Good Places

In Black Mesa country

Editor Pilar Guzman says "Travel is more about changing your state of mind...the departure from routine, the act of discovery...than it is about taking a grand tour. It is precisely the ability to seek out the new (or the old, with fresh eyes) and to maintain a sense of wonder even in our hometowns...."

                                     Departure From Routine

                                     

Bob and I were able to escape the Oklahoma heat for a few days last week. With only one reservation made for that night’s stay in Trinidad, Colorado, we started early with a McDonald’s breakfast in Alva.  Once we got through all the oil field traffic in this area and well into the Panhandle, we began oohing and ahhing through the Black Mesa country. Real mountains in Oklahoma!

Wedding Cake Butte on Wedding Cake Ranch just into New Mexico

The pasture grasses were green, the cattle fat, the good road was mostly ours, and the mountains began to surround us.  We backed up lots of times for photos. Love this area!

 Acts of Discovery

We came upon this unique little stone jail in Branson, New Mexico. There are some interesting stories in ranch country!

Changing Our State of Mind

One of Bob's trip goals was to golf at Cougar Canyon resort outside of Trinidad.  He had seen photos of it on the internet and looked forward to playing there for the past 3 years.  But when we drove in that afternoon, we discovered it had gone into foreclosure and everything stood in a state of abandonment.  Lesson learned: Don’t trust websites…or at least check the dates on them! 

It reminded us of so many big ventures like this that failed in Colorado when we lived there in the 80’s. Thankfully, this was really the only disappointment of our trip and Bob enjoyed golf at the other Trinidad course that evening.

Taking a Grand Tour

We passed lots of interesting old churches on this trip and I decided to make a montage of the photos one of these days.

Next morning we took the Scenic Route 12 loop west of Trinidad up to LaVeta through the Spanish Peaks.  Another unspoiled, sparsely traveled and beautiful road past blue reservoirs, the still working Coalgate mine, fragrant pines and sparkling streams. Photo ops abound!


                                           

At LaVeta Bob joined a friendly Texas threesome for golf with good greens and grand views all around while I explored the little town and more of the old Spanish architecture. 

Grandote Golf Club at LaVeta, Colorado

                                           Maintaining a Sense of Wonder

We found a nice room at Fort Garland that evening and drove out to the Great Sand Dunes.  What a majestic place!  We were expecting some dunes out in the middle of a desert but these huge ever-changing dunes lie right at the foot of the mountains. 

On the deck of the visitor center a couple asked me to take their photo and we had an interesting discussion.  I commented on what I considered improbable about the literature inside that said the dunes were formed millions of years ago by sand coming down the little mountain streams.

 She said “No, I think God just did it.” To which I happily responded “Amen!”  Then he said “I liked what the Indians thought though; that some of their squaws carried all the sand here!” 

Traveling to Taos the next day we passed through several hamlets with interesting churches.  Some well maintained, some abandoned.  Perhaps a commentary on the spiritual lives of past and present residents as well?

                                                         Seeking Out the New

On the outskirts of Taos, we picked out a slab of stone for our new bath vanity and I found a hammered copper sink to go with it.  The Mexican owners and workers were so cheerful and friendly!  Sure enjoyed having a whole empty pick-up bed for BIGTIME shopping Southwest style…my favorite!

Jackalope bargains in Santa Fe

Which color?  Green or blue?  Okay, both!

Landscape ideas abound!

Seeing the Old With Fresh Eyes

We finished loading the truck near Pueblo at Musso's, our favorite farm market, with fresh Rocky Ford cantaloupes, melons, cherries, tomatoes, and onions. What a fine Italian immigrant bunch of farmers they are!

We didn't even buy a tenth of the veggie varieties they have!

Sunday morning we joined our Kansas brothers in Christ in their new activity building at Bible Christian in Garden City for worship and a great sermon. 

Later that day as we drove through the scenic Gyp Hills between Coldwater and Medicine Lodge nearing home, listening to Sirius Escape radio music, we both agreed with editor Guzman's analysis of travel.  There's a grand country to explore and enjoy within only hours of home.  

Lawn Lunacy

Bob and I decided to farm around the homestead this morning since it was a bit cooler (only 87 degrees)!  Weed-eating is one of my least favorite horticultural chores and I'd procrastinated about a month too long. I had to re-drill the holes that hold the wire I repaired the plastic guard with, re-fill the string spool, and re-attach the extension cord several times!

After moving hoses and sprinklers, and for the second time this summer, farmer Bob began fertilizing the Bermuda grass with his four-wheeler and buckets of nitrogen from the local Co-op.

Both of us were soon sweating and visualizing icy Cokes inside the 68 degree house!


Are you noticing something wrong with this picture? 

We spend lots of money for rural water and fertilizer to enjoy green growing grass.  Then more on lawn equipment and we labor trimming, weeding, clipping, and killing bugs to keep our place neat and trimmed.  In last summer's drought, we nearly gave up, but have vowed to keep ahead of the browning this year no matter what.

We see the beautiful yards and patios on HGTV and in magazines where people seem to be out there grilling and entertaining all summer long.  Here in northwest Oklahoma, we seldom have the inclination to sit out on our porches or cook outdoors, especially after a day of working out in the heat.  


One of our friends used to call the horses grazing in the pasture by their driveway their sea horses.  He said they weren't riding horses anymore, they were just see horses!


I guess by the same token that we actually just have see yards and see porches and are beginning to examine this rationale a little more closely!