No Stress and No Humidity at 10,000 feet

Oh, this kid. She is never happier than when out exploring. She is in all ways, nature's child.

The week prior to our vacation, dad and Kaelan watched the old and the new versions of "The Karate Kid". She practiced her version of 'the crane' on every rock in the forest.

On nearly every hike or walk we took, Kaelan spent a good deal of her time trying to give me a heart attack. Whether it was climbing rock cliffs or dangling from tall tree branches, she seemed determined to have me popping Xanax.

I can't tell you how many critters were out on the trails, but I can tell you we narrowly avoided several of them simply because the alarm (otherwise known as Kaelan's mouth) was sounding on a constant channel of chatter that caused many to run and hide as we approached. The fresh mud was clean on our way through, and covered in tracks on our way back. Deer, raccoons, elk, and my least favorite encounter of the day, BEAR were all around. We actually avoided a very sticky situation in the berry field. I kept hearing something on the trail above us as we stopped and picked strawberries. Thinking it was just some deer, we decided to cut through the rough and head up to the higher trail. Backtracking an area we had just walked through, I looked down to find some very fresh bear poo (yes, I am a mountain girl and I know my poo!). In just the spot we were going to trek, there were several bear prints and a mudslide of sorts covered in black shed hair. Obviously, several bear had tread here. To add to the thrill of the moment, just above us we heard the ever ominous grunting.

Needless to say, we did no shortcutting and quietly turned a booked it out of there. Kaelan was sad we didn't go on ahead and see the bears. Kaelan also doesn't realize she would make an awesome meal.

Mmmm. Kaelan's first wild strawberry. Her dad nearly killed me for letting her eat this, but I assured him they were safe and that I had eaten millions of them (which is the equivalent to like 6 regular size strawberries) as a child. That made him even more concerned and "explained a lot", he said.

This is Kaelan and Dad quietly exited the woods after our bear encounter. Kaelan picked me lovely bouquet of wildflowers to make me feel better after stepping in elk poo.

Notice those sticks. AND don't forget, she knows "the crane". I felt safe.

We had huge water balloon fights (in the 50 degree weather), hide and seek and numerous other games with cousins. I wish I had tons of pictures to show you, but do you see that little guy on the end flexing his muscles? Yea, that one. I let him "see" my camera for 2 minutes and lost about 50 pictures. But he didn't touch any buttons. Really. Good thing I love him, or I would ring his little neck. I'm not afraid of those "guns".

Look at this poor little grubby mountain child. Dirt on her face, rocks in her pocket, sticks in her hair, and immeasurable happiness in her heart. Sigh.

Home

I always get a little nervous as we head across the desert to the mountains of my home. Is it really as beautiful and magical as I remember it be? Will it hold all the wonderment of my youth?

It is so easy to question the beauty of that remarkable little place, when the journey there leads you across what many call the "armpit of America". I mean seriously, have you driven through the La Mesa/Artesia divide lately?

It is amazing to think the scenery can change so drastically from red clay and barren wasteland to crisp blue skies and tall pines in just a matter of 60 miles.

But it does.

And it never seems to disappoint.

Once our car hits Hope, NM, we give our customary nod to the locals and then crack the same joke.

"I HOPE I never live in Hope, NM."

We check the temperature which at this time of year is usually skyrocketing somewhere around 100 degrees and smile. Smile because we know the roller coaster is on the down slope and we get to watch the thermometer dive....dive....dive over the next 50 miles. With our arms hanging out the windows and our hair blowing in the wind, we drive.

More green! More trees! 80 degrees by Duncan. Hills! 75 by Mayhill.

And then, we feel the real cool blast and the trees grow even taller, the grass even greener. The last couple of bends before we enter Cloudcroft are always the most exciting. Passing the ski area and reminiscing on all the years spent on those slopes. Narrowly avoiding a crew of deer darting across the highway....and then,

We are home.

I can smell the rain from this afternoon's downpour. I can smell mom's enchiladas.

Home.

**Details on our adventures in the mountains coming soon!**

Car Pool Convo

Darian: I want to go hunting and shoot something.

Kaelan: Like what?

Darian: I don't know, like some kind of rabbit or something.

Kaelan: DARIAN! No way! Those are God's creatures! You can shoot something like poisonous hairy caterpillars that are attacking us.

Darian: Those are God's creatures, too, Kaelan. Why don't we just shoot some doves like Pa-Pa does when he goes hunting.

Kaelan: Uh-no, Darian! Those are God's creatures also!

Darian: I know. But they are sooooo tasty!