TRIP TO LAS CRUSES, NEW MEXICO

The mountain views are always awesome!

March 14th we left for a four day stay in Las Cruses, New Mexico to visit with Gary's cousin on his mother's side of family.  We have visited Mildred a couple other times when headed to Arizona, but this was good to visit without any pressures.

We stopped on the trip down at Jerry Bob's in Catalina, AZ for breakfast and break from driving. It was a windy trip, and we were glad that we were not in the motorhome. Actually, if in the motorhome, we would have stopped for the day!!
The scenery from Mildred's patio is awesome!

She especially loves it in the morning for sunrise. They have very nice rooms that you can rent in the Retirement Center where she lives, which we really appreciated, especially the short walk down the hall to turn in for the day.
Mildred is doing very well and as active as always.  She is so glad to be in her smaller home requiring less housekeeping, but misses her husband, Zollie, who she lost recently.

She and Gary spent much of the day at their computers working on genealogy research, and pulling out photo albums to back up the many, many stories. I spent my time reading, washing up dishes whenever we ate at home, and taking pictures of the photos and writings in her many albums.  I thought that this was the easiest way to get copies for Gary's records.
She also had a few old photos from when Gary's father worked in the coal mines in West Virginia. So I took pictures of those as well.

Mildred kept having trouble connecting on-line and staying on, so was very frustrating until they found out that the entire Center had the same problem.
On Sunday afternoon we went to her daughter and son-in-law's for corn beef and cabbage dinner for St. Patrick's.  So delicious!!  And I came home with another new recipe.  Soda Bread this time.

Gary, Jim, Barbara and Mildred

Thank you Barbara and Jim for a wonderful dinner and visit!!
Monday we left early enough to go to La Masilla (some old town area in Las Cruses) for lunch. On the way we saw the tent city that has been provided for the homeless.

Homeless Tent City in Las Cruses NM.

It has worked well and was written up in a New York newspaper.  They have Social Service and employment help available to them as well as a good food kitchen, showers, and rest rooms.  Guess we could all take a lesson from Las Cruses.

Gary wants one!  We actually passed this in Las Cruses.

De La Posta restaurant was great and we indulged in some very good Mexican food.  Topped off with a little honey pastry for our sweet tooth.  We also enjoyed the decor' very much.

This fireplace was right beside our table.

We then left there and stopped at Caos Bookstore where we found tons of used books.

Most were beyond our desired prices, but did find a few racks for $1 outside and a table for 50cents inside. So need them or not, we spent some money  They also had a case, under lock and key, for some rare finds.  One was $1000.

Tuesday was more of the same work until time for some company of Mildred's to arrive for dinner there at the Center.  We had met Gene and Mae on a previous stop in Alamogordo when Mildred lived there. So it was a good visit and re-acquainting.

Mae, Gene and Mildred

Audrey, Gary and Mildred

We left early for our seven hour drive home, stopping at Denny's for breakfast and for a break in the drive.  When arriving back in the Mesa area, we stopped at Walmart for some scrapbooking supplies that I had been wanting to get.  Mission accomplished.  We arrived back home with enough time to put our feet up to rest. We had a play to attend here in the park that evening, called "Assisted Living"

We certainly were not impressed.  It would have been better saving the money.But sometimes that happens when you make reservations, sight unseen.
Thursday and Friday put us right back into our routine of activities here in the park. And we also found time to go to the Flea Market one last time.  We did not buy much, but were glad to get a dash cover to fit the Honda to keep down the glare and heat.  It was much needed and we were glad to have the proper fit.
Stay tuned for more activity.  Our time here in Arizona is soon coming to an end.