April already?

Jake is back in Willamette but planning for a summer in Las Cruces. Quincy has already traveled on the band trip, so I guess it must be near the end of the school year. Wow.

What I've missed: Stu, Jake, and I marched in the Bataan Memorial March again this year and recovered relatively quickly. Might even do the Organ hike this weekend.

Quincy turned 17. I completed another Ursus issue. Work has been crazy busy for us all.

The sharp-shinned hawk brunched on the white-winged dove yesterday morning outside the north end of the house, as sparrows danced around. Were they confident that they were too small to be on interest, or that the hawk was not interested in a lagniappe?

Hillsboro Peak

Sunday's hike took us to Hillsboro Peak. Starting elevation was 8200+ feet, and the top of the hill was 10,011 feet (tower was 61 steps higher).


Susie and Phillip joined us. The weather, scenery, and terrain was beautiful.


The Forest Service Lookout (MJ) gave us a tour of the tower (imagine how long that took...). Many times I have been to towers, but this is the first time I have ever met the lookout. What I learned: beer is never unwelcome!

A few wildflowers were out. There were fields of iris plants, but only a couple remaining blooms. Must have been gorgeous a couple weeks ago. And a last little guy saw us home.

Hike was longer that we thought, but there is nothing like a New Mexico Blue sky.

What did Stu and Mel do on their 25th wedding anniversary?

Aahhhh. Chope's! Enchiladas beyond compare.

Windy today, predicted to end at 4. Nearly 2 hours ago. Still windy...

Made for a good excuse to goof off and not work hard around the yard.

But we did use Sierra Vista and the need for some plants as an excuse to go to south.

From these pictures, it looks like there is only one enterprising mural painter in Southern New Mexico.