Deming, NM

From 2010-02-28

Saturday morning we left Van Horn, Tx and drove to Deming, NM. We could not see the Rio Grande River but you could tell about where it was by the green agricultural area following along the river. The traffic was very heavy for a Saturday in El Paso. I thought we would never drive out of the city. It is spread out and goes for miles. We saw many pecan orchards and dairy farms from the Interstate. We crossed the Rio Grande just out of Las Cruces. There was hardly any water as much is used for irrigation.

From 2010-02-28

From 2010-02-28

We are in Deming, NM at the Escapee Park now and are in Mountain time. We changed our clocks and computers, but we will have to spring forward in a few weeks. We can see mountains with snow. Last night and today they had snow just north of us. We have had rain and wind gusts up to 28 mph. After attending an AOG church (thanks to Lorraine and Bruce for showing us the way), this afternoon we went to the ice cream social at the club house. A couple checked in from Missouri and I went over to talk to them for a few minutes. We sat with a nice group of people whom we exchanged stories and experiences with. We will be seeing one of them next week at the rally we are attending in Yuma.

From 2010-02-28

America the Beautiful

Katie decided to get under the covers with me sometime during the night. She woke up very leary of what was going on in the RV. She watched our every move. After having breakfast she made a dash under the bed in case we were planning another travel day. We fooled her.

Allan and I drove to Guadalupe Mountain National Park which was about 65 miles away. It was a beautiful day and 58 degrees with clouds in the sky. The wind had died down from yesterdays 30-40 mile per hour gusts. We stopped at the Visitor Center to pick up some park information and an America the Beautiful Senior Pass for me. We took a short hike to the Pinery Butterfield Stage Station ruins. The stage ran from St. Louis to San Francisco in 1858-59 hauling passengers and mail. You will have to look closely at the picture to see the only standing wall left of the building.

From 2010-02-26

Allan decided to hike the 5 mile trail at the McKittrick Canyon, but he turned around before making it to the ranch house due to the park closing at 4:30.

From 2010-02-26

From 2010-02-26

While I waited for Allan, I watched two deer with the binoculars. We ran into a couple from our RV park who were from the Keys. You can go horseback riding here but only for day rides and on special trails. We drove down to the campground to check out the RV sites. There are no hookups and the sites were on a paved parking lot set up. The length was limited, but the view was beautiful.

The wildlife in the park includes jackrabbits, coyotes, porcupines, grey foxes, mule deer, mountain lions, and elk. We only saw the mule deer. We saw prickly pear cacti, agaves, alligator junipers and Texas madrones to name a few.

From 2010-02-26

The portion of the road between Van Horn and intersection of Hwy 180 ran for about 50 miles following the terrain. There were numerous dips in the road that were low and there were warning signs about flash flooding. We took a picture of one of the gauges measuring up to 5 feet.

From 2010-02-26

As I mentioned earlier the road was about 50 miles long. On the way to Guadalupe Park we met two vehicles. Apparently due to rush hour traffic later that afternoon on our return back to Van Horn we met 4 vehicles. There were no traffic lights, just signs warning to watch out for livestock on the road. We counted 6 ranches. We only got a glimpse of a few of the ranch houses as they apparently were way off the road.

From 2010-02-26

From 2010-02-26

Windy Travels

Our mail arrived so we were free to start our travels, BUT FIRST, I had to make a visit to the goat pen to see the baby goats. They were all bedded down in fresh hay. I said my good byes and we were off.

From 2010-02-25

We drove about 15 miles and decided it was time for lunch. It felt good to get out and walk around. There was a wind advisory today. It was a headwind so the gas mileage probably wasn't too good.

The scenery in the beginning was similar to what we would wake up to every day, flat, tumbleweeds and oil wells. By the time we got to Pecos the land became rolling hills with mountains in the distance. We traveled on I-20 until it merged into I-10. The speed limit was 80 miles an hour. Of course, we did not go that fast. That was for cars anyway.

From 2010-02-25

From 2010-02-25

We arrived in Van Horn, Tx about 3:30 and set up. Katie rode good today with no complaints. She only required an occasional tummy rub. She was happy to get into the RV and settle back into a routine. (nap time). We are staying at the KOA in town and it has facilities for horses also. There are a number of horse trailers here for overnight camping. We have lovely mountain views surrounding us.

From 2010-02-25

From 2010-02-25

From 2010-02-25

We woke to a beautiful snow. It is difficult to know how much snow we received because of the wind. The snow today was coming down horizontally. I took Katie out and set her down in the snow. She didn't know what to think about this cold white stuff.

From 2010-02-23

From 2010-02-23

From 2010-02-23

I have been packing things up and straightening the RV so we will be ready to head out on Thursday.

Snow

This weekend was beautiful here in west Texas. Allan washed the RV and cleaned the windows. He had gotten the truck washed earlier and I cleaned the inside. We are getting ready to leave this project as we are in the final stages. Today, Monday it was much cooler. High was 42 degrees. I wonder why I volunteered to clean out the goat water trough. I should have done it this weekend when it was warmer. Hope the goats appreciate it. Several of the goats are very gentle and friendly. I enjoy watching the little ones romp and play.

We are up late tonight. In fact, it is morning (after midnight). The wind has been howling and it has snowed some. The weatherman is predicting 4-6 inches for us by tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures are to warm up on Wed and Thurs. so we should be able to travel on Thursday.

We have been painting on the RV hut along with the work on the Women's Center.

Sunday night we went to a local Assembly of God church where they were having a Valentine dinner celebration. Teen Challenge was catering the meal and some of the guys served. It was a good evening.

From 2010-02-23

Stay tune for further updates on the snow.

More goat pictures

Here is a picture of one of those huge tumbleweeds we wrote about earlier. I never knew they were so big.

From 2010-02-17

I have a few updated pictures of the growing progress of the baby goats taken today.

From 2010-02-17

From 2010-02-17

From 2010-02-17

Today was Bible study for the ladies and wash day and house cleaning for me.

Back tracking

Sorry I have not kept our blog up to date. We have been so busy here at Teen Challenge and with other activities. I have also taken every minute I could to learn a little about Excel. I bought a book with lots of pictures and it helped a lot. Now I can get on with the 2010 financials.

Several weeks ago we visited the Air Force Museum located in Odessa. It was very interesting to see how World War II developed and how the US was brought into the war and how the country came together to fight enemies in both Europe and the Pacific.

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

This is a picture of the President's Museum. It was closed so we were not able to tour it. Later I heard on TV that it was closed last year due to lack of funds, but they had a considerable donation from someone so they reopened on President's Day. If we have time, we may go back.

From 2010-02-14

We have visited several different cities in our travels that have had displays of fiberglass theme animals. One city had moose, one had horses and Odessa had jack rabbits. They are displayed throughout the city and each animal is uniquely painted.

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

We visited a site where a comet landed and created a crater. It is much smaller now due to rain and wind blowing sand into it. We did not see any snakes. OK by me.

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

The baby goats are growing. I so enjoy watching them play with each other and explore their new world.

From 2010-02-14

From 2010-02-14

Building Progress

Here are the twins. They are growing and getting very active and playful.

From 2010-02-05

This is not a good picture of the triplets, but I should get some good ones this weekend. The weather is suppose to be pretty and warmer.

From 2010-02-05

These babies are just born.
This picture is Lorae working hard on the doorways.

From 2010-02-05

From 2010-02-05

From 2010-02-05

Ernie in two pictures above has been framing in the doors and Allan has been painting the doors. I think he got a little paint on his clothes?? That is ok. He has done a great job as all the volunteers and Teen Challenge guys have, too.

Triplets

Another goat had triplets on Friday. I will post pictures tomorrow.

We did some sight seeing with the group on Saturday and played Farkle that night.

Today we attended Stonegate Fellowship as a group and then went out to lunch. Allan went with the group and Teen Challenge guys to another church for a super bowl party.

Work at Teen Challenge

We met all our new North Dakota and Colorado friends and have been working with them since our arrival. We are working on a Women's Center at Teen Challenge in Midland, Tx. This is a large building which is to hold 24 young women. Allan and I have been painting bathrooms, closets, doors and woodwork. The group has been sheetrock finishing, installing doors and window casings, working on electrical and plumbing issues and bathroom ventilation to name a few. Occasionally, we get a few Teen Challenge guys to assist us.

From 2010-02-03

From 2010-02-03

From 2010-02-03

From 2010-02-03

We have full hookups with 50 amp service. The volunteer hut has a washer and dryer and provides us a place to meet. We can get wifi service there although we use our air card in our RV. They have cable TV and a bathroom. We can have our meals in the cafeteria if we choose also.

The barn was hit by a tornado previously and another group is coming in after us to work on that building. They have cows and goats. Sunday we had a few additions to the barnyard. Someone brought in a hog and one of the goats had twins. They are the cutest things.

From 2010-02-03

From 2010-02-03

The ladies have taken an afternoon to go shopping. We have enjoyed our time together. We also have a bible study once a week. The volunteers try to get together one night a week to watch a DVD and one night to play games.

Katie has had spurts of wild energy lately. She jumped up on the ledge above the window using the shades as a climbing tool. At least she only has back claws.

From 2010-02-03

The land in this area is very flat which poses a problem when they have heavier rains. There are no drainage systems that we have seen in town. You really have to be careful driving through the water, not knowing how deep it is. It is rather windy here most of the time. We have had some nice sunny days and some very cloudy days with rain. We had a few days of predicted snow or ice but it did not develop. There were several nights the water had to be disconnected due to below freezing temperatures.

There are definitely tumbleweeds here. On the back roads we have had to stop the truck and let the tumbleweeds go by because they are so big. If you walk across the field to get to the Women's Center you will pick up sand spurs on the bottom of your shoes, on your socks and jeans. They are real sticklers.