Day trippin' this summer: Taos

While waiting for the troop to come off the trail in Philmont we did a bit of exploring on our own.  First stop:  Taos.

Taos from Angel Fire is a winding road through the mountains on narrow highways that are very much like a roller coaster!  FYI: roller coasters terrify me.

It makes Hubby a little crazy when I grip the dashboard and say "oh!" like I do...I'm a bit of a Nervous Nellie as a passenger, I'll admit.

We went to a market square in town and spent time bopping around looking at local crafts.  We bought some souvenirs, including another patch for Hubby's cook apron, some Taos incense, and some green chiles.  There were shops with pottery, turquoise, and leather items.  Lots of beautiful handmade crafts. 

Then we stopped by a Mexican restaurant off the square and enjoyed some stuffed jalapenos, and chilies relleno.

We drove around Taos a bit, but we didn't stay long enough to see the Taos Pueblo. However, we did go to the visitor center and watch an historical movie and learn about the history of the art scene in Taos. Back in Angel Fire we bought some scallops, fresh veggies, and ramen to make a stir fry for dinner.  Next stop: the Vietnam Memorial and Eagle's Nest.

Gina

What the week holds, and game on

Last Thursday was the first game of the season for our high school football team - the Taco Shack Taco Bowl.  Sadly we lost the game by 6 points.  But it was a great start for the band who sounded terrific!

Seven p.m. in Austin is HOT in August. 

This week we have Court of Honor and a dessert potluck for Scouts, I have a follow up with my doc for a gastritis issue (no fun), and I'm helping with catering for the band on Thursday (big fun).  Hubby and I have documents to gather for the purchase of the land so keep your fingers crossed for us it will all go smoothly.  Other than those things, it's a calm week around here.  Just rolling on to September!

Gina

We are buying some land in Burnet

For months now, Hubby and I have been talking about our Plan B - what we would like Life to look like after the last bird leaves the nest.  And to that end, he's been researching land for sale in the Texas Hill Country.  And I think he found a winner - a 5 acre lot in Burnet county, with two other smaller parcels that gain us access to the boat launch owned by the property owner's association.

One of the previous owners was a distributive education instructor.  So there are loads of BIG trash on the property.  Like boats.  And tires.  And empty tanks.  And trailers.  And other stuff I don't even know what it is. So we have our work cut out for us.

The paved road ends and a crushed stone drive begins.  And so do pretty views.  

 

 

Along the way we talked about perhaps building there some day.  We don't have to decide that right now - as long as we have the first piece of the puzzle, we can fit the rest together later.  And we can take Mabel out there a few times and get the feel of it - where does the sun hit and when?  That sort of thing. 

Every time Hubby and I attempt something like this, it seems to work out for the best.  And every time, I'm amazed that I'm a grown up that can do such things!  

Gina

On the road with Mabel - New Mexico travelin' and Cimarron

After Palo Duro, we made our way west.  The one thing you notice when you are in New Mexico is that things stretch out forever, just like in West Texas.  And there is very little traffic on two lane highways.  And zero big rigs!  And zero trees!

 And one minute you are travelin' along, enjoying seeing the mesas in the distance...

 ...the next minute you are closer and what's that you see?  Storm clouds!  It pretty much rained daily.  Which was wonderful coming from the drought and heat in Central Texas.

 

 

 

 By late lunchtime we had found our way to Cimarron.

 

On the way through Cimarron, we stopped at the Cree-Mee Drive-In for a plate of wonderful enchiladas - heck, once you make me wait that long for lunch, any enchiladas will do.  Hey look, there are scouts in here!

 The main drag of Cimarron is less than a mile long, and since the population is just over one thousand, we didn't see many people out and about.  Looks eerily like a ghost town in places.  After a few days in Angel Fire, we returned to Cimarron to meet up with Bubbie, fresh off the trail.

We did some shopping and bopping around.  The people we did meet were very friendly and there was a neat shop with lots of old scout memorabilia.

Another shop was in an old mercantile building and had a soda fountain, along with this wall of scout patches from years of young men going through Philmont. Very neat!

We mostly just puttered around.  Although we did buy patches to sew on Hubby's camping cook's apron.  We also visited an old mill, but of course I forgot to take pictures!

We stopped by a "haunted" hotel called the St. James.  Seems like everywhere we went, there were flowers blooming - so much beautiful color.

 The road from Cimarron to Eagle's Nest comes with some awesome scenery.

I was so out of breath the entire time we were in New Mexico - I never got used to the altitude.

 

Bubbie looked tired but happy - what an accomplishment!  We gave him an iced gallon zip-loc of Snickers to share with his trek mates and took him shopping at the trading post.

 Mount Baldy: 

 My kid made it to the top of that mountain! 

Next up: exploring Eagle's Nest.

Gina

What the week holds, and artful magnets for the breakroom fridge

Last week I got a 10 magnet freebie from Shutterfly.  Just few days before I was sitting in the breakroom at work thinking about what a glum place it is. We have 2 full size fridges in the breakroom now with silly pizza take out magnets on them.   I figured now was a good time to make magnets. 

 So I "borrowed" some of my favorite pics from my favorite photographer's website

 and had five 3x5 magnets made to add some beauty to those refrigerators.

 All of them are so restful and beautiful - just the thing you want in a breakroom at work.

The one above is my personal fav - a reminder that cooler days, and the holidays, are just around the corner.  This week is the beginning of the school year here in Austin and the last year I will have a kid in public school!  Tuesday I have a webinar to watch for CEU's, and evening practice for my band kid. There is a departmental meeting at work (on my day off - yuck) and the first football game of the season on Thursday.  Then a morning band practice for my kid on Thursday and Friday.  

What does your week look like?

Gina