From the Front Porch

The Florida (Flo-REE-da) mountains rise out of the New Mexico desert abruptly as many of the desert mountain ranges do. They look more like the earth spewed up jutting rocks than mountain ranges. The Floridas are particularly distinguishable as their rocky spires reach up from a particularly flat landscape.

Part way up, the road leads to 2 venues of Rockhound State Park. We drove first to the Spring Canyon section. Picnic areas and short trail heads leave from the base of this portion of the park and the valley view – Deming, New Mexico – is visible through the spires.

From a spot we walked to we noticed splotches of gold on the rocky ground opposite: Mexican Poppies*. They bloom in years when conditions are right. My folks lived in Deming for 3 years and it was shortly after they left that the poppies bloomed. There is a legend that the Conquistadors saw the “gold” in the hills fueling a rush to the area for gold of the rock kind.

The Floridas.

*And for those who know California poppies – these are very similar and maybe the same except that on googling both are listed although I would be hard pressed to distinguish one from the other…and really – the terrain and conditions from extreme southern CA east through New Mexico are very similar.

This morning’s walk, just as the sun rose: Rose Valley RV Ranch. One of the windmills left from the dairy farm.

Although this particular windmill has been disconnected from the water pump that it ran in its former life, the blades still spin. Yesterday and for the next several, those blades will be getting a workout. Snow squalls with the force of mini-blizzards came through all day yesterday. The wind whistled through the antennas on the roof and set the slide toppers flapping and the motorhome rocking.

Last evening, the sky mostly cleared and this morning is sunny and bright, but cool and breezy. The weather folks say things will be “unsettled” until the end of the week.

This morning, even with the wind, the morning sun is bright, the air is clear and sweet and the cool wind feels good in this high desert place.

The drive through the Black Range is a winding climb to Emory Pass. We ascended from low juniper, cholla and yucca to increasingly larger pine and finally the grand Ponderosa Pines which eventually thinned at the summit.

We met friends of Steve’s at the pass, enjoyed the view and then descended to Hillsboro, New Mexico.

Breakfast at the Cafe was excellent – green chile everything was on the menu. The cafe was a feast for the eyes with antique farm implements and furniture. A pellet stove kept things cozy and large windows let the morning light reflect warmly off the beautiful old woods of tables, floors and cabinets.

Across the road, next to the post office, is the town library and this Saturday was the monthly bake sale in support of the library.

We procured a few or several goodies in case further sustenance was required…

Then we headed for the hills!

A drive up a dirt road, through 2 ranch properties, over the same creek about 8 times and we ended up at a forest service spot where the creek ran through. The air was clear and dry, the sky as blue as you can imagine in your minds eye, the sun warm enough to make us all warm and send Karl into the creek.

A pile of bones marked a dumping ground for dead cattle. Karl took a hoof for his own and lay down near the creek for a chew while we explored.

We headed further along the road which changed from a solid dirt road to a humpy-bumpy dirt road. The Jeep was in heaven :)!! – not 4-wheelin’ but in the dirt and rocks. There was a cave to maybe find and explore that required a short hike, but it was warm for Karl – and for me! – and I had brought computer and Kindle so…

…Karl and I had some quiet time in the shade – wonderful!

It was a southwest day.