Welcome Home Buggy Ride!

Our neighbor, Jane, called this afternoon.

She offered a buggy ride several times last year and the timing was never right.

Today? 

I couldn't pass up a welcome home ride with her

and

her 12-year old Haflinger, Velda.

Spring is always so pretty here.

This was a nice chance to go

'around the block'

(in excess of 6 miles)

to

enjoy the neighborhood in slow motion.

Please join us.

Meet Velda and my friend, Jane.

This is the Cadillac of carts.

I feel like royalty.

Off we go past our barn, silo and, of course, our Jeep

without which no blog post would be complete.

Approaching the farm at the other end of our road.

Isn't Velda's mane beautiful blowing in the light breeze?

Many Amish families have moved into the area in the past two years.

This Amish farmer and several others have dairy herds.

The back of our home, barn and hangar are coming up on the right.

A peaceful hour-long ride ends too quickly.

Jane drives Velda into the driveway to give her practice backing.

Great job, Velda and

THANK YOU, JANE!

This was the best "welcome home" ever.

Snowy Cold Welcome

After all the bragging our family and friends at home have done about the wonderful warm winter they have had, I have my doubts about their honesty. 

We arrived home two days ago and it has been cold and snowy or rainy ever since without a ray of sunshine. 

Well, there may have been just one wee, tiny, fleeting ray.

In spite of all that, we are happy to be here.

There was a weeklong delay in western KY when the truck refused to start one morning.

It took the dealer what seemed forever while our campground host was ever so thoughtful and accomodating.

Hats off to Mike at Western KY RV Park!

After two days he offered his car to us for grocery shopping.

One day he brought us a container of mutton bbq, a specialty from Owensboro which might be the only place that makes it.

There was enough for both of us for two lunches -

talk about generosity!

I have to admit I had my doubts about it but,

when in Rome.

It was delicious!

Shows that when we have the opportuity to try something new,

we need to go for it with an open mind.

If, one day, you are passing through Central City, Kentucky

stop at Western KY RV Park

and

tell Mike we said he is the best!

We had a few days this winter where we visited special places that I, for one reason or another, did not blog.

I hope to get to them soon.

Keep watch.

In the meantime,

ask Mother Nature to take pity on us

thin-blooded folks

and bring on the sunshine

---

only not too much heat,

please.

Spring Has Come to Elephant Butte

We've had company for a few days -

a friend from Texas we hadn't seen in seven years.

Thanks for taking time out of your life to come see us, Bill!

We had a great time.

Vic took Bill out for a few days to see the area.

They came back yesterday with the wildflower report.

Today Vic retraced their route so that I might see what is blooming.

Amazing the difference a couple of days makes.

The first blooms we saw were smack dab in the middle of the road!

Typical desert day -

just enough of a breeze that none of the flowers would hold still.

This little guy (gal) begged to be photographed.

 

Cactus wrens often build their nests in the cholla.

Two nests are in this one.

One is at the very top and...

this one near the base.

This is a fishhook barrel cactus.

Note that it leans.

Adult fishhook barrel cacti lean to the south thus they were nicknamed

compass barrel cacti.

When lost in the desert the leaning habit of this cacti makes a good direction finder.

The 'fishhooks' for which it is named.

On our return through the town of Elephant Butte we spotted the

following blooms in front of the Elephant Butte Inn.

An outstanding yucca....

and this glorious claret cup in front of an ocotillo

marked the end of a colorful day.