You Want To Do What?

JWise Photo of the Day

Sharp pointy tools for cleaning teeth at the dentist

Better brush them teeth, kids, because gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is not your friend. Four times a year I have to go to my dentist for my regular periodontal exam and teeth cleaning. My dental hygienist starts by jabbing one of these or some other monstrous tool into my gums to determine the depth of my gum pockets and then goes to work cleaning away plaque to keep the gum disease in check. At the end of the exam and cleaning, I am told how the gums held up, if they bled a little, a lot, or, as if it would ever happen, not at all. While I hope for not at all, I am not so fortunate, but at least another cleaning has passed and the gum disease hasn’t progressed so far as to warrant another ROOT PLANING! Root planing is another one of those things that you wouldn’t recommend to a friend. Root planing is revenge for not flossing, using a water pick, or an electric toothbrush. The hygienist starts the procedure by pulling your gums down far enough to do deep cleaning, yes this is as bad as it sounds – you do not want to know more. Just brush them teeth, floss, and be happy.

Waning Monsoon

JWise Photo of the Day

Monsoon clouds over Arizona

Get a good look at those thunderheads as the monsoon season is winding down. Arizona during the summer is prone to flash floods, power outages due to lightning strikes, dust storms with blinding conditions, spikes in humidity that go from 15% humidity to 95% in minutes, and on occasion the temperature drops from 110 degrees to less than 80 in less than a half-hour. But as we approach September the storms become less frequent, the daytime temperatures start to drop, we will soon be out of summer as days cool to a more comfortable high in the 90s and the nights start to see low’s go into the 70s…..ah, the sweet cozy days of fall are around the corner.

Rainbows Everywhere We Go

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Goose Eggs

Attention: Some images had to be moved around, and additional information needed to be added to these 4-days as when I first blogged about this trip, it wasn’t in my head that exacting placement of details should be very precise as long as we had an idea of what was what. Well, here I am in November 2022 with COVID-19, repairing those bungles because I’ve got nothing better to do.

Last night we were gifted these two goose eggs for our breakfast; Caroline nor I had ever had goose eggs before. No, they don’t taste like chicken; they are like creamier, heavier versions of chicken eggs.

Geese at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Thanks, ladies, for your contribution to our breakfast.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Being called Lavender Spring Ranch, it seems appropriate that lavender should be just about everywhere.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Bundles of lavender dry until they are threshed to remove their flowers.

Dragonfly at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Dragonflies, on the other hand, do not require threshing.

Caroline Wise with Bess Crouch at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

It was time to go, as our weekend was quickly coming to an end. Many thanks to Cliff and Bess Crouch of Lavender Spring Ranch for not only hosting us but also for their efforts of turning a decrepit old farm into a great adventure through an incredible amount of work, love, and dedication. That giant bag of lavender in Caroline’s hands was a gift from Bess.

Driving across New Mexico

On our way back to Phoenix across New Mexico on a beautiful day.

Somewhere near Springerville, Arizona

Beautiful day until we passed through Pie Town, New Mexico, because for the 43rd trillionth time, we were still unable to buy pie. Now dejected and without pie, we arrive back in Arizona to find bad weather.

A full rainbow stretching from side to side across the landscape in northern Arizona west of Springerville

A dozen miles west of Springerville, the sky opened bright and wide, the sun’s reflection on the wet road blinding us. Behind us, though, we saw the most vibrant, beautiful rainbow either of us had ever seen. I lept from the car with the rain still falling and was instantly wildly invigorated – what a great treat this was, and it was way better than pie. For the next half hour, we spoke in stunned excitement at the luck of the road chosen and being able to see the most incredible rainbow yet seen by the two of us.

I learned something this weekend about sleeping. Nine days ago, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and with much pleading, I was able to get my CPAP days ahead of my next doctor’s appointment. Well, seeing I had only used the thing for three nights prior to driving over to New Mexico, I figured it was too much of a hassle to bring the thing, and what the heck, I’d already “slept” for years not using one, what could the weekend be like without it? Horrible was the answer, I can’t believe how quickly I saw a change in my quality of life. This would be the last time I traveled without it.

Raspberry Picking

JWise Food, Photo of the Day, Travels

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Attention: Some images had to be moved around, and additional information needed to be added to these 4-days as when I first blogged about this trip, it wasn’t in my head that exacting placement of details should be very precise as long as we had an idea of what was what. Well, here I am in November 2022 with COVID-19, repairing those bungles because I’ve got nothing better to do.

A lot happened between yesterday afternoon’s last photo and this photo of four jars of raspberry lavender jam and four jars of raspberry mango jam. Caroline and I are spending a long weekend at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico, as the guests of Cliff and Bess Crouch – who turned out to be wonderful hosts. Our lodgings are in a converted barn featuring a two-story custom-made apartment with two big bedrooms and an equally big living room and kitchen – each room is 25 by 25 feet. It being monsoon season, and with a chance for storms, we went directly to work yesterday after we got in. With no time to waste, there was no time to document things. But from my old itinerary, I can share that dinner last night was a hot vegetable curry with spiced noodles using veggies from the Crouch’s garden. Breakfast this morning was fried tomatoes with marinated halloumi cheese; maybe you can tell that Caroline was still a vegetarian at this time.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Done with those things, the geese arrived to bring us out for more veggie picking

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Cliff and Bess live in the puny two-story house on the right, while our apartment of gargantuan proportions is over in the red barn on the left.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

We are here for raspberries, lavender, beans, corn, and squash, along with some rest and relaxation. The former was easy to get, although hard on the back; the latter never came as work was the order of the day.

Caroline Wise at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Once the raspberries and lavender were had, the cooking, canning, and freezing began. Caroline helped with the occasional washing of something or other but had brought her homework along that required her attention. Meanwhile, I made jams and sauces, cleaned, prepped, froze, cleaned some more, and then made dinner. Nine pounds of raspberries were far more work than I anticipated, and I will sorely need a short vacation following this short vacation.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

While staying at Lavender Spring Ranch, we had some time away from cooking and homework to smell the flowers and talk at the various creatures roaming the farm. Not much was said to this butterfly, well except maybe a thank you for letting me take this photo before it fluttered away. The farm, not far from Ruidoso and the historic village of Lincoln, is situated at the eastern foot of the Capitan Mountains, with its peak stretching up to 10,083 feet. Bees were abuzz throughout the raspberry patch but paid us no attention as they flew about intoxicated by the sugary sweet juice of the nectar they had been munching on. Lizards, birds, an occasional mosquito, geese, Patches the dog, catfish, deer, turkey, ducks, and weekend visitors picking berries and veggies were all part of our stay. If you would like to see the farm from a satellite view, click here.

Caroline Wise at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Hmm, maybe Caroline helped more than I first said as I do believe she organized all of these berries so they weren’t touching each other so we could freeze them before bagging them up.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

A rafter of turkeys skittishly makes its way from the pond after feasting on corn that had been put out for the resident ducks. The nearly dozen flightless wild birds were just outside the window of the kitchen as I spotted them pecking away at the corn. Quietly, I crept around the outside corner to snap a photo, but that was enough commotion to send them the other way. What did I do? Well, I went around the other way to cut them off and get another photo, but there was fencing and no escape for the turkeys. By the time I returned to my original location, they, too, had found there was no outlet and were headed back my way. With nowhere else to go besides the pond, the turkeys glided right by me, returning to the hills behind the farm.

Caroline Wise at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

And off we went, this time to collect some of the ingredients for dinner and obviously some that would be coming home with us.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Corn, green beans, and…

Caroline Wise at Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

…squash was all part of my dinner plans.

Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Homemade roasted vegetable stew with course rye bread we brought from Phoenix was on the menu tonight. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a hearty stew recipe that used lavender so that wasn’t part of the flavors on offer this evening.

South of Estancia

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Gallup, New Mexico

Attention: Some images had to be moved around, and additional information needed to be added to these 4-days as when I first blogged about this trip, it wasn’t in my head that exacting placement of details should be very precise as long as we had an idea of what was what. Well, here I am in November 2022 with COVID-19, repairing those bungles because I’ve got nothing better to do.

With the help of Google Maps, a lot of searching, tracing, and my old itinerary from this exact trip, I was able to piece together a day that little of existed in memory or even in this post as all that I posted back then was the road out of Estancia, New Mexico a few photos below. It turns out that we stayed at Budget Inn in Gallup and likely paid around $30 for the night. The place is still open, and according to Street View, the price 15 years later is now $35 per night. Interestingly, the Days Inn across the road has been forever removed from the map; across the street from that was a restaurant called Olympic Kitchen, it too is gone, but it has been replaced by an FBI office. This side of Days Inn on the opposite side of the street is a Family Dollar.

San José de la Laguna Mission Church and Convento in the center of Laguna, New Mexico

Traveling down Interstate 40, we’ve passed the old Pueblo of Laguna many a time, the white towering building out there is the San José de la Laguna Mission Church and Convento.

Estancia, New Mexico

Left the interstate at Moriarty and went south passing through towns like Estancia.

South of Estancia, New Mexico on highway 41 looking down a flat long road under blue skies with little fluffy clouds

It’s a dream to be out on these lonely roads of America, where the horizon stretches beyond our ability to see. Telephone poles converge to a point and disappear in the center of our vision. Sometimes, a rabbit or a pronghorn antelope sits roadside, either waiting for the moment to run or, at times, appearing to watch us. Cows and steers stand in disregard of passersby unless a cow is with a calf, then a guarded eye stares vigilantly, ready to protect the youngster. Drivers traveling in the opposite direction often tip a nod of the head or lift a finger off the steering wheel in a “finger wave,” acknowledging the other driver fortunate enough to be enjoying the beautiful solitude and quiet land expanding in all directions. This stretch of road is Highway 41, south of Estancia; we are on it because we haven’t been here before. It is often the case that our path to a destination is chosen by the roads we have yet to take.

Museum in Corona, New Mexico

Aside from the beer, most people have never heard of Corona, New Mexico, but they have their very own museum that we took a few minutes to visit.

State Route 54 south of Corona, New Mexico

Onto Highway 54 going south, looking for Ancho Road.

Ruin near Ancho, New Mexico

Found Ancho Road, which took us past the old rail depot in the ghost town of Ancho itself. This is not the depot.

Cow along the trail in New Mexico

Hi, inquisitive cow.

Jicarilla Store, post office and assay office in Jicarilla, New Mexico

This is what remains of the Jicarilla store, post office, and assay office. Luckily for Caroline and me, we were able to see the building with a door and windows as, since our visit, others decided they had to either break them or steal them, as the old building is more of a shell than ever.

Brown's Store in White Oaks, New Mexico

Continuing on the old gravel road, we came across a still, very well-preserved Brown’s Store in the ghost town of White Oak, New Mexico. It, too, is disappearing; I’m now guessing that parts are stolen by people who want authentic old pieces that would complement their own homes. Seems like bad karma to me.

The road to Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico

Our next stop is Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico.

Entering a Void

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Driving to New Mexico

Attention: Some images had to be moved around, and additional information needed to be added to these 4-days as when I first blogged about this trip, it wasn’t in my head that exacting placement of details should be very precise as long as we had an idea of what was what. Well, here I am in November 2022 with COVID-19, repairing those bungles because I’ve got nothing better to do.

Maybe you are wondering if our destination is to the east, why are we traveling north? I suppose it was a flip of the coin as our destination of Lavender Spring Ranch in Arabela, New Mexico, just north of Trinnie, is in about the middle between Interstate 10 and 40, and the northern route probably just felt better. But we have a problem.

Well worn map of the United States which is missing the exact corner of New Mexico that we needed for our weekend trip

The part of the page that should be showing where we’re going tomorrow just happens to be the part that’s now a void. Guess we’ll just have to stop by a gas station and ask for directions or buy a map of New Mexico because finding Lavender Spring Ranch won’t be easy as it’s really out in the middle of nowhere.