Ruidoso in the Eyes of Abby!

Abby wanted to show you the views that she sees during her evening walk.

This is the view as we leave our drive-way. Dad is taking some trash to the dumpster.

This is looking down towards Bart and Winston's house.  I haven't been able to visit them this year because they have two chihuahua dogs living with them now and they are not nice to me.  I miss them.

 Ok, we are heading up the hill to find some prime real estate to pee and poop on.

Lots of good smells in this lot.

This smells perfect, I think I'll hike my leg here on this grass.

We have lots of bears in our neighborhood. I will show you some as we pass them. 

This bear is ready for July 4th. They just put these fences up around their trees & flowers.  It looks good. Those pesky deer eat all the plants & trees.

Smells like a good rock!

This is a good bush and look behind me, it's another bear & the Martin's live here. LOL

Lots of trees around here.

Perfect for a poop!!

I can't see the mountain this evening because of the clouds.  Time to turn around and head back down the hill for home. 

This house has beautiful shasta daisies and petunias.  I have never seen a human or dog here.  Why don't the deer eat these flowers?

Can you see this bear?

This is Thena's house.  We usually stop in of an evening and see what she has been up to.  I see she got a new water heater today.  The old one is by the dumpster.

I had mom take a picture of Thena and I.  We look pretty good.  She likes for me to sit in her lap so she can pet me.  I sit like a good little girl.

Dad's chilling out talking to Thena.

We made it back home.  I wanted a picture with mom.  Thanks for following me around on my evening walk.


It was very cool today.  This afternoon the house temperature was 69 and Don decided we needed a fire to warm us up.  By the time the logs burned down it was 75 and toasty in the house. 

Thunder & Hiking

We had a nice rain this afternoon. The last few afternoons the clouds have started to build & it has been raining all around us. But not a drop here yet. This afternoon we got .3" and it settled the dust and washing the yellow pollen out of the fresh green pine trees. We have needed it for a long time. It is very dry even after the record snowfall this winter.

Clouds cleared and the sun came back out with a high level of humidity.

Paula invited us over for an afternoon walk around her mountain and then watch "It's Complicated" We went over about 6:30. Don had decided he wanted to hike up to the Spring Canyon to check on it. So we loaded up all the hiking gear. As we drove over to Paula's the thunder started rolling again and was very dark in the south. I wasn't excited about hiking in the rain.

Paula gave Don her poncho to carry in his backpack. I didn't take my butt pack because he assured us it was only about 1/2 mile. I knew better than to believe him. Abby and Missy went with us. Abby didn't like the thunder at all but she hiked like a big dog and didn't miss a beat. I forgot to start my buddy runner to measure the distance. We got to the cache and Don climbed up to it and took his time looking through the contents and reading all the logs. I told him to hurry up. It started to sprinkle. He was in no hurry and told me to go on if I was in a hurry and he would catch up.

Paula and I started out. Then he didn't want us to leave yet but he was still poking around at getting it put back. It started to rain more. We started to walk faster and the poor little dogs looked like wet rats. More thunder and more rain. We kept looking back and hollering for Don and no answer. Finally we started to backtrack to see if we saw him. Finally here he came slowly. We turned around and were jogging down the trail to get back to the cabin.

Once again we trusted Don on the hike and what happens, we got drenched. Paula had taken her poncho but it was in Don's backpack. Didn't do her much good.

The dogs were so wet and muddy we wrapped them up in towels to dry. We were all drenched & cold. Raymond hadn't gone with us so when he saw us he let us know he sure was glad he had stayed home.

Don finally came up the driveway, drenched and acting like nothing had happened. Paula and I let him have it. LOL













We watched the movie & Paula and I really enjoyed it. I guess you would say it was a chick flick! It was funny.


Don and I also went to the library this afternoon and set up an account so I could download eaudiobooks to my phone.  It worked!!

Didn't find much at the garage sales this morning.  I spent 40 cents on pedi paws to file Abby's nails.  Paula and Raymond found tools and grandkid items.  Maybe I will have better luck tomorrow.

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Garage Sale Discovery

I found out some exciting information about the pottery I bought over the weekend at the garage sale.  The two pots were made by Jesus Pena or Tena and they are from the famous Mata Ortiz Pottery collections.  I found the information on the internet here.  http://www.mataortiz.com/mataortizpottery.htm  This website has the history of the pottery.  These were one of my better garage sale fines.

Tuesday happenings:  cloudy but hot

1. Breakfast - Steel cut oats with brown sugar, walnuts & cinnamon
2. Pickleball  8:30-11:00
3. Picked pine needles out of tree bark mulch in flower beds
4. Lunch - Subway
5. Catch up time on computer- email, facebook & majong
6. Finished grooming Abby
7. Rode scooter to Mr. Burger for coke
8. Forestry guy came by to certify tree clearing in yard.
9. Dinner - Grilled chicken with grilled veg (potatoes,carrots, onion and corn on cob)
10. Picked pine needles out of tree bark mulch in flower beds
11. Walked Abby
12. Called Kenna for report on Mom
13. Catch up time on computer- email, facebook & majong
14. Bed - 11:00 est

Wanted to post some pictures from Father's Day

 Vampire dog in Paula's loft

Paula & Raymond

Don & I

Daddy's Day

Just wanted to say Happy Daddy's Day to the two Dads in my life.  My dad, Kenneth Martin and my husband, Don Noakes.

I want to call it Daddy's Day because I never called my dad Father, just Daddy.  I miss you and think about you a lot.  Little things will remind me of you.  Things that I know you would like makes me think about you.  Food that we eat at holiday time makes me think about you.  Projects that Don and I do around the house makes me think about you.  I love you and miss you on this Daddy's Day.

 This was Dad & Mom's 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1992.

Kenna, Mac, me and Ricki 

Enjoying his Fishing!!

Don has been a great Dad to his two kids, Stacy and Scott

They both live quite a ways from us now and we don't get to see them as often as we would like to. They are great kids & I hope they realize what a great dad they have in Don. He loves them and would do anything for them. He talks to Stacy pretty regular but has had communication problems with Scott since Christmas. I was hoping he would hear from Scott today but he didn't. Don't know what is wrong. Hope we hear from him soon.  Happy Dad's Day and I love you!

We went to eat with Paula and Raymond tonight at the Cattle Baron and had a fun time. Glad they are here now for a while.

I found some treasures at the garage sales on Saturday.  I bought these two beautiful black pottery pieces.

I have Torch Lilies(red hot pokers)

It has taken me several years to get them growing but I have red hot pokers galore. I haven't bought any of them. I started transplanting them when one of our neighbors was selling her land. I rationalized that nobody would miss them and I wanted them.

Red Hot Poker
(Torch Lily)

Side yard

Back Yard

They have been gorgeous in their vibrant orange and yellow bloom for the last two weeks. They are starting to fade now. 

These flowers are the most popular flower in Ruidoso.

The stately flowers of the Torch Lily, Kniphofia uvaria provide a dramatic display, when grown in a space where the entire plant is visible. The multi-colored flower spikes will reach 2-5 feet in height, depending on the variety. Kniphofias must be grown in full sun. Provide adequate spacing for these plants which may spread up to three feet over time. Good drainage is essential to prevent crown rot, otherwise these plants are tolerant of most soil types. Although they will survive periods of drought, they will do better if they are given abundant water during hot weather. Fading flower spikes should be removed promptly, to encourage more bloom.  (I found this info on the internet)

The plants that I have in the shade don't bloom well.

The hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love them, too.

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What is Pickleball?

Last summer as we were walking around the golf course in Ruidoso, I saw a group playing a new kind of paddle game on some private tennis courts. I stopped and asked what they were playing and they invited Don & I to come and play. It was pickleball.  http://usapa.org/ 

We played several times last summer.  Don pulled a calf muscle and didn't play anymore and at the end of the summer my back went out.  So that limited my playing but I was ready to play when I got back to town.

Pickleball is a fun game that is played on a badminton court with the net lowered to 34 inches at the center. It is played with a perforated plastic baseball (similar to a whiffle ball) and composite paddles that look like ping pong paddles.  It is part tennis, ping pong & badminton.

My tennis playing helps in pickleball sometimes. 

Not in any of the pictures, I was taking them.

We play on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 11:00. Usually 8 to 10 people show up. Some have played tennis and some haven't.

Pickleball is gaining popularity at the retirement communities and park departments. Smaller court to cover makes it more popular for seniors.

I'm having fun learning how to play and of course I want to be the best one out there.

We're driving the scooter a lot around town. Don gets mad if I take the car instead of the scooter.

Walked 7 miles yesterday, 4 miles this evening & made a banana cake with my over-ripe bananas. It was great. Talked to mom and she says she is doing good and the arm doesn't hurt. She get a cast on hard cast on her arm next Tuesday. I think Kenna is going to OKC on Sunday to help her out and take her to the doctor.

Paula and Raymond made it to Ruidoso this afternoon.

Garage sales in the morning.

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Mom broke her arm

The day started out with a jolt.  I was out walking with Jan and Don at the fitness trail & mom calls.  I didn't have good reception to hear her so I told her I would call back when I got back home.  Then about 10 minutes later Kenna called and said that mother had broken her arm on Saturday night.  She explained that she was in her garden watering about 8:30pm and fell.  She was able to get up and go to her apartment.  She didn't think it was broken and she was really mad at herself because the last thing that each of us tell her " Mom be careful and don't fall".  She put ice on it over night and it kept the swelling down but if she took the ice off it would swell.  She got a friend to drive her to the emergency care on Sunday about 2:00pm and they told her that the left arm was broken and they put a temporary cast on. 

I called her after I hung up from Kenna and she told me the story again.  She said she was doing fine and that she could handle this.  I asked her about the pain and she said she didn't have any.  I know she has a high level of pain normally.

Kenna told me she would be going down probably Thurs. and that Don D. would be through OKC tonight to check on her.  That was good.

Mom didn't call any of us until Sunday.  I know she doesn't want to worry us but she needs to let us know when things go wrong.  It is hard for me to not be there to help her.

This was Jolt #1.

Jolt #2 - Kenna told me that Jeff Ekrut, Lori's husband, had a heart attack on Friday.  He is only 40 something.  Too young for this.  He doesn't seem to have any damage to the heart and is home now but heart attacks are serious.  He will have to look at his lifestyle and change something.

Jolt #3 - Oklahoma City is having major flooding.  In north OKC they had 10+ inches in 6 hrs.  Flooding in the Ski Island area, Penn & Memorial, Broadway Ext, and everywhere else.

Ski Island Dam


Penn & Memorial

Broadway Ext.

We got on the internet and watch the OKC television feeds all afternoon.  Severe storms have moved in this evening and more rain tonight.

I can't believe all the storms we have had this year.  Snow and ice storm in Dec., two hail storms, tornadoes and all this rain. What is going on?

Don & I worked in the yard today with the weed eater and watering. It has cooled off this week but the winds are high. Very cool this morning.

Monday is Senior Day at the Casino.  We decided to go and try our luck.  We usually don't have any.  On Senior Day they give you $10 to play and that is all we spend.  Last year I made coke money.  Tonight I hit the jackpot for me.  I made $56.25.  WaaHoo!!  We had to play a new game because our Indiana Jones wasn't there anymore.  I was planning the penny machine, Mr. Cashman.  I  didn't know what I was doing.
I played 20 rolls x 5, which means it cost $1 a spin.  I hit the spin 10 times and won big 2 times.  Yea me!

 Don won 10 cents.

Geocache Event in Ruidoso

We were busy last week trying to get some caches hidden and approved for this event. I wanted to have some new ones out when cachers came to town this weekend. We did get 4 new ones out. Skeletal Remains, Eagle Creek, Fire Station Mosiac, & The Gazebo are the new ones.

I contacted Steve Tally at the Chamber of Commerce that was planning the event to see if I could help in anyway. He assured me that everything was done and they didn't need anymore help. He just wanted to make sure that we were coming.

I can't believe they didn't need my help!!LOL

Yesterday morning we all met at the Cedar Creek #3 campground and registered. We had fun meeting new cachers and hearing about their adventures trying to find our caches in town.

Don is talking to Dottie and Howie Eberts(Necki). You will hear more about them later.  They are from Alamogordo.

Steve Tally(Skyhook) is the man in the back of this picture in the black shirt.

More meeting and greeting.

Mike Bilbo(BLMBilbo) explaining about the day and the Cache Guide.  In the white shirt standing.

Don and Abby listening closely. We decided to take Abby with us. Mainly because I wanted to. It wasn't the best idea because of our adventures. But she made it after eating my sandwich at lunch and drinking lots of water when we got home.

The Travel and Cache Guide had 22 caches listed with their coordinates and some history listed about the cache location. We were to stamp each cache we found with a stamp that was in the cache, to verify that we found it. It was also a CITO(Cache in Trash out) event and there were prizes for the most trash and most unusual trash brought in. Cache coordinates had been verified by a tester the day before but she didn't find a few. Other prizes would be awarded for different accomplishments. We were to keep our mileage for the day, also.  They gave us both their phone numbers in case we had any problems.  This was important.

Steve Tally also gave me a new little Flip video recorder to document our day. I loved that! But I had to give it back at the end of the day.

Don started loading the cache coordinates as we loaded up in the car and headed out. We were also given a slip of paper with the name of the cache we were to go to first. So everyone wouldn't converge on the same cache at one time.

Our first one was More on Rock!

We had to drive about 20 miles to Lincoln. Turned off on a gravel road and then turned onto a jeep road. After we both questioned the saneness of going on the road, because we thought we were suppose to be able to use a normal car to find the caches, I continued on slowly. After a ways we saw a truck had beat us there and a couple we had met were climbing up the mountain. Don said it was about 1/4 miles over the mountain so we thought maybe we could hike around the other side of the mountain and not involve so much climbing.

We were in the Amazing Race mode!

We also were both surprised that they had a cache that involved this much climbing and distance. These questions should have been a clue.

We started out and I put my butt pack on with 2 bottles of water. Abby was ready to go.

We got around the other side and it was still 1/4 miles up the mountain, so we started climbing.  There were no trails just animals paths. There was brush, boulders and trees in our way. But that didn't stop us. We questioned our decision several times and talked about turning back and go up the other way but that would waste time. We kept going! 

We were going to win this thing. Nothing was going to stop us. 

By the time we got to the top, we were both huffing and puffing and tired.  I was go glad I had brought the water because we all needed it. 

Since it had taken so long we figured the other couple had logged it and gone.  As we were discussing that there was a voice over the hill that said "We're down here.  We haven't found it yet."  We were glad to see them and we both told stories about climbing up the mountain. They were not in as good of shape as we were and I was surprised she made it up the mountain. They had been looking about 30 minutes and we looked a while longer. We check our coordinates and we both had them right.  I decided to call Mike and ask for a hint. We did have reception but it wasn't good and I couldn't figure out what he was saying. We got disconnected and Don said he would call him.  His phone worked better. 

After talking a while Mike figured out that the coordinates in the booklet were wrong(a typo).  They were off a mile.  The cache was over on the highway.  He told Don that all the caches were no more than 500 ft from parking.

We were not happy cachers!  We moaned and groaned and then headed down.  I shared my water with them and we made it down but Dottie was not in good shape and neither was Abby.  I had to carry her a ways because she wouldn't come out from the shade.

By the time we got back to the car we had wasted 3 hours, were all dehydrated, tired and mad. 

We slowly drove out with our tails between our legs and met Howie and Dottie a mile away and signed the log for the 1st cache.  They were new cachers and were having problems with their GPS so they followed us the rest of the day to find 14 of the caches around Lincoln County.

We knew that the 3 hrs that we wasted climbing put us out of the race. We blamed them for the mistake and we blamed ourselves for knowing that it wasn't right.  I'm just glad it didn't cost us a million dollars and I kept telling Don that we were the only ones that had an adventure story to tell.  It was a disappointment for us, we are so competitive. 

After getting back to camp and telling our story to whomever would listen we waited for the food by having a coke and beer. 

Don found the food.

These were our cacher friends on the mountain. Howie and Dottie Eberts (Necki). 

Mike Bilbo was singing an old army song.

 Here I am filming the awards ceremony.

Sheriff Pat Garrett came by after dinner and told the story of Billy the Kid.

Great picture of the newbie cachers

Travel bugs that we collected during the event.

Even after the extra hike on the 1st cache we had a fun day, met some new friends and got a bottle of wine.

Live, Learn and enjoy the Journey!!!

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