This dome ceiling is carved/engraved/restored plaster.

The second restored dome ceiling.

Sorry about the glare from the flash but if you can read this it gives much information about the baskets in the next photo.

These baskets are gorgeous!

For your information...

It is awe inspiring to look upon something this old and beautiful that has survived all these years.

In the courtyard of the mission, our best friends, Gloria and Les.

They surprised us with a three day visit while we were in Tucson.

1:12 pm Sunday November 4, 2007

Today would be my mother’s 93rd birthday if she were still alive. She passed away in January of 1980 and although she has been gone 27 years, I continue to miss her every day! Writing her biography for the past few years has kept her memory vividly alive in my mind and my heart over all this time and finishing her story is the number one priority on my “Life List of Things to Do Before I Die.”

I have a new HP keyboard; only $20 at Wal*Mart. It does not have the slant that my last one had so typing on it is going to take some practice because it is more like a laptop keyboard (which I do NOT like). For some reason, I wear the paint off the keys of my keyboards and since Phil is not a “touch typist” he gets lost while he is typing when that happens.

We arrived in Casa Grande, AZ this past Wednesday and will stay until December 5th when we will most likely head west to Yuma for a few months this winter except for one week in February when we will return to Casa Grande to attend the Gypsy Journal Rally at the Pinal County Fairgrounds. You might remember we attended the first one held in the west last year and enjoyed it very much so we are looking forward to this one which the organizers, Nick and Terri Russell have promised will offer even more fun.

I pick up my travelogue in our first stop south of Santa Fe—the interesting little town of Truth or Consequences, NM.

Violet and her three daughters about 1972.

L-R: Dixie, Joy, Violet and Robin.

This is the view from our front windows at our site in Cielo Vista RV Park in Truth or Consequences, NM.

We enjoyed this scene so much last time we passed through, we had to stop again for a few nights.

Named for Elephant Butte, a small settlement not far from Truth or Consequences. It appears to be a fairly new, although seasonal retirement community.

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However there was not much going on when we were there.

The power plant.

As you can see, the water level behind the dam is very low. We talked to a local man who assurred us this is done every year as some kind of water conservation measure.

Having no contradictory information, we did not disagree but it sure seems like a drastic step during the prime boating season

Anchored out in the middle with a very long walkway ... the boats are still afloat, barely.

A work in progress ...

The Viet Nam Memorial Wall has found a permanent home in Truth or Consequences, NM.

The Rio Grande river meandering around the perimeter of town.

A variety of Prickley Pear cacti (long, slender pads) we had not seen before ... heavy with fruit.

Border crossing into LaPalomas Mexico.

One of several Mexican trucks waiting to cross into the USA with their loads of produce (hopefully) taking advantage of the new law allowing them free access.

The restaurant and store that advertises they cater to American's. The lady who checked us into the LO-HI RV Park in Deming told us a group from the "Loner's On Wheels" RV club go down every week for lunch and "free margaritas."

We passed ...

The main street. So different from Tijuana or Algodones ... no vendors and very dirty. Phil and I were the only Americans in sight.

Definitely not a tourist town and I was ready to leave very quickly.

This vehicle was being searched for ??. We could see the three people who were in it being detained inside.

This dummy came straight from the parking lot on the US side at a fast walk toward this officer then, had second thoughts about his actions and actually had the brains to stop (and none too soon) before this rifle was pointed at him.

Border Patrol officers sitting in the shade at a makeshift checkpoint coming back into the USA from Mexico.

We first noticed this crop on the drive to Mexico from Deming. Since neither of us have ever been around a farm, we could not identify the plant. This photo does not do it justice as the fluffy heads are a bright, brownish orange. We think it might be millet.

Can anyone identify it?

9:26 am Sunday October 28, 2007

The following text was written over a week ago when I was making an effort to update my blog then started having problems with the Internet. I have decided to include it anyway and play “catch up” again later now that our equipment appears to be performing flawlessly—greatly reducing our anxiety levels.

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October 21, 2007

Today is the big day. We will register for the 5th Annual MotoSAT DataStorm Users Rally sometime during today and attend the potluck at 5:30 pm to “meet and greet” the other attendees. Phil monitors the DataStorm User’s Forum and the Escapees Forum on line daily and he is really looking forward to putting faces to the names he has become so familiar with.

It has been hot here in Tucson since we arrived but the weather is supposed to really cool down for the next couple days then finish up the week in the low to mid 80s. That will be a pleasant change. Of course, MY nemesis—the wind—blows eternal in the desert and so Phil has been putting Penny’s awning up, then down, then up again, then down again! Sure makes one covet the automatic, self stowing awnings on the newer rigs. One day we came home after an afternoon of errands and a movie to find the neighbors has put up our awning for us. The next day Phil found the guys who did it and gave them our grateful “thanks”. We were embarrassed for committing the cardinal sin of Rvers (leaving the rig unattended with the awning down) but the fellows who came to our rescue when the wind came up told Phil, “Hey, we Rvers take care of our own!” Thanks again guys!

I pick up my travel journal when we left Colorado Springs, CO and headed south to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A visit with my nephew Dane, his wife, Jiaming and their 10-year old son, Joshua who live in Los Alamos was the primary reason but visits to Taos and Santa Fe were high on the list as well. We were rained out in Taos, (thunder and lightening chased me back to the car) and (as I always say, “We’ll just have to go back.”) but we really did enjoy Santa Fe. However, (and in our opinion only) our experience suggests that shoppers looking for a bargain from the local artisans should “Forget it! It ain’t gonna happen!” The word is out … the gringo tourists will pay any price so jack it up. Since we had neglected to rob a bank before going shopping, we walked away empty handed.

Back in the "Land of Enchantment" and we hoped some really good weather!

What is it they say about the best laid plans?

At 7,834 feet, Raton Pass at the Colorado-New Mexico border now ranks in my book as one of the best passes in the country. As you know, I do not "do" mountains and although I was a bit anxious, the "Mountain Directory West" assured us it was an easy ride. They were correct. The 6% grades were each no more than a mile long then the hiway flattened out before the next grade came along.

I can say to my fellow mountain challenged people with total confidence it was a "piece of cake!"

State Seal of New Mexico.

New Mexico State Capital Building in Santa Fe, definitely not your typical state capital building!

Often called "the round house", earlier described by one governor as the "ugliest building in town." He went out and scoured the state for hundreds of indigenous flora and ordered the grounds planted to hide the structure. This picture was taken before the campus was overgrown with his creative camouflage.

note: picture borrowed from the Wikipedia website.

Pictures at the entrance showing the previous and more traditional capital buildings in Santa Fe.

Very impressive entrance to the governor's office and art gallery.

The state of New Mexico uses the capital building as an ever changing gallery displaying the work of local artisans. This gorgeous wooden trunk is overlaid with embossed metal (aluminum?). It was a lovely surprise when we went inside to look around.

Beautiful ...

Very interesting concept--painted metal collages that are extremely colorful and rich looking.

11:54 am Saturday October 27, 2007

I am trying to continue uploading pictures into my blog after losing the internet last Sunday and not getting back on line all week (equipment failure) but NOW I am back online but Blogger is not cooperating! I will try again later today. Maybe it will be less busy.

I thought this large case built from an old door then painted to house treasures was the most clever example of recycling I have ever seen.

Rotunda dome.

Three levels around the rotunda displaying just some of the art work in the building.

Colorful and imaginative examples.

Phil and I were fascinated by this piece of art work.

S-o-o-o-o inventive. S-o-o-o creative!

A closer look at the "found" items used to create this beauty!

Vendor row across the street from the plaza.

Native American vendors lined up with their wares for sale. Each one had a "permit" from the city to be there. As we browsed along the row, it all started to look alike and I have been told the bulk of their raw material is imported. Very expensive and very disappointing.

Pueblo architecture everywhere you look. I suppose it could be a city mandate because it is definitely the preferred appearance.

Very expensive "bling" in the window of a shop across the street from the Santa Fe Plaza.

This large gallery in downtown Santa Fe has many bronzes on display around the outside of the building. I so admire people with the talent to create these incredibly beautiful pieces of art.

Magnificent bull elk!

This cowboy startled me as I turned the corner. So life-like!

I loved this life-size pregnant sow although she looks so uncomfortable!

Loretto Chapel in downtown Santa Fe New Mexico.

The entrance. The church is owned by a private family today and they charge a small ($2) fee per person. Also, a nice gift shop sells all kinds of religious accoutrement's along with the usual tourist stuff.