Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico
There
just isn’t anything better than waking up to a clear blue sky. Especially, when
we know there are many other scenarios. Clouds, rain, sleet and now snow! It
was around 5:30 when we were up to the bathroom and back into bed for another
hour and a half. A peek out the blind on Saturday, Nov. 30th showed
us just what we love. Clear sky and the sun was yet to appear.
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It's going to be a beautiful day
in the neighbourhood |
Today
marks the end of this first month on the road. We’ve come along way and seen a
lot of countryside and still have further to go. It is time for us to move, two
weeks here is just a tad too long. We love it, I love the walking, but with not much in
the vicinity to do outside the park we’ll not stay so long the next times. Bob
and Bill, especially, like to be more active. We are all looking forward to a
change and on Monday we’ll head into Arizona.
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| Getting ready for it |
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| Pop! |
While Bill started brewing his coffee, I was out down the road. It was
37F/2.7C so not warm by any means but with no wind (I think it blew itself out
yesterday!) it was another very pleasant 2-mile walk. I just can’t get over how
peaceful it is here and it seems no one is out and about at 6:30 or 7. My only critter
sightings this morning were a covey of quails and a bunny rabbit huddling over
nuggets in the sand. I’m glad they are finding interesting things to eat.
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| One rock planted |
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| Another glance at the sunrise at the Marina |
Back
home, my tea was good. Bill found a few ants up in a different cupboard, only a
few but they seem to be around the peanut butter. Everyone loves our Kraft
p.b.! After a bit of relaxing with blogs, he emptied the shelf and wiped it
down with the bug spray. Nothing up there is open so they couldn’t get in
anything but still, it is annoying how they get to where we find them. We’ve
managed to keep them at bay in the other cupboards and the fridge but have seen
them in the bathroom. Odd. There's no food in there!
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| The clouds over the mountains are gorgeous! |
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| This road is the name of the paved section of Dirt Road |
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Gosh, they are so adorable!
Little at his little cotton ball tail |
No mouse
in our trap yet, maybe he is planning his escape route before he sneaks in for
the p.b. After a second hot drink, Bill called his sister, Carol, and chatted
with her for a while. It is nice to hear voices from back home even for a short
call. It is great to touch base. After getting washed and cleaned up, Bill had a
text from our new friends in Guelph with a few queries. It is easier to call to answer questions
rather than text so Bill called Michael.
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There is one section with only 3 sites
These would be very private but they aren't compatible
for large units unless you parked on an angle |
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After we leave, I will miss these views
but I know I'll find other pretty ones |
We don’t ever expect everyone or anyone to do things exactly the way we do, we all have different needs
and are in different situations, but it is nice when someone asks for ideas
and options. They can take the information, check it out and use it or abandon
it. We are just happy to help. Jo-Anne texted to see if we wanted to tag along
to Las Cruces, about an hour’s drive, with them. We wanted to finish the phone
call and we hadn’t had breakfast/lunch yet so declined the invitation. Nice of
them to ask though.
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| A lot of birds sleep up in the bushes like this |
We had
some toast, jam and/or peanut butter and Bill had a yogourt before hopping in
Black Beauty for the drive into Truth or Consequences. A quick stop at the post
office and then on to Walmart for the few things on our list. We just picked up
cheese and eggs in the food section, then found a 2020 Atlas ‘large style’ (for
us older folk, the book is the same size but the print and maps are enlarged), clear Varathane spray for my rocks and finally a new toaster. This last item has been a
long time coming.
It wasn't expensive but we still hope it lasts a few years
and that we enjoy the toast it makes
I picked
ours up years ago from an Easter or Christmas family gathering. We’d decided to
do a raffle of purged items. We needed a toaster and my $4 won and the bonus
was that I knew my sister owned it before me and was just redecorating. It has
done us well but for a couple of years now, the shade selector hasn’t worked
well. We’ve nick-named it the ‘piece of s**t’ toaster. Now, it has gone to
where many old appliances go.
When we left there, we drove around to the laundromat in T or C and I went in
to check it out. We had first decided to wait until we got to Quail Ridge but
we have a full bag now and we’ll be so busy there with touristy stuff…..I will
sort clothes tonight and we’ll do it up in the morning. Then we don't have to think about it for another couple of weeks.
Lastly,
we stopped so I could check out a restaurant just around the corner from the
main road. Big Foot advertises good food and cheap beer so Bill and I plan to
treat ourselves our last night here. Maybe our friends will join us, we’ll see.
There's that kid in me coming out again!
Back home, I put the food away and sat in my chair with my book. Darn eyes! I
know I closed them for a few minutes but around 3, I got dressed and went out
for my second walk. The winds had picked up so the 50F felt more like 40 as I
walked.
Yup, she's hard to contain sometimes
The sun
was gorgeous and the fresh air was still very good for me. I had remembered to
take two more rocks with me. High 5! These are the rocks I either painted last
winter/fall/spring or this past summer. I have a lot to hide now. Back at the
Suite, I made a cup of tea for each of us and we had cheese strings and pork
rinds. Just a snack as I felt that I needed a nibble.
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My afternoon walk took me down to the beach in a roundabout way
Interesting how the wind was bringing waves in to shore |
My sister
sent me a picture of her and Gerry’s outfits for their Remax Christmas party
tonight. I didn’t get permission to share it so I won’t but they look very
stylish! Usually, it is a fancy affair (in my mind, as it should be) but this
year the powers that be chose a theme of 70’s attire. Donna wasn’t too thrilled,
enjoying the ‘dressup’ like I do, but they came up with some pretty funky outfits
suitable for the era. I don’t think any Cannabis was involved in choosing the
attire though. Good for you guys!
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The rock I hid yesterday is hard to see in the picture
Maybe I need to swap it out tomorrow for a different coloured one |
I love those parties but mostly the opportunity to dress up and go dancing! We used to
have some great Union galas back in the early 90’s when Bill and I worked at the
school board. For a few years, Bill and I played a big part in their success,
not meaning to brag about my sweetie but he was a great MC. Back to home,
Bill wanted to put up some Christmas lights and that is his department when it
comes to decorating. This is something that we can put up now to enjoy even
before we move.
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| This one is more visible so should be found easily |
Around
4:30, Bill’s step Mom, Marilynne, called after watching and hearing weather
reports about the flooding and rains in Arizona. She was concerned enough to
touch base with us and double check where we were. Marilynne doesn’t ‘do’ blogs or
texts so a phone call is the avenue of communication between us. It was very
nice of her to take the time and we were able to fill her in on our news from
here and from the home front.
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One window done for now
We forgot to pick up more clips
so he can get them in the morning while I'm doing laundry |
I started
warming up the last of our turkey, gravy and my turnip. Well, Jo-Anne’s turnip
that I’m going to finish. I cooked some mixed veggies for Bill as well. He made
a hot turkey sandwich and I just enjoyed it without the bread. It was a good
meal. This was the perfect size turkey breast, filling 8 tummies over a course
of 3 days. We have had enough bird for a while. For dessert, I dished us up
each some Creamy lime Jell-o. Yum.
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I enjoyed our last turkey meal
The turnip was delicious too! |
We did
dishes and Bill moved upstairs to finish watching a movie. I sat here to finish
my post while listening to Classic Rock on the television. I keep forgetting
that the channels up in the 900’s on the satellite are different genres of
music. No repeats. So, that is what I turned on and it was background noise
after when I was finishing my book. It is getting hard to put down!
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Dessert
Good night from Elephant Butte State Park! |
This was
a good day. Kind of quiet, but with some shopping also. I got my rocks
lacquered and put them away. This will protect them from the elements outside
when I hide them. I hope you’ve enjoyed your day too.
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I helped my cousin, Rita, again today with names on a few more old pictures
I'm sure she knew us in the picture but she shared this Christmas card
Mom sent to their family
I'm the baby in this one, sitting on Mom's lap
Gosh, Mom is beautiful! |
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And one last one from the backyard of our Lucan, Ontario home
We are all spread out here at the family reunion in 1967
In case you can't pick me out, I'm in the front row, 2nd on the left
in pony tails
Don't you love the old Brownies on the old arborite kitchen table? |
Thank you
for stopping in!
