Four National Parks and a Wedding

Few things brighten my winter doldrums more than packing for a trip to warmer climes. A February wedding in Arizona for our niece and her fiancé couldn't have been better timing; for us, and I'm sure for the bride and groom as well. Outdoor weddings in the Arizona desert are stunning, but probably not in the heat of summer.

Rolling my large suitcase into the living room, Dave smiled, "I'm just going to pack a small duffle bag for myself." He knows me too well. "Well, a girl needs options." I say, and remind him that I change my dress at least three times just on a given Sunday morning. We'd be attending the wedding and also church services, and with the problems of Spring weather throughout Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the temperatures could be all over the map. I looked at the weather app on my phone. A major winter snow storm was approaching our cabin in the next couple of days. We'd need to get our RV down the mountain while the existing snow had turned slushy the last few days.

Since we were bringing our home on wheels, Dave suggested we bring our little furry friend. "Are you sure?? What if she escapes somehow in the middle of the desert or at some random gas station in the middle of nowhere?!" My mind racing with all the worst case scenarios; one of my greatest skills.

"I know you; and I know how much you miss her when we leave for several days. We'll take a crate and make sure she can't escape before we open the RV door. She'll be fine, and you'll be happier having her with you."

He's not wrong. So I got to pack for me and for Freya, and Dave packed up his duffel bag and new Star-Link. We'd be working on the road this time. Because why not start a new business in our sunset years!

Frey checking out her new digs

We got a late start leaving on a Thursday afternoon. Dave fired up the engine, and Freya headed straight up to the top of the overhead of the cab to the farthest deep dark corner she could possibly find. Her escaping the RV became lower on my list of things to wig out about.

Page, AZ was our first stop. A few years ago we discovered a little restaurant https://www.birdhouseaz.com/ The menu is small, offering fried chicken in either spicy, honey or plain and a few simple but delicious sides including house-made pickled veggies and dipping sauces. The service is cheerful and I love to eat our meal inside at one of the few tables since the playlist on the overhead speakers is a great vibe and somehow makes the food taste that much better. We ordered extra chicken to keep in the RV refrigerator so we'd have leftovers for a few more days.

I'm a sucker for mac-n-cheese

Fried donut-holes rolled in a cracker-crumb paied with both chocolate and strawberry dipping sauces. Delicious and unexpectedly not too heavy.

Feeling the need to get some steps in after driving and eating we made the quick drive to Horseshoe Bend to watch the sunset. It was chilly and I needed a light jacket, but there was no snow. Perfect.

Sunshine on my face almost always makes me smile. Well, actually always.

Having fed our bellies, the next stop would be to fill our souls with a stop in Phoenix to visit Dave's parents Ed, some siblings, children, and grandchildren, and attend the wedding.

Guests were invited to take a poloroid picture of themselves then paste into the guestbook and write a note to the couple under the photo. Such a great idea! I'm sad the pic didn't develop fast enough for me to get a clear image of Dave's sis Norma.

A beautiful indoor-outdoor venue out in the desert was where the bride and groom exchanged their personally written vows, rings and kisses. Perfect Arizona February weather, a gorgeous wedding party, delicious food, music and dancing till the stars came out made for a most memorable evening.

Dave looking more handsome every year that goes by....

A few hot air balloons lifted off as the sun started to set. The groom had proposed on a hot air balloon I love all things serendipitous, especially on wedding day.

We spent the rest of the weekend visiting kids and grandies that continue to amaze us with their devotion to their spouses, children and the incredible families they are building. Going to church services with Ed and Fran is always fun. They have the best community of people that care for and look out for one another. Ed gets together with a few men each week at the neighborhood wood-working shop and makes beautiful cutting boards and salad bowls that he gifts to his children and grandchildren. As we packed up to leave he presented us with a beautiful wooden racoon to hang on a wall in our cabin. I'm excited to find the perfect spot for it.

After Ed helped Dave de-winterize the RV so we'd have running water for the rest of our trip, we gave our hugs goodbye and then headed south to my birthplace.

After spending the night in a parking lot in the Douglas AZ Walmart, we made our way to Bisbee. The more we visit this tiny kitschy little town close to the border the more I fall in love with it. We were lucky enough to grab two spots in one of the tours of the Copper Queen mine. A former miner turned tour guide, gave a great tour with a mix of information and humor.

After the 1 1/2 hours spent underground in the dark, my light-sensitive eyes were grateful for a cloudy day.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking up and down the narrow streets, ooohhhing and aaaahhhing at the brick and stone-work and architecture of a 1920's mining boom town. I got my token selfie in front of the Copper Queen Hospital.

And here is my first selfie almost sixty years ago.

Born in the hallway of the Copper Queen hospital, Daddy took this picture behind the glass of the nursery window.

We wandered around until we got hungry for linner. I can't remember the name of this cafe but we choose this one every time. The small-ness, home-cooked, great play-list, and cheerful service made for a fantastic experience. I always ask Dave what he wants to eat and he always suggests I order my two favorites and promises me he'll be happy with whatever I pick. I chose green chili quiche for him and a meat-loaf sandwich and chicken tortilla soup for me. We got two slices of freshly baked pie, blueberry and coconut cream, for the road.

The brick and millwork. The tile ceiling. The wood floor. The copper lights. I could cry from the beauty!

The food was fresh and tasted like the best home-cooking. Each plate was served with a large slice of whole-wheat buttered bread; just like my mama wouldv'e served me.

Chiricahua National Monument was my first home and now our next stop. Always peaceful and breathtaking as any of the mightier monuments or parks. Breathtaking is an understatement.

Otherworldly.

The limited few first-come first-served camp-sites were already taken, so we decided to keep moving toward our next stop. New Mexico. A night's stay in Las Cruses (this time a hotel room to regroup and for me to take a long soak in a tub. My favorite. Before turning out the lights we looked at the weather for White Sands National Park. What was a beautiful calm day this day would be turning to major wind gusts most of the day. Good times. If we headed out early enough in the morning maybe we'd get in and out of the park before the worst of it. Maybe we were wrong. Yes we were wrong. But on the bright side, we had the entire park pretty much to ourselves. While more reasonable visitors to the park drove quickly out, we drove slowly in, parked the RV next to the pure white gypsum dunes and watched as the wind whipped the white on the ground up so high into the sky that the clouds and dunes seemed to meet mid-way. Now and then a gust of wind would slam against the side of the RV and I reminded myself that we were having an adventure and having so much fun! After some time passed and things calmed for a few minutes, I told Dave that I wanted to hurry outside and get my yearly pictures out on the dunes. Ever patient and accommodating he stepped outside with me and quickly took a few pictures.

This will be a fun skirt for the grandie-girls to play dress-up with.

Freya never once left the cabinet. I never should've worried about her escaping. Though if she had we could've found her easily in the all-surrounding whiteness.

A quick stop in Alamagordo to Pistachio Land, a pistachio tree farm and store that carries all things pistachio along with a landmark of a concrete giant pistachio out on the side of the highway claiming to be the largest pistachio in the world (albeit a concrete one); no idea if it's true but I would bet they do have the best tasting pistachio ice cream in the whole world. Because basically I'm an ice cream expert.

I will cross state lines for this ice cream.

The next two nights were spent at my beloved Bandelier National Monument. It always feels like going home. This is where my two parents who are now reunited to the next life, might spend time. If time is even a thing where they are. I know that I can feel them so close to me when I am here. It gives me great comfort and I feel the cares of the world wash away when I walk the trails and listen to the sounds of wind in the needles of the pine trees and the trickling of the creek below.

If I had a dime for every hour I'd spent roaming the trails and caves as a little girl.....I'd have a lot of dimes.

Apparently, since hiking, or just breathing , makes me hungry. Time to head to Santa Fe for dinner.

Tune-Up Cafe. I will dream of this place until I can return again. I don't have the words adequate to describe the deliciousness of this burrito Christmas style. Both red and green sauces.

Checking in with our Utah kids back home, there had been quite a bit of snow in the valley, (meaning most likely even more up at our cabin). Time to go home and be responsible again.

We drove through Zion on the way back home. The snowfall made it extra special.

Dave on snow-shoveling duty, me on unpacking and meal prepping duty. We came home to about 18" of snow in our drive-way. Dave got the shovel out and started digging out the car. I started to unpack and pulled out of a bag the little pink hat Dave had insisted we buy at the pistacho land store. A hat for Freya.

She's probably thinking she'd rather be in the RV than wearing this hat.