NEW MEXICO 2022

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that is back in Texas and has time to write one more blog before handing over the job to Minuet in G.  MinnieG has been traveling with V and D in Louisiana and Arkansas.  More on that later)

I think I've posted this before, but I love it so much I'm posting it again.

Barry, the Caribel jack-of-all-trades guy, found the cow skull on his property

in Colorado.  He gave it to Vannie several years ago.  She finally got

around to painting it this summer.  Fun Project!

V and D have part-time jobs at the Caribel Condos during the summer.

Our friends, Dorothy and Dan Jowers, spent the summer at our

campground in Questa, NM. (Gloria Gonzales' RV)

Lots of good times!

Dave's birthday was August 5.

He celebrated several times with several groups.

The first was at Mrs. Rios Restaurant in San Luis, CO.

The sign says "Mexican/American".  Dave said 

it also serves "Thai".

Dorothy and Dan ordered the chef salad with Spam.

Dorothy is an artist and couldn't resist

creating Dave's birthday age in Spam.

Interesting!

Vannie and Dave ordered the crispy duck.

Delicious!

A visit to the Shrine of the Stations of the Cross

helped everyone digest their lunch.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Colorado

They were packing it in for the birthday.

After the church they headed to the sand dunes.

Beautiful flowers along the way.

Dave and Dan even went on a short hike.

...and then there was the cake...

It was close to Dorothy and Dan's anniversary,

so they got in on the cake, as well. 

DELICIOUS

Another day

Another birthday celebration

Cousin Jay Brady had been practicing "Happy Birthday" on his guitar.

What a nice surprise!

Cousin's Kathryn and Jay live in Chimayo,NM.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch with them at

Rancho de Chimayo.

Just a little appetizer to start off the birthday lunch...

Still celebrating...

Moreno Valley Cowboy Evening

Syd Masters was the entertainer.

He is the composer and recording artist of the official state song of New Mexico,

 "Under New Mexico Skies."

Dave enjoyed a steak dinner with 

all the fixin's plus homemade cinnamon rolls.

OINK!

Rainbow for Dave...

It just never stops.

The Caribel staff surprised him with a box of fudge from 

The Candy Store in Red River.

...as if he wasn't sweet enough already...hmmm

Dave and Dan did lots of hiking this summer.

This is Middle Fork Lake in Red River.

Vistas des Questa Trail

East Side from the town of Questa

West side from the Wild Rivers Area

Vannie said the sunflowers along the roads were fabulous.

It was as if you were continually on the "yellow brick road to Oz".

This one was in the Wild Rivers area.

Speaking of Wild Rivers...

a beautiful over look featuring the Rio Grande River.

Obviously...GREEN GRAPES

Vannie was given an abundance of GREEN GRAPES...

so what do you do with an abundance of GREEN GRAPES...

make GREEN GRAPE JAM.

Vannie and Dave were so excited about ending their NM summer

by visiting Loretta Norrell...and all her cronies,

in Rio Rancho, NM.  

Carman, Judy, Vera, Loretta, Dave, Vannie

Bye Bye New Mexico

See ya next summer...

September 28...National Ketch-Up Day for Writers

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that just created a new national day...

Ketch-Up Day!!!

It's to celebrate all those writers out there

that are finally getting around to "ketching up" with life.

Unlike all "national days", Ketch-Up Day can be any day of

the year...it can even be celebrated more than once.

I think it is going to take me more than just one day

to accomplish this task.  

OK...first of all, my last blog was 4th of July.

What comes next?

OH...I got it...

"V and D's Texas Crew Heads West"

Shopping/Eating in Taos

Daughter, Emilie

Granddaughter, Maddie

Dave

M and V's Dad, Roy

Grandson, Vincent

Boat Building

Who's supposed to be building these boats?

Hmmm

Headed to the Red River to see who's boat is up to snuff.

You can see Roy and Vincent (yellow shirt)

and

Emilie and Maddie (light blue shirt)

Vannie said it was almost impossible

to differentiate which boat belonged to which child.

BUT...Maddie's came in 3rd in her group,

so she was allowed to race again.

Alas...her boat did not win...

but a winner to V and D, for sure.

Still friends...kinda

The cheering section!!!

Go Carts 

When you can FINALLY go by yourself!!!!

Vincent loving it!

(check out that scenery...

that's part of the RR ski slope)

Dave said he didn't know who had the most fun

in this girl's-only team.

Emilie or Maddie???

Hiking

Always a good first hike of the season...

Hiking up to the Questa Cemetery

It's not to long or short...

or to steep or to gentle...

or to hot or to cold...

"It's Just Right" (said Goldilocks to the 3 Bears) 

Maddie and Vannie...all smiles

The 2 V's...

Vincent and Vannie

heading back down.

Girl's Sleepover 

Maddie said that this was supposed to

make everyone look younger

and more beautiful.

All 3 said, "It really works."

OK...I'll take your word for it.

Dave and Roy said, "It really does."

(No fool in that group.)

Vincent had no comment...probably wise.

Hmmm...I think Maddie was right!!!

The Princess tucked in for a sound sleep.

Red River Rope Course

Maddie and her friend are geared up and ready to climb!!!

Where is the rest of the crew???

Vannie said they all bailed out....Cluck, Cluck!!!

Yep...that's Maddie...on the last leg of the course!

What a risk-taker!!!

White Water Rafting on the Rio Grande River

Vincent and Maddie ready to fight the rapids.

...and fight they did...

You'll notice there is no V or D in sight.

That's because they said..."Been there, done that."

The old folks have spoken.

Emilie, Roy, Vincent, and Maddie had a great time.

Caribel Condos

Vincent just caught supper.

Rainbow Trout ...YUM!

The Toss Game

Maddie has the "form"!!!

Vincent has the "eye".

🎝The Parties Over🎜

The Texas Crew headed back to Texas,

but small mementos remained behind to remind

V and D of all the good times.

Painted Rocks

and

Wooden Boats

National Ketch-Up Day has been a huge success!

Ketch-Up Day II coming soon.

 THE 4TH OF JULY...2022

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that loves America)

The Red River, NM 4th of July parade

was greeted with beautiful blue skies

and cool temps.  With COVID out of the way (mostly),

the parade was back to its old self.

Lots of entries, happy people, candy galore...

Vannie's decked out in her red, white, and blue,

ready for the festivities to begin.

Her compadres were sittin' and eatin'.

Dave, Dorothy and Dan Jowers

T-Buck's is the place to get these yummy apple fritters.

DELICIOUS!!!

The firetrucks led the parade.

There were several from surrounding areas.

...then came this monster of a truck...

USA

Weezie's Wild Rides had a fun float.

They are all excited the forest is open...

the rains are happening...

and folks are back to "wild riding" with Weezie.

Concerned Women

We have a lot to be concerned about.

Uncle Sam was ready for whatever came up.

Not sure about this one...

I think these ladies were trying to 

find more stuff to throw...

"Where's the candy, Ethel.?"

Or maybe they were just "concerned"...

The Queen

The Princesses

These beautiful ladies were from Taos.

They were representing a big weekend festival coming up soon.

WILD

TALL PINE

Vannie said she wasn't sure what/who this one represented.

King Rex

Is this guy from Louisiana?

Always nice to have a school bus in the parade...

Dave said he didn't remember one being in it before.

This was a group of kids from a Young Camp.

...and then the motorcyles...

The truck actually had a movie showing on it's side...

I wonder if I could do this on my side.

Hmmm...probably not...since I'm curved.

N I C E

Almost to the end of the parade...

for obviously reasons...

Beautiful horses

Pretty Ladies

You can always count on Capo's Restaurant

for a good time.

Great Food

Great Service

...and a Great 4th Parade Float

The Red River Red Bus

bringing up the rear...

Thank you Red Bus...

You do a great job carting people around...

and for FREE.

Vannie and Dave ended their 4th festivities by watching

the Capitol 4th on the tellie.

Lots of good music

Lots of Patriotism

Lots of smiles for the camera

Lots of Red, White, and Blue

Hope your 4th was an upper!

Ours sure was!