FALL BREAK? 2009

This week was Tom's fall break from school and Ginny’s three days of shipping cattle. As we both needed a vacation, we took most of the week off from Baker Machinery and made a working/traveling trip out of it. It started off Sunday; we had all the kids in the valley over for dinner. We had to get in the last good byes with the little girlies. Ginny loaded up her cow dog and took off with her brother to do the ranch work. Tom buttoned up the itinerary for the trip and the businesses.
Monday morning went to the ranch to gather all the cattle in the knolls pasture. Buddy (my horse) has gained so much weight on the ranch grass that his saddle won’t stay up right. So I had to keep stepping down in the stirrup to straighten it up that at one time I must of popped my phone off my hip only to get to the mill and realize that it is missing. See what a fat horse can cause.
On Tuesday late afternoon/evening after a very tiring hard day at the ranch I went to load up my dog and he would have nothing to do with it. He had always stayed by my side but now he stayed a couple of feet in front of me so I couldn't catch him. I will admit he can, and is stubborn, but I forgive him cuz he is a great companion and help with the cattle. But at this time one of us was going to learn a lesson. I left him at the ranch. I was hoping and silently praying that it would be him that learned obedience and not me having to learn more patience. Cody was spending the night there so I asked if he would keep an eye on him. He said sure and I took off.
Tom came up Tuesday night and we decided after calling Cody that it would be a good deal to leave the stubborn thing there all night. In the morning Tom took off to St. Johns to diagnose a piece of equipment for a customer and I headed off to the ranch. I get there expecting a reunion with my dog, nope, no where to be found. Can’t go find him cuz the calves had knocked a gate open and were all out in the bull pasture. 78 head loose, Cody had most of them back in but still no time to look for the dog, cuz we only had an hour to get the calves separated and counted before the cattle inspector came and the cattle truck arrived.
Tom called said he was done on the machine and wanted to know where to start looking for the dog (I call him a dog but to me, he is still a pup, he had just turned a year old that week and that is when the brains and training really start), I told Tom to go around and come into the ranch from the back way cuz that is the way I bring Gideon in most of the time. So Tom did that and did some more looking. He had no luck and came into the ranch just as the cattle had been loaded and I was done with the shipping papers. So I was free to leave. Tom the good hearted person he is wanted to blow off our trip and spend the week looking for the dog. Me the cold hearted person who can’t put up with disobedience or stupidity wanted to take off on our trip. We decided to take one look over at the big mill, that is where he is used to working along side of me. And then drive one more time out the back way so I could shower in Vernon, before I spent the day with 2 inches of corral dust and cow stuff on me. So yep he wasn’t at the mill, yep started questioning my self but then I am more stubborn than my dog. Started the dusty, bumping road to Vernon. Lo and behold there is Gideon about 30 yards from the 60. He had heard our truck as we drove up the ridge and had already turned and was running back toward us. He would have made it home to Vernon, just don’t want to think of him going down the highway.
Got cleaned up in Vernon and passed Gideon off to Steve to take home to Jesse’s house for the rest of the week. We ate lunch in St. Johns because we were now 3 hours behind because of the dang dog. Then headed off to our first destination of Los Lunas NM. Tom had planned the trip to take as little as interstate roads as possible. It was amazing to see all coke ovens in the yards of the Zuni Indians. How they take care of them by tarping them over when not in use. While there, we stopped at Phillips Diesel to pick up parts for the ranch Yanmar.
We then went to Albuquerque and had dinner in a bowling alley that had great food. We heard about it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. You wouldn’t believe what they serve. You’ve just got to go. Well worth it.
Stayed our first night in Santa Fe. Since we were behind in leaving we had to check out the town in the morning. Now it is so early in the morning, and we have got to get going, we end up walking around all this history before anything is open. The Indians who sale their wares are in front of the Palace of the Governors. This is where Gen. Stephen W. Kearny of the Army of the West announced to the citizenry that they were now under the rule of the United States. So basically the US took possession of the south west here. The Mormon Batalion was part of the army of the west but had not come through Santa Fe yet.The workmanship was well worth the look. History will have to wait for another trip. Hurry of to Taos, the real history. Kit Carson home. But atlas, we are still behind because of that dang dog. Didn’t have time for history here either. The auction that we came for was hours away and going to start. Besides the dog lateness we have a new time zone taking 1 hour away from us and some stupid day light savings time stealing another hour. For a grand total of 2 hours. Just wake up world. Quit changing things. I don’t know but this is another reason the word “Change” makes me sick.
Leaving Taos is some beautiful country, and where we ate lunch at Eagles Lake, can take your breath away. And to think before all the foreigners got there it was Cattle and Lumber County. To put it like I heard an old man there say “before them from California came here and told us how we should live”.
We were hungry when we got there, so we were going to eat at the first thing that showed up. It was a little hamburger place, no empty tables, dang, then the old man previous spoken of comes up and greets us and tells us to go ahead and sit with him and his friend cuz his friend is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. And to tell you the truth he was. Ends up when he found out we were from Arizona he told us that he had served in the air force at Luke Air Force Base. He did not complain of the heat like most. He said he missed it. He was raised here in Eagles Lake and the short warm season and the long cold season made him appreciate what we all hate.
On the road to Dalhart (the cattle auction) we drove down a state road that took us past Philmont. The big beautiful scout camp. No time to look for scouts, cuz you know we still haven’t caught up with the lateness or what we can call the CHANGE. Get to Dalhart Texas, the address we got off the internet for the auction ends up being the address for the head quarters. Did the only thing you can do. Rolled down the windows and let the smell lead us there. Got there after the calves had gone through, but the cows hadn’t. Man it is so exciting, I always feel like I am the trainer for Miss America. Sit there so proudly as my girls hit the scales and get judged. Only if you let the money per pound be the points scored. My girls can die proud of their selves they done them selves fine. Collected the checks from the sales and slept thinking about the closure of this year and how I can’t wait to work cattle again.
The hotel in that place was great, for more than nothing but a cattle stop. My only thing was the train runs all night and has to sound its horn as it goes through intersections. I know my hotel was a good as the rest cuz the hotels are all in the same intersection. So really, can’t tell you anywhere to get a whole night sleep. But they have clean rooms and great friendly people.
Went the next morning to Lubbock to pick up a special parts washer for the machine shop.
Then on to Los Cruses, it is close to a pecan tree farm and we are thinking of getting some more. They won’t be sold until winter, but what the heck we are in the neighbor hood. Then went to Hatch NM, just had to see the “chili capital of the world”. It was amazing to see field after field of chili plants. This time of year they were red chilies only but that gave some great color. On the side of the road and on business roofs they have them out to dry. It was cool to see. Bought some red chili powder and some green chili crumbles. Can’t wait to cook with them. Oh but I will wait. So tired from the trip don’t even want to cook.
Then on to Safford to see the girls and Lance, but to get there we had to go through to black mountains and Gila National Forest. That took us back over the continental divide. And the color in the trees. Was able to stop and pick me some leaves. Now a little bit of fall will be in my house. Met them for lunch, went to see where Alicia lives and went to see Louise’s kitten. Just a mean ball of fur. But the face makes up for it.
Had to stop on the way out of town for a cone and the best ice in Arizona. Worth the crunch.
On to globe where we stopped for a park and swap and Tom got some machine tips and me a small cast iron pan and a bat so I can play ball with Gideon. So ready for a water bed. Just can’t do regular beds for to long.
All on All I would do this trip again and that is unusual for me. Tom was right all along. He has told me that life would be good once everyone moved out of the house and he got it right. So relaxing for a mom not to worry about what and who she left at home. Thanks heaven for marriage and school. Not ours, theirs.