greens, honey mustard and a dash of balsamic vinaigrette on a homemade ciabatta (a chewy, crusty Italian bread) roll.

 Vannie had the sautéed portabella sandwich...

Sautéed portabella mushrooms, feta cheese, tomato, mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette on a ciabatta roll.

V and D said all the veggies tasted like they had just been picked from the garden.

 

It was a great birthday week for Old Vannie...can't believe I said that. 

 I'm no spring chicken myself.