Ok, maybe not so deep. We left New Orleans after picking up Eddie who was very happy to see us but actually seemed to like Zeus’ Pups people and the place. They didn’t have her on her leash, and she happily ran in the back after ecstatically greeting us.
They really appreciate me here and my gifts. They know about my burgeoning abandonment issues and were very nice to me. In fact, they liked me so much they held me ransom until Mommies paid a lot of money to get me back. So there!
We traveled through Louisiana once again marveling at the amazing bridge systems. Water everywhere and yet we traveled through it quickly and efficiently. Often it seemed we travelled through the canopy. We stopped in Texas to get gas and paid $2.88/gal. For a couple of Californians, that was a shocking and a pleasant surprise. We arrived in the Fort Worth area at about 6 PM and decided we needed a bite to eat before we rested up. We found a great restaurant very close to the hotel called Fred’s Texas Café.
The cobb salad for Michelle and Sandy’s quesadilla were quite tasty. As an added bonus, Eddie was able to eat with us even though they had their patio windows closed. Back to the hotel and an early bedtime after our long driving day.
We went over to brother David and sister-in-law Lee’s house the next morning and put Eddie in her crate and took off for breakfast.
I’m confused. Did you not learn your lesson? Here I am. Stuck in a jailhouse again. Enjoy your breakfast. Don’t even give a thought to me and my predicament.
David and Lee’s favorite breakfast place was closed for some sort of maintenance, so we took off for another favorite called Heaven’s Gate (nicer and with a happier ending than it’s namesake). So glad we did as two good friends of David and Lee’s happened to be eating there so we got to meet them. Ron and Linda lived in California for many years when the company Ron was working for, General Dynamics, moved them to the Fort Worth area. The six of us had very fun and lively conversation and an excellent diner breakfast (our favorite kind).
After breakfast, we headed for the Fort Worth Stockyards to watch the Fort Worth Longhorn Herd Cattle Drive. But first, Lee took us to the Stockyards Hotel which truly reflected the time when Fort Worth was known as “where the west begins”. It contained great period furniture, and it was obvious any remodeling strived to keep the quaint frontier décor. Sadly, a much larger hotel just bought it and the employees were told it would be remodeled in a modern style. We agree with the employees that it is a shame the old-time charm will be lost.
As for the stockyard herd cattle drive, it was so cool to see the seventeen or so longhorns’ parade down the main street in the stockyards. Their horns are HUGE! These are pampered cattle, and you can tell that by their condition. They looked healthy and well cared for. A cowboy narrated the parade and told stories on some of the individual steers. (An example is GUS, same name as Sandy’s father, a camel colored steer whose errant behavior often ended in people running from the bulls, not with them, and stores emptying as GUS decided to shop.) There are two saddled longhorns ready for people to climb atop and have their picture taken. As the longhorn’s handler said, “Climbing on is free, climbing off is $10.”
Would I be able to go with you more often if I had horns?
Your’s just don’t show, sweetie. So no.
After leaving the stockyards, David and Lee took us to the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. It was so amazing and, for Michelle, a highlight for the entire trip. There were very comprehensive exhibits on Annie Oakley and an exhibit called “It’s Never Just a Horse” filled with examples of how the partnership between women and horses occurs in so many ways. Therapy horses, hunter/jumpers, barrel racing, rodeoing, horse racing and other partnerships were all part of the exhibit. Another part of the museum displayed the western and cowgirl themed art of women photographers, writers and other artists. Fancy cowgirl costumes filled a room with amazing color and bling. It is a celebration of what it means to be a cowgirl and how strong women are imbedded in all aspects of the west.
Afterwards, we went to a great grocery store called “Central Market”. It looks like a Whole Foods on steroids! We picked up fruit, deli meats, fresh bread and crackers and, of course, a little wine. We went back to the house and when we got hungry, we prepared a feast to have out in the “treehouse”. What do we mean by “treehouse”? Well, David and Lee’s backyard faces park land that will never be developed so they have a beautiful pastoral view from their deck. Their backyard slopes downward and they have many mature oak trees and because the yard slopes, the deck is surrounded by the tree canopies. They recently had their deck built and bought a modern fire pit. We sat out on the deck surrounded by the oak trees and Lee is absolutely right when she says sitting out there is reminiscent of being in a treehouse. We had such a great time just sitting and visiting. Great conversation and great company made for a very enjoyable evening. But alas, the time to leave came all too soon so we headed off to our hotel to prepare for the drive to New Mexico.
They finally came home. I feel like veal. Still, getting out was fun and I LOVE the deck in the backyard. I visited with far away dogs and watched birds and SQUIRRELS! Now that’s fun. Don’t know why they want to go anywhere else.
New Mexico feels like going home.
The drive through Texas to the New Mexico border was filled with fields of cotton. We expected oil derricks, but we guess they are further north in the pan handle. We crossed into New Mexico and arrived in Roswell around 2 PM. Sandy has always wanted to go to Roswell and hunt aliens, so we wandered around the town, went in a few stores (they all let Eddie in) and collected E.T. magnets, stickers and a t-shirt and aliens were everywhere! By then we were hungry. We found a dog-friendly restaurant called Peppers Bar and Grill that served New Mexican food. Out on the back patio the grackles and a pair of moxie doves were making all kinds of noise, so they kept Eddie amused. The delightfully hot Hatch green chiles and margarita’s kept Michelle and Sandy amused. We checked into our hotel and settled in for the night (shout to Gabriella – she was amazing!). Tomorrow we are off to Tucson and the last leg of our journey.
I saw aliens! They were everywhere! I don’t know why it’s just a big deal. They are easier to find than squirrels.
