Joke's On Us!

     When we were here visiting last December, Bob, Esperanza and I enjoyed a really wonderful hike on a trail not far from town.   It was in the mountains but only moderately challenging, and rewarded us with a very spectacular view of a mountain peak to the south. 
Since moving to New Mexico, we have tried unsuccessfully almost a dozen times to return to that trail.  Each of us was absolutely positive it began just outside of town and on the left side of the road.  We were also all positive it began on a highway just east of where Esperanza's apartment is.  We even stopped in at the US Forest Service office and spoke with a trail expert who guessed at several possibilities, but who must have been shaking his head in puzzlement as we left. 
     Well, today we found it!  Quite by accident.  We weren't even looking for it.  No, we were headed to a music festival at a ski resort about 30 minutes away.  Shortly after leaving Taos, both Bob and I saw the trail head and exclaimed, almost simultaneously, "there it is!"   We had been right all along about its being near town and on the left side of the road--we'd just been picturing it on the wrong highway! 

Birthday Surprise

      "Give it to Grandma, give it to Grandma...."  I heard Esperanza's words to Frankie as they were coming up the driveway.  When I walked out of the bedroom, there stood my grandson, proudly presenting me with a birthday cake he and mama had just purchased at the bakery.  My first-ever "Happy Birthday, Grandma" cake.  And well-timed, too, because even though my birthday is still a few days off,  Frankie will be with his dad that day.  This way, I was able to share cake and candles with him, too.  It was a sweet surprise--in both senses of "sweet!"--made all the more so by having Frankie share in the candle-blowing!  And, yes, of course, Grandma gave Frankie the cherry from the top of the cake!

 

Unwinding with Grandpa

      Frankie is a little boy on the move most of the time.  He rarely takes time to sit--except to eat.  So when he was enjoying books with Grandpa the other day, I finally went to get the camera.  Of course, I'd waited too long and by the time I returned, Frankie was ready to be on his way again.  15 minutes of laptime was a gift to Grandpa, and Frankie's limit!   

NOW It's 100% Official!

     One more trip today to the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles yielded a successful application for Bob's driver's license.  He, too, is now in possession of the NM document, making this branch of the family tree now 100% New Mexican.
     As the clerk handed him his temporary license and returned all his identity-supporting documents, I asked, "Did we pay you?"  We were surprised at her response--no charge since this is a one year license.  Once a driver reaches 75 in New Mexico,  they must renew every year.  We had known that, but didn't know that there would be no fee for his license from now on.  Welcome news! 

Another First for Us

     We've been feeding hummingbirds for years now.  The ones that have come to our feeders in Marquette were the ruby-throats--mostly a shimmering green with a bright red neckline (especially on the males.)  Now that the "hummers" have located our feeders in New Mexico, we've noticed there are two varieties vying for sole ownership.  The second is a rufous hummingbird which, when it catches the NM sunlight, looks almost golden.  We think we have about 4 regular birds coming to our feeders and they entertain us with constant "dog-fights" throughout the day, spending most of their time chasing each other away from the food source; once in a while, they pause to actually indulge.  Yesterday morning, we were flabbergasted to see 3 of them feeding simultaneously on the same feeder.

Summer Stroll in the Neighborhood

Another rainbow tonight above "our" mountains.



Frankie ponders whom to squirt next and is oblivious of the rainbow and mountains behind him.




Heading north, and up hill from home.




Heading homeward, facing the town of Taos.




Sun setting behind a neighbor's hacienda.



Our place, as seen through a gap in the fence.  The small structure in the center is a storage shed.  The taller one on the right is a neighbor's house.



Home again, jiggety jig!














Viva Los "Yoopers!"

     It's not quite the same as "wearing one's heart on one's sleeve," but our new plate for the front of the car does declare our loyalty to a very special place in itself, and in our lives.  The plate may also serve as a conversation starter here--who knows where other Yooper transplants might be?  (Bob actually ran into a guy at Wal-mart who asked if Bob had graduated from Western Illinois University because Bob was wearing their logo shirt--a gift from a sister and brother-in-law on the faculty there.)  So, Yooper connections could be out there, too--we've seen a car around town a few times with another plate:  "Yoosta be a Yooper."  In the local parlance, "viva los Yoopers!"--long live yoopers--wherever they are living today!