Apricity West 2

I forgot to put this picture at Donutbar in last week. We’re starting to look like donuts ourselves while living the good life! 

 

April 1, 2022, Friday - Happy Birthday, Nora Colomb (Rich’s 1st born)

We were on the road by 8:15am with a 3 hour drive over Interstate 10 to Dream Catcher RV Park, Deming, NM. It was an uneventful ride, but we did pass through Texas Canyon with its magnificent boulders suddenly popping up in the landscape. 

Now that we are set up in our beloved Site 9, you can see why this is the request Rich makes each time he stays here. 

It is one of the few sites that has a towering conifer to provide shade for us. But I find myself moving from shade to sun and back to shade again - currently the WIND is strong and constant and the sun is bold and bright. The other reason Rich likes this spot is that he has a clear view of all who come and go. He also managed this park for a while so knows (or used to know) a lot of people here. When he went to the office to check in, he got a lot of information about those who are not here any longer. Diane & Tom and Ursala & Mike left the Erpu lots to join Zillah and Keith at Desert Oasis. It seems that 7 couples followed them over there due to a sizable increase in the lease here. 

 

Last year we spent quality time with Dennis and Brenda (who boasted that he was the only man she ever kissed as they were together since high school). Sadly, she passed away in August. Lost without her, Dennis spent about 5 months in Homer, Alaska with one of his daughters and is now here for a while to take care of his affairs and decide where to live. We look forward to seeing him. 

 

April 2, 2022, Saturday 

A day of adjustment - the sounds here in Deming are very different from Tucson where the Air Force jets were taking off and landing, sonic booms of jets taking off at a straight up trajectory, and distant traffic swooshes are now replaced with distant sounds of trains, planes and automobiles (oh, and the wind).

The birds here are much more vocal and far overpower the hummingbirds in Tucson - ha!

Mourning Dove

White winged Dove

Great-tailed Grackle

Surprisingly, the Grackle has the prettiest voice and song.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213743

There is no pool here, so I am taking my maiden walk since the broken fibula. I am not limping anymore and the only pain is when I do steps which is more about my hip than my leg. 2000 steps around the park and then another 1000 at the car show. Doesn’t sound like much, but it is only 4 weeks - supposed to take 6 weeks to heal!

 

Really missing Terri and Jim this weekend - they are the best host and hostess of Tucson.

 

Dennis stopped by with his friend, Steve, to say hello. They were headed for the car show in town so we also visited the event. My first car show!

Love the teardrop…

Then we took a detour to Rock Hound State Park, 6 miles into the desert. People like to hike up the mountain looking for geodes and cornelians.

April 3, 2022, Sunday

Did my 2000 steps around the park while listening to Lee UCC service. Then I practiced my ukulele as I do most every day - it is becoming more natural and I am trying new chords and strumming. 

 

Not much going on today - Deming can be best described as a hot and dusty desert town. It’s more about the people here. Went to Walmart for copy paper and stopped at China Restaurant for an order to go which was our meal of the day. 

 

April 4, 2022, Monday

Did my usual walk plus a few hundred more steps. I am in “training" to be able to walk 3 miles a day in June when I go to Broadway with Amy B. and Nora (granddaughter) for Road Scholar’s Behind the Velvet Curtain trip.

 

I walked by a familiar 5th wheel, truck, and spider (3 wheeled motorcycle). The man was outside so asked him if he had been in North Ranch, Congress, AZ. His wife came outside and when I mentioned Rich’s name, the woman said, “We met you in North Ranch.” Ah, Rich was right - they were the friends of Duane and Louise Wegley, who left NR early as Louise was scheduled to have a shoulder replacement. Brock and Leola were actually suiting up to go on a trip to Silver City recommended and mapped out by Duane. 

 

Dennis invited us over to his 5th wheel to “chew the fat.” We were there for 2 1/2 hours catching up. It has only been 7 months since Brenda passed and we shared many stories about her wit and sense for humor. 

 

Watched the first episode of Ken Burns’ Benjamin Franklin. I really enjoy historical documentaries. It was packed with all kinds of information. Can’t imagine what the last 2 hours will reveal tomorrow night!

 

April 5, 2022, Tuesday

I did my walk routine in spite of 20 to 40 mph winds predicted. Temperature will be 80 today but a dust storm as well. 

 

Went over the see Zillah and Keith Karstetter at Desert Oasis. He built a cute little 8’x 8’ shelter from sun and wind - perfect size for 4 people to sit and visit or play board games. They walk 2 miles every morning and pick up cornelians that they spot along the way. This is a fraction of their collection:

Watched Benjamin Franklin - the last two hours of the series was full of things I did not know about the Revolutionary War and what a role the Franklins (father and son) played in it from opposing points of view. I really enjoyed the whole show.  

 

April 6, 2022, Wednesday

There aren’t any breweries around here, but there is a winery 10 minutes from us. We had a light lunch with a flight (four 2 oz. glasses) of 2 whites and 2 reds. 

Meet Kayla our lovely sommelier - I’d be willing to bet she has a full body tattoo. Her nails are 3 inches long with red color on the underside. 

Lescombes is the family name. The new label, 6-3-1, stands for 6 generations, 3 continents (North America, France, and Africa), 1 passion. Most of their vineyards are in Lordsburg, NM where the soil is most like that in Africa. The wines we chose to buy and bring home were Pinot Grigio and Merlot - expensive for our taste, but the experience is what it is all about.

Dennis stopped by for a cocktail and we sat outside watching 2 young men wash and detail the camper. It was well worth seeing it sparkle in the sun.  

April 7, 2022, Thursday

Rich had an appointment in Palomas, Mexico to see the dentist, Dr. Lam, for a cleaning.

 

If you can see the white dot in the sky, it is a tethered Border Control balloon with cameras on state side. 

 

After that we went to the Pink Store for margaritas and lunch. This familiar little lady (Pink Store mascot) charges $1 for a picture - we gave her $2. She was here last year as well. 

After lunch, I went across the courtyard to see if the eye doctor had time to do an exam on me. Last year he gave me a new prescription, but I could never get used to them and changed back to my original lenses. But things are seeming a little fuzzy now, so I’ll have him check me again. I told him my saga, and he took another look which resulted in another prescription. It takes 2 hours to make them and we were done with our errands. They happen to be delivering to Deming tomorrow so we will meet them at Walmart. In the meantime, I am wearing a pair Rich’s cheaters.

 

On the way home, we stopped in Columbus, New Mexico to gas up - 4.04/gallon!

Dennis paid another visit this afternoon. So many great stories…