Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Truth or Consequences, NM

Last weekend Mike and I (and TC) went to Truth or Consequences, NM. We stayed in Elephant Butte Lake State Park the first night. 2nd night and location to be my next post. I have truly become interested in having "souvenir", or "memory" photos of our excursions, and just life events, so that gets mixed in with the "playful" art side of me these days. Photographs to look at in the future and remember the places, lighting, feelings, fun, good food, funny things, challenges, life. I've said this before, I tend to "mix 'em all up" in terms of snapshots and more "worked" images that may go into some kind of art piece sometime. I know consistency: doing one or the other, not both in the same blog, or at least not the same post, is preferable, but hey, here it is. With love.

Mike

me and mike, selfie

right here on the map

view from our campsite

again, view from our campsite

campers on the beach

telephoto view across the lake

beach camping

hauling in

marina

marina again

yep, another selfie - at the marina

marina kinda looks like a riverboat, well if you use your imagination

old gypsy caravan camper a couple travels with full-time, modern gypsies, happy, free

lazy tc

One of the best filet mignons ever, really ever!, charcoal grilled along with grilled baked tater and salad with greens from Mike's garden, all organic stuff, and oil and balsamic vinegar. Not the best presentation, but certainly ranked high up there great meal!

watching mike

tc on the wall, enjoying the outdoors

a little time out from his exploring

home sweet home

low lake, but 30 ft. higher this year than last

early morning sun

home sweet home again

trying out new actions/filters here

new actions/filters

and same

same again

and again

and yet again, loved the lighting on the water

lots of quail

marina, sailboats

blue marina

whales on the beach:) big rv's camping by the water

marina boats

reflections

Oh, and P.S., here's link to park:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/elephantbuttelakestatepark.html

Craving some good old Varsity food

This is for Hettie. In the course of our phone conversation last week, my daughter said on their way home from Florida, they were stopping at the Varsity in Atlanta, Georgia for lunch. I LOVE the Varsity. My mother went there as a kid/teen. I went there, I think all my life! Will go there anytime I'm in Atlanta, if possible. Sooo much history. Our family history there is miniscule compared to the number of folks with ongoing histories with the Varsity which is of gigantic proportion. Car Hop #4 Flossie Mae was a total delight, full of energy and always left me with a smile on my face, not to mention the food!!! My mom and I always had memories of him, from her childhood and mine, and on into my adulthood. The Varsity: the largest drive-in restaurant, an institution! Flossie Mae 50 years an institution there.

http://www.thevarsity.com/history.php

Oh gosh, could go on and on. I spent weekends in downtown Atlanta with my grandmother (and great aunt) as a kid who lived only block away from the Varsity, and lunch there was mandatory. I went to school at fairly nearby Portfolio Center when I was in my 20s, and yes, regular lunch breaks there were mandatory.

So, no Varsity here in Arizona and I was craving the food and attempted to make it myself, with the help of hubby Mike doing fries and onion rings. So here's the result. Not the Varsity, can't compete with them, but pretty darn good!

Apache Flats RV Park, Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, AZ

Photos from an overnight stay at Apache Flats RV Park in Fort Huachuca last weekend. Quiet and relaxing stay. We didn't take laptop, so no movies, no internet, just us. We got Popeye's fried chicken for late afternoon/early eve dinner. Afternoon was very windy, but wind eventually settled down and sun was shining, so we had some nice outdoor time at the campsite AND some scenic drives and walking before we left on Saturday.

Fort Huachuca Cemetery

Scenic Vista, camp trailhead.

Garden Canyon.