Friday--Last Full Day IN NM

Went to the P.O. to send off forty-eight bucks of clothes I couldn't fit into the suitcase. Walked about two miles around the golf course. Cleaned up my room and bath. Company for dinner. Bed and slept well.

Thursday

Breakfasted, then put in a large load of wash. Waiting for it to dry, I just sat and played games on this machine. Had lunch, then went to Wal-Mart and Albertson's. Later, walked about three, I guess, then home.

I want to get to the P.O. to send off some "extra" clothes. I really overdid packing for this trip, although it was, of course, more than a month away.

Thursday--that's THURSDAY...*

 We left Santa Fe at 9:30 and got back south in about two and a half hours. Drove through the beautiful scenery, seeing it even more beautiful highlighted with snow. 

Got to my hostess/companion's home, had lunch, then I went on the laptop to try to nail down a number of urgent items, such as reserving the Airporter Shuttle to take me from LAX to Four Points in Ventura. Also made a number of other necessary calls, including to my favorite daughter, Ellen,** who will pick me up at Five Points Ventura from the shuttle. She asked if I wanted to go out for dinner after and hey, the day I say no to that is the day I'll be six feet under. 

After, my hostess and I drove to the high school complex to walk a kind of loop around the playing fields. I guess it was only a mile and a bit, but boy, it was windy and cold. Stopped at the P.O. to get some mailing boxes--they're free, but regardless of weight, cost fifteen bucks and change in postage.

We had a good dinner of meatballs, rice, and peas. Since I rarely eat the former (or other red meat) and the latter are two of my favorites, it was yummy. After, we all just read our books in real time (me) or electronically (them). 

*At breakfast, hostess suggested we have G. and G. over for dinner on Friday "my last day." But this is Friday, I said, but no, it wasn't. It makes me a bit nervous to realize I had the day wrong (thinking of sibling dementia, of course), but I'm trying to chalk it up to being in an unfamiliar environment. 

**Of course, she's my favorite along with my other daughter (family joke).

Last Full Day in Santa Fe

This is what we were confronted with yesterday. It snowed intermittedly most of the morning, then tapered off. Later, the sun came out and the skies blued.

But we didn't let that stop us. After lunch, we took off for a large mall and walked its circumference three times, going about two, I guess. We parted for a bit and got myself a new pair of sneakers, plus found at Dillard's the pants I liked (they had no 12 petite, but--incredibly--10 petite fit me). Also stopped into the post office--very convenient to have it there--at got two large containers for the clothes I want to send home ahead.

After, we drove to town and walked the Plaza. This is the artsy area that features a lot of native American art, plus jewelry and clothing. Walked in and out of stores, admiring this and that. We also took pictures at the cathedral and elsewhere.  

Me at entrance.

Went home, had dinner, then spent an enjoyable hour playing gin rummy, after which, we watched a movie. Today, we leave Santa Fe.

SNOW

 Good grief--it snowed! The forecast was for light snow and it started that way, but I just got up and it looks like about a foot on the ground. There had also been a strong wind, but it looks calmer now. 

Even so, we decided to hazard a walk. Piled on most of the outer clothes we had brought and set out. I made it about a quarter mile, then said, "hell, no," and went back. She went on and walked for a half hour or so.

Nevertheless, we had planned to go out to dinner--to the vegetarian/vegan restaurant (authentic Indian, I think) and set out about 4:30. It was still snowing, but the roads weren't slippery. We got to the place to find it closed, drove to another--closed--and finally decided we eat home and we did.

Our landlady called re my companion's text about setting the temperature for the heat. It was finally remedied and we're now cozy. Watched a movie with George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, about politics. It was pretty good, but for some reason, the Internet failed and we didn't see the ending.  

One of the many reasons I love living in Ventura is that it doesn't ever get this cold. Darn, we had been  planning to go to Taos yesterday (the Georgia O'Keefe museum), but had to scuttle that. Earlier, we went out to some thrift and consignment shops, but saw nothing we wanted. Stopped at Albertson's to augment lunch, but languished inside a lot of the day. 

Los Alamos

 We spent the morning on mundane financial stuff, which included making a reservation for my flight home. I'm going from Albuquerque next Saturday; must remember to call the Airporter tomorrow. My companion then went out for a walk while I made up my lunch salad and boiled two eggs to go in it. 

After lunch, we took off for Los Alamos, about forty-five miles away (everything is forty-five miles away in New Mexico). Again drove through spectacular mountains and desert until we reached the small town...

...small town and big history. This is where the death-dealing atom bomb was born and the antecedents of my grandson doomed. Of course, we didn't go anywhere near the area, although a brochure says you can see something of where "scientists develop groundbreaking innovations to solve national security challenges..." Yeah. 

Los Alamos is also a pleasant small town (pop. 18,000) and we explored it by foot. We went in and visited the historic Fuller Lodge, which had originally been "The Ranch School," founded in 1917. It's very large and the walls are made entirely of split logs. All 771 of them were "personally selected" by the architect, John Gaw Meem. The very large building is now a meeting place for local groups. When we walked in, there was only an oblivious teenager sitting in a chair absorbed in her phone and we just wandered around, looking in rooms and reading the information posted here and there. To an extent, I enjoy that more than a formal guided tour.   

We also went to a few other interesting places, but mostly walked, starting at the lovely small park; we went about four, I guess. I'll add pictures tomorrow.

Here I am in White Rock, NM, the other day, with the picturesque Rio Grande:

Bandelier

 We left early for the native American ruins in Bandelier. They're 45 miles away through some of the spectacular landscape that lie all over the west. Arrived and took the trail to the cliff dwellings. Luckily, steps and railings are now provided and, although it was fairly strenuous, I was able to do it. 

The second one's my power pose, of course.

We walked back for lunch, which we had brought with us. Neither the visitor center nor the "cafe" were open, but the gift shop was and I stopped in to buy a little something for my grandson. After, we walked back to another high-up dwelling. This is 45 feet up in the mountain, reached by stairs and ladders. I wouldn't consider trying it, but my companion went part way. We walked back to the car and took off. (I think we did about four miles.) We stopped on the way back to Santa Fe at an overlook, which was just lovely and included the Rio Grande River.

Since it was only about 3:00, we drove to town and visited "the oldest house in the U.S." (Ha, I was told that was in St. Augustine, Florida, but read a notice that mentioned there are twelve contenders for that title.) Anyway, we had been there before and only a portion of it is still standing.

Walked back and stopped at the supermarket, had dinner, and later watched a movie--not too bad, something about teenagers and bird-watching.  

Note: I appreciate that my friend, Pat, let me know that yet another old HSHS-er is gone. Chas ("Chaz") Martin has died. I'll call his sister, Mary H., with whom I graduated, this morning (sigh...).