Where we've "been"

     I am stunned to realize that it has been nearly a month since we've posted anything here.  We have been very busy, and have had very limited computer time (since our 2 primary sources of internet close by 6 pm every evening.)  The day after our post on April 17, we had fun celebrating Frankie's 2nd Birthday.  Not long after that, while he was with his Dad, the other 3 of us took a hike along the west rim of the Rio Grand Gorge which is just 8 miles from our new home.  The highlight of that actually came as we were leaving.  On our return drive across the Gorge bridge, we spotted a herd of nine big-horn sheep clambering along the steep walls of the gorge.  Of course, we parked the car, got out, watched their efforts and took pictures.
     Another amusing incident came a few days later.  We were in the library parking lot, getting into our car, when we spotted an endearing "license plate" on the front of the car across from us.  It read "Used to be a Yooper."  For those of you not from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a "Yooper" is someone who is a native of the "U.P." or someone who is significantly rooted there, as we feel we will always be.
     This past weekend, we managed to get in another hike along a mountain trail which we found in a book titled, "Day Hikes in the Taos Area."  This trail was described as gradually gaining elevation, and being especially interesting since it crosses a creek several times and there are lots of wildflowers.  Well, it was apparently too early for wildflowers, but the part about crossing a creek several times was an understatement!  It crossed that creek about every 200 yards or so.  And each crossing was challenging in its own way.  Some required us to balance on large rocks.  Others provided a fallen tree, or a combination of rocks and tree.  We all did quite well with each crossing until about halfway down the mountain on our return when Caryl slipped on a very wet rock underfoot, lost her balance, and plunged sideways into the rushing stream.  Fortunately, she escaped with "only" large bruises on her upper thigh--nothing broken!!  
      When we're not discovering hiking trails or playing in local parks with Frankie, we've been quite busy setting up utilities, phone, internet, trash disposal, etc. at our new address.  The previous tenant is still using the box for our address, so we have been unable to make an official change of address.  That is a bit frustrating, to say the least.  Hopefully, she will soon relinquish her key so we can begin collecting our mail in the box just up the road,  and using the Llama Road address rather than General Delivery in Taos.  Meanwhile, we're eager to begin unpacking what we so tediously packed weeks ago, and to begin finding places for them in our new home.