A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND THAT IN NEW MEXICO

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that loves cool weather)

Northern New Mexico seems to be always cool. 

 Even when the locals say that it is hot...it's not.

Let them come to Texas or Louisiana...

then they will know "HOT".

Vannie and Dave have been busy working at the Caribel.

When they are not at work, you can either find them

in the truck heading on a new adventure,

or going up to the Senior Center to eat,

or walking around Eagle Rock Lake,

or making jelly from local berries/apples,

or reading their favorite book,

or having coffee with friends.

Remember they are retired...

Do I hear an "AMEN"?

V and D and Me never seem to get tired of each other.

...and that's a good thing, since we live in such close proximity. 

Check out Vannie's herb garden...

...mint, basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, bee balm...

She's trying to go gourmet. Pronounced "gor-met".

Dave asked her what she was going to do with bee balm...

and she gave him a long blank stare.

We are still anxiously awaiting an answer to that question.   

We still have signs of Vincent and Maddie's visit.  Their wooden boats and Maddie's still-life on the left...and Chia Pets on the right...Vincent's needs a haircut and Maddie's is struggling to grow through the layer of paint that she added to the top of the head.
I often hear Vannie talking to those heads early in the morning.
"Hi, Vincent...Hi, Maddie...what's going on with you guys this morning?"
Thankfully, I have not heard the heads respond.

Red River Wags and Wine

First Annual

The proceeds are going for the creation of a new dog park.

There were some very nice doggies visiting in town.

Vannie said she is always amazed at the resemblance of doggies and masters.

V and D love seeing new construction happening in Red River.

Having a business year round in RR is difficult...

summer is good and winter is good,

but in-between is shaky.

This is the site for the Red River Brewing Company.

It is near the center of town. 

"Successful" is the word everyone is hoping fits this endeavor.

Beautiful morning to head to Eagle's Nest.

Wonderful scenery around every curve...

Blue Flowers...Blue Sky

The Eagle's Nest Fine Arts Fair

Jewelry, pottery, paintings, clothing, knives, music, and more...

Vannie said she "simply" could not make up her mind...

so... she just bought the kettle corn...

and it was "simply" delicious. 

I think I could write an entire blog about the roads that take V and D on their adventures.

Check this one out...and Dave said it got even more treacherous as their continued.

They were heading to the Lama Center.  It is a former hippie settlement, but today

it is a retreat center.  Vannie said that she, Cousin Janet, and Niece Lacy visited the center

about eight years ago.  

Once they got to the parking lot, they followed a foot path for a while

...then steps...

It was lunch time at the center.  V and D were invited to eat,

but had already eaten at the Senior Center in Questa.  

The office staff said  that it would

be perfectly OK to tour the facilities on their own.

This is the beautiful octagonal building for meditation, yoga, etc.

The view out that window was breathtaking. 

Another great building...there were others...

Just a place you have to see for yourselves...

Dave said..."Google it".

Oh my goodness...another road...another adventure...

This time Dave, Vannie, Jean, Bob were trying to find "lake front property".

Yep...there is a sign on the road heading to Colorado that says...

"For Sale...Lake Front Property"

Thank goodness they had a cairn along the route...or 

they might still be driving around in circles.

BINGO...Lake front property...

Vannie said you certainly could not see this from the main highway.

You had to go on "one of THOSE roads" to discover it.

This is called Sanchez Reservoir.

Beautiful drive and the scenery was great, too... 

While Vannie and Jean was "swangin'...

Bob and Dave was "sangin'"...  

These four had a picnic "kinda" by the lake.

Ahhh...that NM blue sky...

"Raining in the Mountains"

When it's raining...

...its nice to be as snug as a bug in a rug with friends at the Community House...

...listening to music from the Dulcimer Festival

...or from the San Louis Big Band.

Wonderful Concerts all summer long...

New Friends...Dottie and Jim Hord

Dottie and Jim are from Austin, TX.  

They were visiting in Red River.

The four of them enjoyed an outing in Arroy Seco.

I've written about Arroyo Seco before.  Vannie and Dave love it.

It has Ade's Cantina and Taos Cow...two places not to miss.

Yesterday they ate the world famous breakfast burrito and cherry empanadas.

...and there is the mercantile store, Francesca's, the pottery shop, Claire's, etc.

A small town loaded with ambiance...   

I'm closing today with these wonderful coat of arms that Vannie and Dave created in the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History while visiting their friend, Loretta.

You guess which is which.!!!