By
Minuet in G
(a 1979 Argosy made by Airstream)
Yep, I'm in charge.
Vannie and Dave have now put me in charge
of all travel plans within the USA.
Gypsy Rhapsody (their 1977 Airstream) is being used by their son, Ashley.
Gypsy is excited about being a little more stationary.
She was starting to have a few aches and pains that
come with being a "little older".
Now, let me fill you in on our summer time fun.
Northern New Mexico...
Red And Green
Blue Blue Skies
Mountains
Cool Temps
Great Folks
Let's Get Started...shall we?
Oh course, starting with a glamour shot of me is always appropriate.
Ramblin' Rose RV in Santa Rosa, NM is not the most
glamourous campground on the planet, but
getting this shot, makes the stay all worthwhile.
Our next stop was Las Vegas, NM.
Carnegie Public Library
Dave had read about this library and wanted to take a look.
It was built in 1904 and is the only remaining
active Carnegie library in New Mexico.
It is modeled after Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
Andrew Carnegie was a steel tycoon who helped to fund
libraries all across the country.
V and D have visited another one in Jefferson, TX.
Sooo...it just so happens to be V's birthday.
80...yes, that's right...I'll say it again...80!
They enjoyed a delightful breakfast at an
old hotel in Las Vegas...The Castaneda Hotel.
Dave is all smiles...
delicious breakfast burrito
and
chocolate croissant chaser
...on to Red River
and their part-time jobs at the Caribel Condos.
Dave is sharpening his gardening skills.
and the "t's" have been crossed.
Hey...is that a pot of gold I see up there.
That rainbow stops right at the top of the
ski lift in Red River.
Do ya think????
Who doesn't love baby ducks????
These little tappers were practicing
their swimming skills in the Red River,
right around the corner from the
Caribel Condos.
to the Caribel. She comes around in the late afternoon
and makes herself at home. She enjoys letting the kids,
as well as grown-ups,
feed her popcorn or toast, and she even lets them pet her.
She has twin babies that frolic in the grass while she relaxes.
All mamas need some relaxation!!!
'sRed River Art and Wine Festival
Vannie is a member of the Questa Art League.
They had a booth at the festival.
Several of the members displayed their art...
Vannie included. These are a sampling of her art pillows.
Questa, NM
Eagle Nest Lake
V and D park me (Minnie G) in Questa
for the summer at Gloria Gonzales' RV Park.
Q is only 10 miles
down the mountain from Red River.
The lake is a great place to walk in the morning or evening.
There are always fishermen out by the lake. This is
such a calm haven for the people of Questa.
....And Frank's Restaurant in Questa
is a favorite of Vannie and Dave's.
AND
their favorite meal at Frank's is the
Navajo Taco.
the pistachio creme puff!!!
Another view of Eagle Rock Lake...
V and D love to hike...
but they do have to admit that their hikes
are getting shorter and shorter.
This one is at Wild Rivers National Park
located within the Rio Grande Del Norte
National Monument north of Questa.
Beautiful vistas
V and D do love visitors!!!
These cute gals were from Rio Rancho, NM.
Here we are waiting for our meal from Shotgun Willie's
in Red River.
Jennifer, Carmen (back row)
Vannie, Dave, Vera (front)
Dave is looking kinda excited about being the only male. LOL
Another hike
Vista de Questa Trail
They did this one on their 59th wedding anniversary.
2 miles up and 2 miles down
Does the trail go up or down or right or left?
Vannie is a little confused by this one, too.
Looks like they made it to the top
PHEW!!!
Home Folks...Yayyy
Daughter, Emilie
Granddaughter, Maddie
Grandson, Vincent
Visiting from Austin, TX.
The Red River 4th of July Parade
Always a highlight of the summer
Vannie says you can't beat a small town parade.
Can never tell what may show up...
We put our chairs out early to hold a choice spot...
"Throw me something, Mister"
Dave said it definitely wasn't like Mardi Gras in Lafayette,
but a close second.
Vincent was our resident fisherman.
The pond at the Caribel is stocked with rainbow trout.
He caught our dinner for us. Dave said that his
final count was around 15 trout.
Hiking again...
These beautiful New Mexico wildflowers
were along the Columbine Trail between
Red River and Questa. They are called
New England Asters...hmmm...New England???
The trail is located in the Carson National Forest.
Vannie said you can see part of the
molybdenum mine in the Red River Canyon.
It operated for nearly 100 years before
closing in 2014. Molybdenum is added to
steel to make it harder.
Chevron and environmental agencies
manage ongoing cleanup work.
Columbine Creek along the trail
Great trails and very shady
which will eventually run into the Red River.
Another favorite place to eat...
Kathryn's Food Truck in Cimmaron, NM
V and D had gone to pass out Questa Art Tour Brochures.
Vannie particularly loves the green chili lemonade.
She says it definitely has a "bite"."
Dave says, "None for me, thank you."
Art Lessons
Vannie still enjoys teaching kids to love art.
These kids are regulars at the Caribel.
It has become a tradition to do an art lesson or two.
They came down to Questa for this one.
I loved having them paint right beside me.
I felt like I was teaching the lesson.
(Notice the one boy...I think he needs a nap. lol)
Maybe Vannie needs to jazz things up a bit.
Finished projects
The Cat Families
Don't you just love kids art!
It's waiting patiently to be included.
These birds have been sipping on this nectar
all summer. Vannie said she thinks they move
on south at some point. Dave mixes up their drink
often. He must know just the right formular.
They sure to do slurp it down.
Vannie has to wait all summer before this happens...
and he doesn't let her forget it.
The Caribel staff and come favorite owners
came by to help him celebrate.
Douglas Cunningham...
He and Dave went on a hike between the
Wild Rivers Visitor Center and the
Red River Fish Hatchery.
Pescado Trail...2 miles
Dave is dressed pretty bland compared to Douglas.
Vannie says he needs to get a little more adventuresome in his wardrobe.
...and Cheryl Monez...
...and, of course, Daisy...
She and Vannie toured the D. H. Lawrence Ranch,
located near San Cristobal, NM
(Elevation 8,600 feet)
Cheryl is sitting at the typewriter that Lawrence used
during his time at the ranch.
A Lawrence quote...
"When one jumps over the edge, one is bound to land somewhere."
Vannie is standing by another one of the
historical structures at the ranch.
Another DHL quote.
"For man, as for flower and beast and bird, the
supreme triumph is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive."
Cheryl and Daisy are walking up the winding
trail to the burial site of Lawrence and his wife, Frieda.
He died (1930) in Vence, France, and first buried in the local Cemetery.
His wife had his remains exhumed (1935)and cremated and brought to
the ranch in NM. His wife died in 1956 and is buried near him.
Questa Art Tour
August 8 and 9
One of Vannie's art pillows even
made the front cover.
You can see it near the bottom...
It's the lady with the blue face.
Red Beret Art Studio
Website coming soon
Vannie's studio was set up in the social hall of
the Living Word Church in Questa. Two other
artists were also sharing the space.
and her daughter, Shannon
were able to attend the tour.
Jill is an accomplished artist living
in Taos and Florida. One of her paintings
is located behind the two ladies.
Loretta Norrell lived in Lafayette and attended
East Bayou Baptist Church (The Bayou) with
Vannie and Dave. Loretta is now living in Rio Rancho.
They had a great visit with her a few weeks ago.
This time to the Questa Cemetery.
They do this one every year...probably about 2 miles total.
Dave says it is always neat as a pin with beautiful flowers and flags.
OK...what's going on here.
Dave has been playing the piano for the Community Church
in Red River all summer. He and Vannie get to the office early on Sundays.
That gives him time to practice.
It has definitely been one of his highlights of the summer.
Looking beyond me over the rooftop of Mrs. Gonzales' house...
Mrs. Gonzales' is the best landlady EVER.
The end of a perfect summer!!!
THE SUN
by
Mary Oliver
(opening stanza)
Have you ever seen
anything in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the
hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone...
Now, back to Texas, Louisiana, and beyond.
No comments:
Post a Comment