VANNIE'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY DAY

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that has a birthday day in July)

I know...

I know...

Some of you are saying..."a day"...

I celebrate for a week or a month.

Vannie is good with just a day...but a very special day...

THE OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY DAY...

The official birthday day started with a 

chocolate croissant and a cup of coffee

at one of Vannie and Dave's fave restaurants in Tao...

Gutiz.

Excellent food and service! 

...on to the Taos Art Museum

located in the Nicolai Fechin House.

Nicolai was a Russian artist.

The house is a piece of art work, itself.

So many nooks and crannies to explore...

 Artist, Doel Reed (1894-1985), works

were on display.  Reed was a landscape artist,

as well as a printmaker.  He won many awards

during his lifetime. He was living in Taos

at the time of his death.

Landscape

Doel Reed, Artist

Of course, Dave loved this room.

That big baby grand piano was calling his name.

He was itchin' to sit down and tickle those ivories. 

The Fechin's daughter's playroom...

Located on the second floor...

Loved the windows all around...

Much of the furniture and woodwork were

hand-carved by Nicolai Fechin.

One of those weird bathroom shots...

Adjacent to the house is the 

gift shop and Nicolai's studio.

The gift shop has a wonderful

variety of a little bit of everything.

Max Jones, a local artist and gallery owner,

was exhibiting his delightful creations in the studio.

What a great space to have an exhibit!!!

Vannie was lovin' Max's fun and quirky portraits.

She almost could see some of these people

walking down the streets of Bernice, LA (her hometown)

back in the 50's and 60's.

Dave was enjoying Max's abstract works.

Relaxing and calming...just the thing on a hot summer day

The grounds of the Fechin were

gorgeous.

Those iris' were spectacular.

...on to the Taos plaza...

Shops, restaurants, and more

The plaza was full of ventors...Farmer's Market Day.

Right around the corner from the plaza, are the

John Dunn Shops.

Music, Food, Shopping

Peonies 

The flowers absolutely LOVE this area.

They knock themselves out blooming!

...another beautiful iris...

...more peonies...

Taos is so blooming beautiful...

Keeping these plants healthy requires a bunch of work.

They do a wonderful job...

One of the shops in the John Dunn area is a recycle shop.

Vannie fell in love with this "love" piece made from bottle caps.

Dave said..."oh, know, now we are going to have to pick up

every bottle cap we see lying on the ground."

...a quick stop by Jones/Walker Gallery...

V and D wanted to make sure they

complimented Max on his show at the Fechin.

Don't miss this gallery if you are in Taos.

It is almost a museum.  

Lunchtime

Ranchos Plaza Grill

Outside seating enjoying the NM sky

How about fajitas...

Yep...delicious 

The birthday girl is happy.

After lunch, V and D walked around the plaza and

enjoyed seeing the San Francisco de Asisi Church...AGAIN.

They never tire of gazing upon this beautiful work of so many parishioners.

Inside

Serene...cool...holy 

church alter

The paintings on the alter are said to be

oil paintings brought to the church courtesy of the 

Archdiocese in Mexico by way of Spain,

almost 200 years ago.

A sign on the side of the church

welcoming visitors...

The Official Birthday Day

OVER

...and what better way to end it than indulging in "CHOCOLATE".

The Chocolate Cafe is a chocolate lovers dream.

Vannie..."It's my birthday.  I'll have one of each."

BLUE SKYS, CHILI PEPPERS, ADOBE BUILDINGS

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that "gets into" being on the road)

A new spot!!!

Santa Rosa Lake State Park

Santa Rosa, NM

Electricity, but no water!

Lots of twists and turns to get to our

designated spot, but well worth it. 

As you can see...blue NM sky and cotton puff clouds

We did hit some unusual weather on the way to Santa Rosa.

Dark skies...

Rain...

...and snow...

Yes, you read that right...snow.

But once all of that was behind us...

Vannie and Dave couldn't wait to hit the trails.

The trails were well marked.

As you can see, Vannie had her jacket on.

Just a bit chilly.
You can see the lake in this picture.

The camp host said the water was very low.

All of NM is in much need of rain...and lots of it.

V and D felt like they were in a nature museum.

An abstract "painting"

Human "art" heart

Ocotillos were everywhere.

Natural sculptures

YIKES...

A couple of dead branches

A triangular rock

On the trail...

Spooky

Heading out of Santa Rosa Lake State Park...

V and D said we are definitely coming back.

Stopped for gas ($4.69) near Camel Rock, NM

Hwy. 285 north of Santa Fe

Natural landmark

Pink Sandstone

40 feet high and 100 feet long

We headed on down the road.

Pulled in at the San Francisco de Asis Catholic Mission Church

Ranchos de Taos, NM

It's one of the most photographed churches in the world....

thanks to Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams.

O'Keeffe...painter

Adams...photographer

Together they memorialized this church for all to enjoy.

It has been an active church since the 1700's.

Almost to Questa, NM

Our home away from home for about 4 months.

Love the snow on the mountains.

Memorial Day Weekend

2022

Vannie and Dave work part-time at the Caribel

in Red River, NM (10 miles up the mountain from Questa)

There is a huge motorcycle rally happening right now.

This is a Batman Bike.

It really caught Vannie's eye.

From every angle...

Bikers love to bike...

but they also love to fish.

The Caribel is the perfect spot in Red River to do just that.

Vannie took this from the backside of the Caribel.

You can see the playground, the condo, the mountains,

and that beautiful NM sky.

No smoke...Hooray!

Ready for the summer to begin!!!

GO WEST YOUNG MAN

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that is soooo excited about heading west)

After Vannie and Dave left Austin,

they were supposed to head to Louisiana,

but they had a wee roadblock, so they

hung out at the Airstream park in Hillsboro.

Bacon, eggs. waffles...

If I could eat, I'd be the first in line.

Saturday Morning at the Coffee Shop

in downtown Hillsboro...

Overflow Coffee is the spot.

Latte and blueberry scone

YUM

Since V and D didn't get to go to Louisiana, they 

 missed seeing the newest member

of the family...Noah Grant Hill

Noah is V and D's great great nephew.

His sweet sister is Stella.

His parents are Brooke & Michael Hill.

Just will have to do with pictures for now.

Grandson, Vincent, pitched his way to

victory for the win in the championship game..

Granddaughter, Maddie, is an awesome swimmer.

Placed first in the butterfly at her meet.

Grandson, Cooper, finished 11th grade with a bang.

Honor Student

Band...Saxophone and Trumpet

Working part-time after school 

Ok...Ok...Vannie says she knows she is bragging,

but, as the grandmother, that's her job.

You remember I said there was a roadblock.

Well, this was it!

Dave had to have hernia surgery.

He came through with flying colors.

Vannie practically had to chain him to the bed.

He loves doing lots of projects, but it was imperative

that he take it easy.

Soooo, she did let him go to Walmart

and walk around.  Not real exciting,

but he was glad to be released for a little while.

Then after a couple of weeks,

she let him vacuum.

He though he had died and gone to heaven.

It's the little things!!! 

It was finally time for us to GO WEST.

V and D's friend, Douglas Cunningham

met them at church.

He sang with Dave in the choir.

"I'll Fly Away"

First Methodist, Hillsboro

You can see me in the background.

I patiently waited till the singing and sermon was over...

then we loaded up and headed out.

First Stop

Tye, NM

(close to Abilene)

Tye RV Park

Texas is BIG.

When you start driving west...it takes forever.

This is a fishing pond at the Tye RV Park.

They didn't have their poles, but it was

fun to check it out on their morning walk.

Second Stop

Shallow Water, Texas

NW of Lubbock

Richard's RV Park

This picture was taken in the park

looking across the street.  

That golden strip is dust or dirt in the air.

Lots of it

My windows and doors had to be closed.

...but it was a very nice place...I enjoyed the rest.

Tomorrow we will head to New Mexico.