Settling in, Settling down, Maybe a little mischief

Hello again, Dear Friends!  Noooo, thanks for asking, we did NOT fall off the face of the earth, nor have we gone underground again, so no worries...no stalkers, just been busy.  Doing what you ask?  I know, we're retired, and we really have nothing pressing, so what is it that keeps up so busy?  Honestly, darned if I know.  But we get up every morning, make the bed, get ready, and before you know it, it's lunchtime!  Then we do whatever chores and tasks we have on the agenda, and before you know it, it's dinnertime!  

Let's go shopping, shall we?  You may recall, we were headed all over tarnation, attending the Maricopa Independent Quilt Shops shop hop.  One county (I think), 8 shops, and about 200 miles!  Unreal!  The shops were demonstrating their favorite notions, from rulers (expensive!!) to pins, to magnets.  I did buy a new pair of scissors, specially developed for machine embroidery, and really not that pricey, at only $18.  They are made by Kai, and supposedly, guaranteed to stay sharp for life.  All the way to the very tippy tip.  We'll see, eh?  There was one other product, something you spray on the backs of your rulers to make them kinda tacky, so they don't slip around on the fabric.  It was $9 for a small spray can of it.  The product seemed kinda cool, and it appeared to work, but it was highly flammable, and even though we are a completely electric coach now, I just didn't think I wanted to keep that kind of explosive just laying around.  No telling how long it would take me to use it up, so it might be around a while.  The only other purchase I made was an itsy bitsy crochet-hook wire thingy, meant for pulling loose threads and loops to the back of the project.  Oh, and one piece of fabric.  But, the best thing of all - I *did* find a service tech for my machine, so that's quite a relief.  Last time it was serviced was about 3 years ago, so it was definitely due.  Probably overdue.  At one shop, waaaay out in the boonies, we did find these pillows, done in wools.  Cute, but very scratchy and heavy.  And sooo not our style!  But definitely cute!  That little quail, on the right, looks just like Squeak, the somewhat tame quail bird that lives a few doors down.  They've had him/raised him since he was no bigger than the palm of their hand, and he's a hoot.  It was a VERY long day, but we got 4 shops knocked out when we called it quits.  We saved the other 4 for another day.

The next day, Saturday, we gave the doggo another bath - these streets just crawl up her legs and make her all grimy, oily and gritty feeling, and then, of course, it all just comes right inside and makes dirty all over the camper!  Yeah, baths have become absolutely mandatory, weekly, at the very least.  Then, we decided to attend the Fiesta Grande that was scheduled to take place in Original Town Site, ya know how Jose loves his Mexican food...

And, of course, there was ice cream!  However, it was exorbitantly priced, and we had frozen yogurt at home, in the freezer, that promised to be every bit as good.  Plus, I could join him in a bowl of yogurt, and if he had purchased the ice cream, all I could do was sit and watch him eat it.  That wouldn't have been much fun at all.  Well, at least, not for ME.  

We wandered around for just a bit, to see what all was there; there were several food trucks and commercial booths and a mariachi band.  While the band was undoubtedly very good, they didn't really command (or hold) our attention.  Actually, they were very draggy and slow, so we lost interest after only one and a half songs, and we wandered back to the other end, where the kids were performing.  They weren't exactly professionals (yet?), but they were having fun!

If the video link below isn't available to you, click HERE to watch the kids dance.

This little hottie was full of personality!!  You could really tell she was gonna be hot stuff in a couple of years!

If you are reading this in email, and don't see the video link below, click right HERE to check out the little cutie-pie.

 There was the Chick-Fil-A cow there, and guess what!?  He (she?) had an attendant from North Carolina!  She said she knew I wasn't a local, 'cuz I sounded like her!  Hahaha.  They were passing out little "credit cards" with pictures of 3 of their sandwiches on 'em.  I asked what they were for, or would do (all the verbiage was in Spanish, go figure), and she told me they entitled us to a free dinner sandwich, all we had to do was present the cards!!  The catch - of course there's a catch! - was that the card is only valid at one location in town.  We don't know exactly WHERE that one location is, but you can bet we'll find it at some point.  Either that, or just give the cards to one of the neighbor ladies before we go.

It got pretty dark after the kids performed, and there were lots of "dignitary" speeches that seemed to draaaaag on forever, then they brought in a live band.  Who promptly announced, in Spanish, that there was some sort of mixup and they weren't ready to perform, but they had a DJ lined up instead.  And they'd be back sometime after 6:30.  That was much later that we wanted or planned to stay, so moseyed on back to the shuttle bus pickup point.  Dinner was What-A-Burger, so it wasn't a total loss.

We must admit, we were getting a little bored with our day-to-day activities, and we needed a relief from all the stress of traffic (it's unreal!!  and not at all pleasant!)  Plus, we wanted John and Lora to know just how we felt about them being GONE when we got here!  Four rolls of crepe paper, some googly eyes, skeleton hands, and one tablecloth later, their site was sufficiently trashed.  We were careful not to tape anything to their rig or do anything permanent or damaging, 'cuz, well, that just wouldn't be cool.  We forgot to consider the HOA rules though....but no one seemed to mind too awful much.  Except for John and Lora, when they came home exhausted, and they couldn't even get their car in the driveway.  Which was exactly as we'd planned it!  HAHAHAHA!  That'll learn 'em, durn 'em!  Don't be taking off when we're scheduled to arrive!

So, some of you are wondering what were the results of all that testing I had done..  and if you weren't just close the window and go on with your bad selves!  MRI - shows that I have an "old fracture" in L4.  Exactly where it hurt back in July, and exactly where I showed them in the ER in Oklahoma City.  We are now playing phone tag with the Director of Emergency Medicine, at the hospital.  She wants to talk to me about what happened in the ER at the time of my visit.  We have an EOB for almost $4000, where they diagnosed me with a sprained muscle and sent me home with muscle relaxers and ibuprofen.  For a broken back.

The DEXA scan results are in too.  My hip is a T-score of -3.2, my lower back is -3.9 and I have a 21% chance of a fracture of some sort in the next 12 months.  Yippee.  So, I spent 3 hours, THREE HOURS trying to reach the rheumatologist's office, to get a follow up appointment for a Prolia shot.  Which, I believe I told them I needed, two weeks ago.  ARRGH, so annoying and frustrating.  No.  I have NOT gotten through to them - they kept me on hold, for 11 minutes, then after informing me that I was caller #1 in line, they auto-bumped me to the voice mail for the infusion department.  And the recording THEN informed me that the infusion department cannot accept voice mails. Click.  Yup, they HUNG UP ON ME.  This happened 4, count em, FOUR times.  You better believe I am going to address that if and when I get back in that doctor's office.  And Google Reviews will probably reflect that, as well as the original 51 minute wait time AND the failure of them calling their other office to tell 'em we were on the way.  But, in the meantime, I'm pretty much at their mercy, and I just hope and pray they can get their act together before we have to leave in December.

Tomorrow, we pack up and leave for Tucson, to get our floor repaired.  Yup, Doggo got another bath today, so she's all soft and fluffy for the trip.  AND, her feet are white again.  Today, anyway.  Tomorrow, after her morning walk, that may change.  We've been told (thanks Chuck!) that there are a couple of really good Mexican restaurants down there, a botanical garden/zoo (thanks Barbara), and Santa Cruz Chili and Spice Company, all not to be missed.  We'll see what's there, and I'm sure there will be pictures to share.  

Speaking of Barbara, on to the FL friends ---Barbara and Charles have received photos of their new rig.  You know, the 6th one!  The one they finalized the order on when we were all together up in Indiana and got to go into the "secret room" and scrutinize all the tile, flooring and countertop samples.  Oh gosh, that was fun.  Challenging, but fun.  The rig has arrived in Winter Garden, and if the weather cooperates, they can go down and pick it up very soon.  Like, in a couple of days!  We are sooo excited for them - it is simply gorgeous!!  We can't wait to see it (and THEM), in person, hopefully, sometime this spring, in Texas.  

So, not sure when the next post will be, I guess that'll depend on how complicated it is getting to the campground on base.  Maybe we had better go check out the directions, while we still have internet access.....and on THAT note, let me wish you all a good night!! 

Vive la Fiesta and the Cathedral Church of St Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe, NM

Sooo, didja miss us?  Boy, what a whirlwind it's been, these last couple of days.  First off, let me just give a shout out to my love, Driver, for seeing what troubles I've had with my old lady phone and taking steps to figure out how to improve the situation, and then paid for it too!  Happy Anniversary, Love!!  And THANNNNK YOU!  The new one is fast, and accurate, and even takes good pictures.  Well, not necessarily this first one, as it too was taken from inside the car, looking out the windshield.  Nice to see just what I see, bugs and smears included, right?  So, it's a photo of the Historic Cathedral Church of St. Francis of Assisi.  I have always had a place in my heart for this particular saint and all the works he performed.

This congregation was established (and the first church built on this site) in 1610!  This is the oldest Catholic congregation in the USA.  The present building was constructed in 1886, and remodeled a bit in 1968, so, it's pretty old.  And you'll see, in really good shape for its age.  Inside, we'll see the longest venerated Madonna in the USA.  Tim, exactly what does that mean?

For some unknown reason, the twin towers have never been completed with the originally planned spires. 

Inside was amazing.  You could see a resemblance to the nave of the USAFA Cadet Chapel.  I'm guessing the architects of the Chapel were heavily influenced by the Romanesque structure here.

There are 12 stained glass windows throughout the nave, depicting 10 apostles and two evangelists.  They were made in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and installed in 1884!!!

This is the Baptismal Font, dedicated on Jun 3, 2001.  It's made of Brazilian granite, but crafted by local artists and metalsmiths.  

Here, in the Ambry, were oils of sacrament, but, notice, there's one specifically for the sick (the one on the right.  the only one whose name you can't fully see, go figure.)  I was tempted, but I refrained from breaking the glass to partake...but I was tempted.  Especially since we'd been on our feet all day and my back was screaming! They are used for ceremonies such as Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.  

This is the Cathedra, also knows as the Bishop's Chair.  Can you see that staff to the left?  It's a brass pole, topped by a circle containing bells (the Tintinnabulum) and a small gold and red umbrella (the Umbrellino).  These symbols indicate that in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI raised the Cathedral rank to a Basilica, a church honored for its antiquity, authenticity and faith of the people.

Inside an alcove named Our Lady of Peace Chapel, is a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, created in Spain, in the 1400's (!!!), and brought to Santa Fe in 1625 by the Franciscan priest Fray Alonso Benavides.  "She is the oldest statue of Mary in the US," according to the plaque on the wall. Later in the day, at the Fiesta opening ceremonies, a replica of the statue was presented just prior to the invocation.

Just an interesting piece of trivia for you....

These little guys (I'm presuming are hand-carved, based on their individuality and price!) reminded me of Tim K, and they were hard to resist.  But, then again, we live in an RV, so space is somewhat limited, and once again, I refrained.

A very intricately and detailed statue of Saint Anthony of Padua.

Overhead, in the narthex (now, isn't THAT a fancy name for a foyer!) was another stunning example of stained glass.  I am not sure of the story line here...Tim?

And, as we left, we turned to admire the heavy bronze doors.  They were cast by a local artist and the 20 panels present the story of the Catholic Church in New Mexico.

But, first, the Fiesta!  Every city in New Mexico has their own Fiesta celebration, where they honor the past and look toward the future between the Spaniards (Mexicans) and the Native Americans (Anasazi Pueblos and Navajo, primarily).  Santa Fe's just so happened to open on Friday, the day we chose to visit downtown.  (The parking fee was raised to $15 for the occasion, and there was not a single place to park on the street; we know that to be true, 'cuz we circled and circled and circled.) So these pictures have been presented a bit out of order, but that's for clarity for you, my dear reader.  We actually parked behind the Basilica and walked back through the Cathedral campus to downtown, where the Fiesta was taking place.  When we were ready, we walked back to our car, with a short tour through the church, but I gave you all the church photos together so it would make more sense. So, Vive la Fiesta!  Couldn't resist the chocolate covered fig!  Yes, ONE fig.  Split two ways.  At $4 a pop, we could share. The couple was more than happy to find a sucker.  I mean customer.

Earlier, I had alluded to the invocation.  Well, prior to the invocation being given, there were some Native Dancers demonstrating a dance of sorts.  I don't know what sort, right off hand, and there was no one to ask, sorry.

This young man had half his face painted in turquoise and bells wrapped around his kneecaps.

Remember the Madonna statue inside the church?  Here is the traveling replica, being presented to the viewers for admiration. 

And, if you can enlarge this photo, you'll see the Spaniards & Catholics represented on the left, with the Native Americans on the right.  The invocation was given in the Governor's native Navajo (governor of the Navajo nation, not the gov of NM), and was LOOOONG.  The loose translation was explained as a call for mercy and understanding between peoples of all colors, creed and nationality.  And a request for continued blessings for all the community.  It really was moving, once we learned what was being said, especially given the troubling events of the past few days.

So, we were done with Fiesta, done with the church, and it was time to head back home.  At 5 o'clock.  On a Friday.  Couldn't have time it better if we'd tried!  Oh geeze.  Traffic here is something.  Something AWFUL!  We recognize that this is a capitol city, yes.  But, good golly, Miss Molly.  (HI MOLLY!! pet, pet, scritch the ear, scritch the other ear!) Traffic is horrendous!  I thought Ocala was bad.  This tops that, for sure!  I was sure glad to get back to the camper and get dinner started!  After a quick shower & wash up of dishes, it was time to head out to El Dorado, where the local club was dancing.  We found the dance hall with no troubles, and shortly after the dance started, we were treated to a wonderful sunset over the mountains.  Square Dance Etiquette dictated that I not leave the square to go get my camera for a photo, sorry.  I was good, so, no photo. We had a great time, danced with a couple that was headed to Fun Valley, CO, and they even knew Bouncing Bob and Cindy, from The Villages.  The promised to deliver yellow rocks on our behalf.  There was even another couple heading to FL for the winter, and they asked for dance times and places and recommendations; we were happy to oblige.  The caller was great, and she let us know about upcoming dances in Albuquerque.  One tomorrow, others during next week, when we'll be there. Yes, in case you were wondering, we behaved.  Mostly.  There were a few shortcuts taken, and yes, we might have switched a few times.  But only with a square we knew wouldn't be bothered. 

So, tonight, we are meeting up with Kelly & Marvin, whom we met in Florida, down at Myakka River State Park.  No telling what they've been up to!  Got to go get ready, though, so I'll fill you in on today's visit to the Farmer's Market when we get back from dinner, or maybe tomorrow.  Till next time...stay well & happy!