This blog is for Bobby

  Well, I haven't been keeping up with my where abouts lately and I got an ear full from my brother. So, Bobby this is for you.
  Last blog was we were in Madrid. That's where the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. It really is a neet town and should certainly be checked out if you go anywhere close to it.
  We spent 2 weeks in Taos. Got to see a lot of art work in the many galleries there. Also took several oil painting classes.
   Also went to see the cliff dwellings close by. I made a short video and uploaded it on my Facebook page. I'll try uploading some pics for you here.
   Left for Albuquerque and we stayed there for a week. Took the bus to Old Town where a lot of old buildings with shops and galleries. It was all good.
   Got a new set of tires for the truck and headed for Silver City; a day and a half drive. Stayed there for a week and explored several sites close by and walked around town. Again the galleries. Visited another cliff dwellings about 44 miles away and explored Whitewater canyon close by. The day of the cliff Dwellings it was a nice sunny day. The next day at the canyon, snow and cold. No one there but us so we had it all to ourselves. Took LOTS of pics and video.
    After a week in Silver City and the roads opening back up due to the severe weather conditions we headed back to Parker to spend a few days with Tana and family. Hopefully tomorrow (Tuesday) we'll head for Nebraska to see family there. Then .....maybe on to Bobby's. Time is getting short and there's business needing attending to in Washington before we get on the ferry.
   Well, Bobby, that about brings you up to date for now. I'll try uploading a few pics here in a few days.

Wild Hogs !

  

   Stayed two weeks in Taos which is know for it's art and artist. Also home of Kit Carson. Lot of history in the Taos area.

  Today we drove the  Albuquerque Turquoise Trail. One of our stops was in Madrid where the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. The majority of the film is shot in the colorful former mining town of Madrid, New Mexico. After the town’s mine closed in the 1800s, it became somewhat of a ghost town until the 1970s when artists began to settle in the charming village. Today, it is a thriving artists’ colony complete with shops, galleries, restaurants, and bed and breakfasts. Madrid is located on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, approximately 50 miles northeast of Albuquerque amongst the Sandia Mountains. The open roads, breathtaking vistas, magnificent mountain views, and parking and picnic spots along the way have made this a popular scenic route for tourists, motorcyclists and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
   Tonight, we're in  Albuquerque 

Oil Paintings

             

  oil painting while we were in Taos.

 

Cheap Chicken Mondays

   Woke up with a headache this morning so we decided to take it easy. First stop, post office to get box and mail Baby Chance his birthday presents. Well, as we drove into the post office parking lot, we noticed that we were going the wrong way. Of course someone had to point that out to me. I then asked him why not put up a sign saying one way or do not enter at each end. I doubled checked and nope .... no signs.
   With that little episode I should have figured out that it may not get any better as the day progresses.
   We decided to go to a very nice restaurant that we'd read about the night before. The Dragonfly. Sounds like a good place. Well, we found it and to make a long story short, we didn't get served. We watched the couple beside us get served and they were almost finished with their meal and still no waiter came back to take our order. We then watched as another group came in and sat down. They got their water and a little while later the waiter came back and took their order. Hmmm, It wasn't like they were busy. We were the only ones in there waiting. We then got up and went back to the room. Pam went 'shoppping' and saw where the grocery store had a special CHEAP CHICKEN MONDAYS.
   MMMMMMMM drumsticks.

Learning Curve

Don't order Mexican food from any place that's on wheels

Don't eat at Tequila Restaurant, "An authentic Mexican restaurant".

Don't eat at places that doesn't have a car or two parked outside.

Don't believe any sign on outside of restaurant that offers happy hour and free appetizers.

My Dogs are Barking

  Went to out of the way places just outside of the downtown area in Taos. Met some interesting people again. Josselyn Martinez, native artist that's VERY talented. Talked with her for about 45 minutes.     
   Another art gallery we talked with an artist printer. He showed us his printing press in the back and explained the processes. I have a new appreciation for that.
   Also talked to a gallery owner who also paints. Got a lot of useful tips and ideas from her. Some I'll try this next Summer.
   Saw a painting with a $25,000 price tag. I guess the artist was famous to have that price tag for that particular painting.
   I also have a 3 day workshop with an artist on oil painting next week. That's why we're staying a few extra days.
   Tomorrow is all planned out again. So much history and so many things to see.
   We also had a Salmon BLT with buffalo chili.....yummy

Looking For A Gem

Decided today to stay out of the downtown corp area and try to find some 'gems'. We found one in a shop owner who's shop we walked into and was given an oral history of New Mexico. What an interesting guy. I could have sat there and listened to him all day. We'll visit again if we come back again.

Bruce's first oil painting

   Got to do my first oil.  There were 3 of us in class. We each picked out a subject in a magazine and painted it. This one was mine.  I still have a few things to do to finish it.

Pam's First Painting

   Also Tana's, Hannah's, and Kendall's painting

Boots and Saddles

   The Winter storm warnings are over for now and I suspect things are returning to normal in AZ. So it's time to load up and head to Taos. Lot of art galleries there to walk through and get inspired. It'll be a two day trip to get there.
   There's still snow on the ground here. I see through Facebook that there's snow in Ketchikan.
   Need to go out and get the truck ready for the trip.
   Hope 2011 is a good one for everyone.
   The above sketch was done from a photo I took while walking on the docks in Ketchikan, Alaska.

New Year's Resolution... No snowflake will touch my head.

Like all resolutions, that one was shot to H this morning. It's snowing and cold. Another resolution is to buy only t-shirts and shorts. We'll see how that works out.
I finally got on Facebook. Still trying to figure that out.
Having fun with the grand daughters. Also looking online at Ancestors.com . That's been interesting and very informative.
Guess it's time to brave the cold and snow.
Happy New Year to everyone and stay safe.

Typical Day

Well, I believe all the Christmas shopping is done. Least ways I'm done with it. Now to relax and drive around to see all the Christmas lights.
Sunny, but cool today. Need to start sketching my next piece I'm going to paint. A snowboarder.
BTW, I started a Facebook page.

The Wall

   65 here today outside Denver. Went shopping again today. Pam in one store and me in Home Depot. Just shopped for stocking stuffers for the G daughters.
   The above video is from some of the art I've done. Something to look at while you're visiting.
  

This is a First

I'm posting this using the new 4G mobile thing a ma jig. So while Pam shops, I shop online in the parking lot. Technology, got to love it. Pretty nice here today. About 54 and mid 20's at night. Dude is having fun playing with the grand daughters. Oh, I'm on Facebook. Figured I give it a try. Most of what's happening will be on this Blog however.

   Update on buying a 3G for computer. I stayed up till 2AM and couldn't get it to work. Very frustrating. Took it back to Verizon and they tried installing it. One of the salespeople there said to just read the directions. Hmmmmmm. They tried installing the software and tried to get it to work. It didn't. They then got online with their computer and found out that 7 out of 10 wireless devices didn't work. Now why would Verizon even sell such a device knowing that 70% are defective.

   OK, now long story short. We walked out with 4G wireless device and had it installed there to make sure it worked.

   Hopefully we'll be able to keep up with the blog more often and email people.

  Cool here 27* F.

 



Sweating My A$$ Off In Denver

   Finally made it to Parker, Colorado the other day. We stayed just ahead of the snowstorm that hit Montana the morning after we left. A snow storm was suppose to hit here, but nothing yet. Yesterday the temp was 70.....that was nice.
   I tried uploading a photo, but looks like something in the format here has changed. I'll try later.
   Went and got a 3G for computer today. Suppose to allow us on Internet where there's cell phone coverage. The girl at the Verizon said it was REAL simple. Hmmmmm. I'm taking it back tomorrow to have them install it.
   I signed up on Facebook since Mike and Connie Farley emailed and wanted me to sign up. Still trying to figure it out.
   Well, not much else is happening. I'll upload photos when I get the new format figured out.
   Also the movies weren't taken by me. Don't forget the youtube videos

Shorts

Short videos of the vacation

Catch Up

The short video above is a a view of traveling through Idaho. We made it to Anaconda, Montana with no problems. And had dinner with Ron and Stormy that evening. We then went to their cabin where we spent a very enjoyable few days with them. Visited an old prison and looked at a car mu seam. Both were great. Also woke up to a herd of elk beside their house. They had bedded down about 100 feet from the house. Of course I couldn't get to my camera in time to film them before they took off. Dude had a good time there. Relaxing on the steps as she did at Pat and Laura's house.

We left this morning headed for Tana's. We're in Sheridan , Wyoming. I finally figured out that the lower the price of the room, the closer to the railroad tracks. Later I'll open the rear window and high five the engineer as they go by. Good roads so far and temp was 54.

Should be at Tana's Tuesday afternoon. looking forward to seeing the granddaughters.

Well, Dude is bedding down for the evening so goodnight to all.

Leaving Margarettaville

Sadly it was time to leave our friends ( see above video of our friends and neighbors in Whale Pass) and head East to Montana. With hugs and kisses we said farewell and got on the road by 10AM. Our GPS said we'd be in Spokane by 3 in the afternoon. We arrived a few miles before Spokane at 7:30 PM. I'm afraid all the big stores just kept calling us to come inside and walk around. So we obliged. Home Depot, Safeway, & Walmart.
The weather was good. Some rain, but not bad. We checked into a pet friendly motel, so Dude is beside me watching FOX news. Got to love that cat. BTW Dude sends her love to Aunt Laura and Uncle Pat oh and xoxoxo to Reba.
We had a great time in Oregon and looking forward to reading more of Critter Cabin Blog. It really is a great get away.
Good night to all.

Countdown 3....2...1

We had fun up North visiting the kids. Went to
Wassila to visit Josh, Erin, and Baby Chance.
Then flew to Juneau to see Tristan, Adam, and
Terry. Had a fun fun time. Well the trip wasn't all
filled with fun. Pam got sick on the flight up North.
I got a cold the last half of the trip.
Well, we leave for Bellingham tomorrow. Still need to get things ready and nowhere close. It's been blowing 50 and raining for awhile now.
I finished the painting and see too many mistakes to keep looking at it. I'll be giving it to Laura and Pat. They enjoy them.
The state ferry was working on installing Internet on the ferry we'll be on. Hopefully they'll have it finished. If so, I'll have plenty of time to blog on the way down.
Dude will be traveling with us this yr. She does pretty good in the truck. Just need to see how she does day after day.
The two day ferry ride to Bellingham got a little rough in a few spots, but not bad. Arrived in Bellingham and the border patrol was there checking a few people.
Now we're visiting with Pat and Laura. We're enjoying our visit with them.
Our next visit will be with Ron and Stormy.
Till next time....