What we've been up to

We've gone off-roading with Rick and Y.  They took us to Greenie Peak for some beautiful views of the Red River Valley and ski slopes, Midnight Meadow, and tried going to Cabresto Lake but the road was closed for construction.  After lunch in Red River, we headed up to Goose Lake but had to turn around half way up due to heavy rain, hail, and lightning.

As we traveled along, Rick pointed out a couple of interesting homes; one of which was made from a caboose.

On another day, we visited the DAV Vietnam Veterans Memorial to pay our respects and which turned out to be a very somber experience. Construction of the chapel was started by parental love over the loss of their son during a battle near Con Thien, South Vietnam and grew into something so much more.  You can read more about the Memorial here.  

After lunch in Angel Fire, we returned to Eagle Nest and John took me up the road he road on his bike up to Idlewild.  Along the way, we watched a coyote slink across a field full of resting cows.  As the coyote approached the cows, each one stood up and watched the coyote go by.  We also got to see him/her make a full out run towards some prey (probably a prairie dog) that he missed.  We are so easily entertained LOL.

On September 1, along with Rick and Y, we headed towards the town of Mora and visited the Victory Ranch Alpaca Farm.  We were too early to feed the Alpacas but got to see and pet them up along the fence and meandered through their gift shop/store with all their Alpaca products and yarns.  Here is the sweet face of one of the Alpaca's:

From Mora, we headed towards Taos with a stop at the San Francisco de Asis Church.  

From there we had lunch at Taos Outback Pizza.  We bought pizza by the slice and boy, were they huge and tasty, too!  Then we headed to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge for some photos and after a stop at McDonalds for some cold drinks, we headed home.

John and I ventured out yesterday to the Cleveland Millfest (music, food, crafts) held at The Cleveland Roller Mill Museum which is a 3-story adobe, water-powered historic flour mill that runs only on Labor Day each year.  The tour we took was interesting but grew so large with people, that it became hard to hear what the docent said and to see what she described.  Still is was very interesting and we learned a lot about the mill and the milling process.  We also had very good Indian Tacos topped with green chili.

Most evenings are spent in the Rec Room here at the park playing cards or Pegs and Jokers and socializing - good fun.  Rick and Y's friends here have been most welcoming which makes one feel good.

Stressful times for Rick and Y as their son and daughter's families had to be evacuated yesterday early evening due to massive fires near Bastrop, Texas.  So far their family homes are safe but the fire is still raging out of control.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the fires.