Taking a break...

Sweetie and I are visiting our oldest daughter in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Our oldest granddaughter, Elizabeth, will graduate tomorrow from The University of New Mexico with a degree in elementary education.  Sunday is not only Mother's Day but also daughter's birthday.  Perfect time for a visit.

Weather is beautiful here -- 60's (F) during the day, 40's in the evening/night.  Daughter and I shopped for groceries yesterday -- had a wonderful dinner -- grilled chicken breasts and lots of vegetables.  I enjoyed it all, especially the veggies.  Ate artichokes for the first time -- at least for eating the pull-off version.  I usually eat artichokes in something -- like artichoke dip, in a fish dish or in pasta.  I like them but thought the effort in baking and eating the whole thing was wasted effort -- not enough to each bite.  Like them better other ways.

Tonight we are having a pot roast (cooking in the crock pot as I am writing this) and I volunteered to fix cauliflower.  Don't know what else is planned.  Most everyone has gone to play golf -- Liz and I will have lunch together a little later.  She's still asleep and I need to shower and do some grooming. Tomorrow will be a busy day!

Albuquerque is a nice place -- just has lots of the dirt that I am so allergic to.  Where I live open spaces are covered in vegetation. Here, and in El Paso where we previously lived, an open space is covered in dirt.  There just isn't enough water (rain) to allow plants to grow freely.  When the wind blows, which is quite often, the dust/dirt blows, too.  My nose runs and runs!

Abq (as it is abbreviated) is built in the Rio Grande valley next to a range of mountains.  We have visited the mountains on multiple occasions -- I love them.  The view of the city from the top of the mountain is beautiful. 

One big attraction here happens in the fall.  The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  Hot air balloons come from around the world to fly during the two weeks of Balloon Fiesta.  We came one year and it is a wonderful sight.  I wanted to post a picture from that occasion but can't  find one quickly so it will have to wait.
On our way here we took a shorter route that led us across miles and miles and miles of nothing but dirt - flat, barren land.  It must take multiple acres to support one cow.  The desert does have a beauty of its own but, frankly, it is not my favorite place. 

Guess I better wind this up and get ready for lunch.  Take care, everyone, and let me hear from you when you get a chance.
Anita