Hometown

I was looking through some photos this morning, searching for a little blog post inspiration. I found these photos of the area where my husband and I grew up in southern New Mexico. I thought I'd share them-it's a beautiful place and my husband's family still live there. Las Cruces, NM.

The Organ Mountains just east of town.

The three crosses representing the town's name Las Cruces. It is said that a massacre took
place there several hundred years ago and the place was marked by
many crosses where the dead were buried by the area priests.

Rio Grande (Big River) just outside of town

The old train station, now an excellent railroad museum that
our grandchildren love to visit when we are visiting there.

St. Genevieve's-a beautiful mission church that the town was
built around. It was built in 1889 and torn down in 1967 during "urban renewal".
Almost all of the historic downtown buildings were torn down
to make way for "progress".

Red chile ristras. Now used to decorate homes, they once
hung in local kitchens to make the wonderful food New Mexico is famous for!

Beauty in the desert.

White Sands National Monument-a place where we played,
picnicked and celebrated birthdays. The gypsum sand was always
cool and slightly moist.

I hope I haven't bored you too much with these memories. Even though we love where we live now, these pictures bring back lots of happy memories!

September

Goodbye to August

It's been a bittersweet day, this last August day. Some sunshine and some tears. Our son and his sons are here for the Labor Day weekend. Our daughter and her three came over and we have had a good day of visiting, playing and eating. Our middle grandson saw that his cousin was riding his bike without training wheels and is now riding his bike without! His mother had to work and couldn't come with her family to visit-she cried when she saw her oldest boy's new accomplishment via video.

One of my husband's cousins that was more of a sister passed away this morning unexpectedly from a massive heart attack. We were married on her birthday 45 years ago and we had just attended her 70th birthday party on our anniversary this year. It has been a sad shock for all of the family. We would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Seven years ago, we moved here from Odessa, Texas and left many good friends there. Today at least 21 people were shot and 5 killed in a mass shooting there. It doesn't seem possible.

It's been a long last day of August.

Rain!

Finally, a break in the brutally hot, dry weather. Today has been in the 80's and we've had an inch and a half of rain. It's been lovely, or at least it looks lovely. I've been asleep off and on most of the day after having a tooth extracted and an implant placed. Sore, but doing well.

Today our oldest grandson turns 7! We had cake and presents on Saturday to celebrate. Hard to believe 7 years have gone by!

Seven years ago.

First day of school last week.

We're looking forward to having our son and his two boys here for the Labor Day weekend! Our three grandsons are best buddies and love being able to play together.

Still August...

...although it actually doesn't seem possible that it's already half over. School starts next week for our local grands. It always makes me feel like fall is just around the corner.  A reeeaalllly long corner...

Stay cool friends!!

August!

Well, it may be the last full month of summer, but it will still be HOT for at least 2 more months here! Still, August always feels like the light at the end of the tunnel. Fall is getting closer-my favorite time of the year!