Hello Everybody! It's been another slow couple weeks for us, it's been pretty nice just taking it easy! We have been up to a few things though, so here's whats up...
Remember our trip to the Petroglyph National Monument and all the crazy rock drawings? Well, those rocks were part of the Boca Negra canyon in the lava flow mesa. That lava flow came from the 5 volcanoes that border the West side of Albuquerque. These volcanoes can be seen all over ABQ and of the 5, three (called the three sisters) are still pretty predominant. We have been wanting to visit the volcanoes since we got here and so, last Saturday (28th) the whole family went on a nature hike!
The day started out great! We hopped on Interstate 40 West and pretty soon we were out of ABQ and into nothingness. It wasn't too long till we found our road and drove straight to the Volcano Park. At first glance, the three remaining volcanoes really weren't too impressive. We live on the complete opposite side of ABQ, closer to the mountains and we see these volcanoes in the distance everyday, looming over the West city and they look huge! It was so strange to finally get to these volcanoes, which is amazing in itself, and they were actually quite small. They are pretty ancient after all. The only reasoning I can come to about this is the east side of the city is, well mountains, and levels off to a high elevation. The middle of ABQ then drops down into a pretty deep valley, so much that my ears pop every time I cross town! Then, back at the West side, where the lava flow and volcanoes begin, the elevation comes back up to meet the East side. Therefore, from where we live we can see the volcanoes quite well, and like the sun at the horizon, they look huge! Who knows, I may be crazy. But I think it's some kind of optical illusion.
I found this photo on the web. I think it shows pretty well what I'm talking about with the volcanoes looking so big from the East! You can see in the center the 3 sister and then over the right edge the 2 smaller ones.
Anyway, the day was great. We hiked up 2 of 3 volcanoes. Saw some amazing views of the city and the mountains. We explored a new and different environment all together. Bailey loved it! He liked the walking of course and also the exploring. Everything was going great until we got done with the 2nd volcano and was headed to the 3rd. If you know me, then you know I'm not the most active person. I was starting to get pretty wore out. I needed to sit for a just a minute, that's all! So, I carefully picked the smoothest rock I could find and plopped down. I jumped up pretty quick! In the cracks were I couldn't see was a little cactus. Said cactus was now stuck through my shorts, in my butt. OW! Luckily I only had one big sticker stuck but a lot of little ones stuck just to my shorts. After I got Neal to stop laughing uncontrollably, he carefully unstuck me and we called it quits for the day. Yeah, I don't recommend that part of our adventure at all!
I love this photo... you can see where the lava flow stops and the canyon starts. It's really crazy.
This would be me...after I sat on the cactus... :(
Bailey got tired too!
If any of you know Neal then you know just how spontaneous he is. Somehow he got it in his head that he wanted to learn how to play the Ukelele. They are actually pretty popular here. Anyway, he let this idea eat at him for at least a week before he got really serious about pursuing this new hobby. We shopped around and some day last week we brought our new Ukelele home! I'm listening to him practice as I type. We are both learning and its really fun! We will see how this goes..
This past weekend was another lazy weekend for us. It was really nice to just lay around and do nothing Saturday! Monday we finally went to see the Avengers (amazing)! I also took Bailey to the groomer...he was getting super shaggy and was getting really hot on our walks! (I have started walking 2 miles a day to get me out of the house, enjoying it so far!). We got his hair cut shorter than I think it had ever been. You can really see how skinny he is! I promise he eats!
We decided he has a slight resemblance to a meercat? maybe?
While on the subject of dogs, I may have mentioned before how dog friendly ABQ is. Almost everywhere allows dogs, even restaurants and bars. However, I have also seen a lot of people who do not take care of their animals, and really it shocks me. I have seen more dogs left in cars here unattended than I can believe. Once, a few weeks ago, Neal and I were on our way into church and in the parking lot was a car with 2 big dogs left inside barking and pawing at the windows. There was even a crowd forming, but quickly scattered as church was about to begin. All I could think of all through church was those dogs and that surely somebody in that church didn't leave them in there. Sure enough, as church ended, the car with the dogs was still there unattended. I was furious. I was not leaving until the owners got back to their car. A few minutes later, a man and woman came out of church and headed straight for that car. As I began confronting them they got in and drove off. I still cannot understand why you would bring your animals to church and LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR?! Something else that really bothers me is they way that members of our military, which we are a part of, abuses animals as well. I have known countless single friends and acquaintances who have adopted animals only to be deployed soon after. Unless you have someone in your life who is going to take that animal for months on end, what did you think was going to happen when you adopted said animal and then disappeared?? My only request to these single members of the military, and really the whole world, THINK BEFORE YOU BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER LIFE!!
Ok, now that I am off my soapbox, I have one last thing to say. This Sunday is Mothers Day and sadly, Neal and I will not be able to be with either of our mothers. So here's to our mother's and all the mothers out there! Happy Mother's Day!
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