Fun-Filled January

January 1 - 31, 2026

Tombstone - Las Cruces - Tombstone, Arizona

Trying to stay positive in this mad, mad world we find ourselves living in takes up much of my energy in this first month of 2026. Nearly every day brings another horrible, unbelievable, shameful event. It's a lot. 

Alas, one must move forward. Focus on family, friends and fun. Take deep breaths.

When Vicky returns from Illinois we immediately catch the last showing of Wicked for Good in the area. She's a huge fan and I can't believe she hasn't seen it yet! I'm delighted to see it again. 

Leaving the theater we're treated to an over-the-rainbow spectacle!

All the colors are so vivid.

A week later four of us take a day trip to the big city. Tucson's Historic 4th Avenue is always a treat, and a new treat for two of us! The weather starts out chilly, but it's soon lovely and warm. 

Definitely our kind of place, but we'd already made plans to eat down the street.

 

Because if you can, one must eat at Bison Witches (love the logo on the window). Jodee, Rebecca, Vicky and Kris.

After several months of podiatrist and wound care appointments three times a week, Bill has surgery to remove most of his big toe. Good news is there's no effect on his balance, and he's able to get around and drive himself right away. The weekly appointments continue through the month. Diabetes is a bitch, no doubt. 

Cold temps embrace the area. Rebecca and I head for Las Cruces for a few days (hotel stay, no PJ) during what turns out to be the coldest winter storm of the season. We have warm clothes, we don't mind some rain, we're happy to be out playing.

There's not much in Deming, NM, but RV parks and access to some cool places. And the Adobe Deli. The queen of quirk, and a must-stop for lunch when passing through. 

Very fun memories of seeing John and Pam's faces when we brought them here for lunch several years ago:-)))

The Native warrior usually here has been replaced by this blonde ingenue. He did leave her the "hat".

Funky, fun, and very chilly, I'm grateful for a table near the heater. Gaps in the wall siding still haven't been closed up.

Entering Las Cruces from the West, the Recycled Roadrunner greets us at the rest area.

We're here!

Our hotel is close to historic Mesilla so we drop our luggage and head back out to kick off our time in the second largest city in New Mexico. Mid-week and cold temps means we have most places to ourselves. We both enjoy small shops and local galleries so this is heaven. As a gallery artist herself, Rebecca can always spend time kibitzing with gallery folks. 

Several buildings here have these wonderful permanent luminarias. Another reason to love Adobe style buildings.

The stunning little chapel is a sweet spot for taking a breath, and lighting a candle for peace and tolerance.

Art and shopping for sure, but La Posta may be the main reason to be in Mesilla. Excellent food and service in a beautiful historic setting. 

A heartfelt welcome in the lobby.

Our second day is museum day. It's raining, a nice soft female rain, and a nice time to be inside looking out while enjoying local culture and history. We start out at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, a place introduced to me by pal Maggie, and now shared with pal Rebecca. I wish I'd taken a photo of the huge fireplace we enjoyed sitting in front of for a while, planning our next stops in the warm setting.

Breakfast at The Shed is always a great idea. 

Combining the life of Billy the Kid, the Lincoln County Wars, and local ranching history, they do a great job of telling the story of this area.

I may have included this in the post from the museum years ago. It's still a favorite. "Puppy Training"

I went to high school with their nephew. Fun to find their family legacy here.

The Branigan Cultural Center does a wonderful job of combining historic and current traditions. 

When toys you played with as a child are in a museum....you may be old.

The Museum of Art is closed for renovations, so we wrap up our exploring at the Museum of Nature and Science. Another small facility, it includes a large variety of live animals, fossils, space exploration and agriculture. 

Rebecca isn't a fan, but I'm delighted with this beautiful corn snake. I try and fail to see what they're staring at. 

We have our own rooms and are both relishing having our own space for a few days. Since she and her husband are still living fulltime in their 45' Class A, she's especially enjoying it! After our busy day we decide to forgo dinner and just hang out in her room with snacks. The planned wine ends up on the floor (sticky story), so we snack with water and sodas :-)

Another great spot for New Mexico breakfast is Wecks. We stop on our way to the Saturday Farmers' Market. We're not expecting much as it's raining pretty good. We've saved White Sands for our final day when the rain is supposed to move out. 

Not surprising there are only a few vendors braving the elements. Fun to look at, but we don't find anything we can't live without. The market is downtown so we tuck into a gallery that features different artists in individual rooms. It's wonderful. No photos in the rooms, I want to remember the amazing exhibit of Native art featuring people/animal pairings with audible additions you access by pressing a button below each small piece. They're wonderful.

Multiple artists are featured in the entry.

The cold and damp market outside.

Las Cruces has many beautiful historic buildings.

We like a pretty drive, and so much of New Mexico has lots of them. Let's drive the back way to Hatch! Home of the world famous chilis, there's not a whole lot here but that. It's also the last place I stayed with Tessa and it's a gut-punch to be back. It still hits me hard at random times. I miss her so, so much.

We stop at a couple cute little shops (they're so cold inside, glad we have hats and gloves!), then make the mandatory stop at Sparky's. Still not real hungry after our big breakfast, we opt for pie and coffee. The live music is a treat on this Saturday afternoon so we hang out for awhile and just appreciate how fun it is.

New since my last visit, fortune cookie fortunes are tucked everywhere around both large rooms.

It might be awhile before I can enjoy a hot dog again.

Most RVers are familiar with this line-up making the turn in Hatch.

We have delayed our big day trip to White Sands to avoid the rain. Sunday is the day. Our last day here. 

We wake to snow. 

It's not sticking in town, but the Organ Mountains are covered. The Organ Mountains is what we cross to get to White Sands. The sun is coming out. It will be fine.

So the roads are dry, no snow or ice, in Las Cruces. I'm confident that "the other side of the mountain" is the same elevation as the city and therefore all will be dry and clear there too.

Uh huh.

Nice dry roads, through a fog bank, over the snowy pass, and then we'll be back to dry roads. Right?

The other side of the mountain.

The road is icing up before we reach the top of the pass, the fog is heavy but driveable. There might be two other vehicles on the road.

I'm going very slow, feeling comfortable with how the truck is handling the patches of ice and drifting snow.

We see the plows in the distance and my GPS is telling us there are unplowed roads ahead. Fortunately the sun is melting the ice and the plows are clearing the slush. While the snow here is unexpected, we're looking forward to seeing snow on the white sand!

The park is closed.

Apparently this is common this time of year, but since I'm not expecting the weather to be so different "over here" I never thought to check.

Nothing to do but turn around and redo the slush and snow. And the pass is now much worse. More ice, and the fog is at near zero visibility. We inch along at 10 mph. 

The dunes in the distance - sand or snow?

Over the ice and into the fog where the world disappears for a few miles.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the road when we came out of the fog. Just as dry and clear as when we left :-)))

The implied drama aside, it was a fun adventure we hadn't planned. It was like we visited Winter and came back.

With time before the Seahawks playoff game, we explore some of the natural beauty around Las Cruces.

Even in winter, I love the variety of colors.

The Organ Mountains are stunning in their snow cover.

It seems Las Cruces is a Denver Broncos town so when we arrive at the The Game II for the second game, there are a lot of dejected fans in orange leaving. We're here for the second game to root for the Seahawks. I'm also a Stafford and Nakua fan so I'm cheering for both sides. Still, so happy Seattle wins.

Good seats with good beer and appetizers. So fun!

Our go-home day is sunny and clear with no sign of rain or snow. We laugh. It was still a wonderful get-away.

It was a full January. More fun in February next time.

Maximus and Mason take the folks to the iconic Magic Castle in Hollywood. Lucky guys!

 

Sister giggles are the best! Reese and Penelope snuggle Magnolia.