My goodness, it's been a while!

We just got back from a four-day trip to Silver City, looking at houses and sampling the summer weather.

As to the last, it was a little more humid there than here, but not any hotter. The humidity may have been from the afternoon thunder showers, not all of which wet Silver City. It was interesting on the way down through eastern Arizona, when temperatures bounced from the 90s to the 60s to the 90s to the low 60s and back into the 90s again. Outside Alpine, AZ, was where I found the horned toad watching me photographing flowers.

Streetwalking in downtown Silver City Thursday evening, we got a kick out of the sign over a dentist's doorway!

Friday we went up to Gila Cliff Dwellings NM - 44 miles each way from Silver City. Interesting drive, but beautiful. At the end, there was a mile-long loop that ascends 175 feet to the cliff dwellings and back. It was hot, but it's a beautiful hike, with trickling water in the canyon bottom and wonderful views up and down the canyon as you get higher up. On the way back down, we wanted to just roll in the cool, clear shallow waters of the Gila River.

On the way back, we had burgers at the newly restored and reopened Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos (second from top pic) and then sat in on the Mimbres Region Arts Council annual meeting and silent auction, which was held in the historic Pinos Altos Opera House, next to the Buckhorn. We are really looking forward to attending live performances in that quaint old building.

Friday we looked at houses, practically all day. In some ways, that was more taxing than walking to the cliff dwellings! At least, my memory disk got overloaded quickly. Taking pics helped go back and separate the places we liked most.

Saturday morning we took in the Silver City Farmers' Market and bought some fresh vegies and fruit, then headed home, back through St. Johns again. It was 104 degrees in Shiprock, but in the 90s at home.

Good trip. We're looking forward to being part of the Silver City community ... after we get the house in Mancos sold! tv