Our Mini-Vacay!

Hey everyone!  Hope y'all have had a great weekend and are looking forward to a fun and productive week.  I finally got my pictures edited from our little mini vacation during the 4th of July week.  We took a little roadtrip to New Mexico.  We typically prefer to travel the backroads or scenic routes rather than taking the freeways, and we did just that.

Even after 28 years here in Arizona, there are still places we haven't seen, so the first part of our trip took us to Springerville-Eager -- don't try to separate these two little bitty towns, because even together they are only wide spots in the road!  But.....the scenery is beautiful and the people are very friendly.  We spent the night in Eager so we could do some driving around and visit some of the many lakes.  I thought it would be less boring if I put the pics into collages, & remember, you can click on any of these pics to make them larger.

1. The first thing that tugged at my heart was the fire damage.

2. We were between 7,000 & 8,000 ft. elevation.

3. This was Big Lake -- a very peaceful setting.

4. Lots of cattle

5. This may have been Small Lake -- just kidding!

6. Another body of water for fishing.

About 20 miles further into the mountains is Alpine.  Tourists go here for fishing, hiking, maybe hunting (don't know), & simply relaxing -- no cell service or internet here!

1. Very rustic and old cabins -- I was thinking "NO!"

2. This was the sweetest little flowering ground cover.

3.  Lots of lakes - just sayin'.

4. Is this little guy just the cutest -- let me get very close!

5. Bear Wallow Cafe had been there for a VERY long time!

6. Was once a gorgeous home built with river rock.

7. New cabins, fully equipped -- might be a possibility...hmmm? 

 We took a scenic route into New Mexico.  

1. The Man and I were both fascinated with these mountains.

2. Fantastic rock formations

3. Lots of deer

4. San Jose de Gracia, est. 1751 in the village of Las Trampas.

5. This was called Garden of the Gods

6. Another view -- this was on the Turquoise Trail

Santa Fe -- the old downtown plaza

1. Getting ready for the 4th of July

2. Love the light posts and hanging baskets

3. Aren't these gorgeous?

4. St. Francis Cathedral was built between 1869 & 1886.

5. Turquoise trim is symbolic for the stone, the sky & the 

green vegetation showing wealth & calm.

6. A neat little walkway to some shops.

We spent quite a bit of time driving on the Turquoise Trail, and discovered this little town of Cerrillos, est. in 1880 as a mining town.  The population is about 200.  This was like stepping back in time.   People are still living and eeking out a living in some of these old buildings.

1. & 2. The main street

3. The What Not Antique Shop -- we went in carrying the camera

but the owner made it very clear we could not snap any photos.

We looked around a little bit, but between high prices, 

2" of dust & cobwebs & the owner puffing away on a 

cigarette, we didn't stay very long.

4. Old adobe building

5. Thank God no one was actually living in this.

6. Another old adobe house -- very hard to see because of all the

underbrush.

We traveled through Albuquerque, then Holbrook & Payson coming home.  

1. This was a memory from my childhood.  We traveled from Louisiana to Oregon when I was 7 or 8, and I remember this old

Wigwam Motel.  I wanted to stay in it so badly, but it was 

too expensive for our family at the time.

2. These were located in Holbrook, AZ & were built in the 1950's.  It's all part of the historical Route 66 now.

3. This was in Albuquerque, and I just thought it was unusual.

4. Started seeing some wicked-looking clouds in the afternoon.

5. Not long until those clouds opened up and dumped on us!

Payson, AZ was our last stop on the way home, and we stopped in to check out a cute little scrapbook store called Paper & Metal Scrappers.  It was raining so I didn't get a pic, but it is just darling. Since Payson is only 90 minutes away and 30 degrees cooler, we will be going again.  Even with all of the big stores around that carry scrapbook supplies, there is just something so special about the small, privately owned stores.

Well, that is a wrap for our mini-vacay.  We had fun, got out of the heat for awhile and got to see lots of new things.  As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."  Thanks for visiting and please come again very soon.  You are always welcome here!

I love to party with these fine bloggers:

The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays
Karen at Sew Many Ways for Sew Darn Crafty
Manuela at The Cultivated Nest for The Creative HomeAcre
Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Dawn at Creative Cain Cabin for Budget Decorating Party
Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired

Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday

Angela at Hickory Trail for Efforts and Assets

Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe for Live Laugh Linky Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

The Feral Turtle at The Feral Turtle for The Aloha Blog Hop

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Oh, The Places I've Been

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading