Chile Ristras in Old Mesilla, New Mexico

Even in January, the ristras are still beautiful. There are numerous long ristras hanging from the lamp-posts in Old Mesilla, much to the delight of locals and tourists alike.

 

Fun Despite COVID

Well, the governor has locked down the state again, which is very sad, I feel. But there is still some spirit and levity to be found.

This is a funny little billboard on Highway 28, which runs through the gorgeous Stahmann Farms pecan groves I've shown and mentioned before. I love the little pecan mascot!

Come visit or retire to Las Cruces and get in on the fun!

Guardian of the East Mesa

In the very beautiful, very new residential/commercial area centered around Sonoma Springs Road and Northrise Boulevard, the medians and sidewalk areas are very beautifully landscaped. A light version of xeriscaping is used, with many plantings of Palo Verdes trees, mesquites, Texas Mountain Laurels, lantana, and other desert-y plants.

One of the developers near Sonoma Springs Elementary School placed a beautiful bronze mountain lion statue at the beginning of their particular stretch of homes. I love traditional public art, and the lion looks quite at home with the Organ Mountains to his back. 

We have actual mountain lions here, as well as many other desert denizens, such as roadrunners, gray foxes, coyotes, cottontails and jackrabbits, and the occassional coatimundi passing through. We also have elk, deer, and amazingly,  the African Oryx, settled here decades ago on the White Sands Missle Range by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and now residing up in the Organs in sizable numbers.

Las Cruces Begins Holiday Decorating for Christmas 2020!

Yes, it's true: Perhaps it's due to COVID-19, but Las Cruces has caught something else, too: Holiday Fever. 

It seems everyone is starting early for the winter holidays.

One of the favorite light sets to use is the lighted Christmas Chiles strings! We love our chiles here (not chilies or chilis -- we spell it C-H-I-L-E-S!) and it shows.

It's also time for new ristras. I have one on order through Ristramnn's in Old Mesilla, right next to Las Cruces. For the long, long ristras, early in the season you have to order them, as they are bought within minutes otherwise. Later in the season, you might be able to get a long one without pre-ordering. 

The smell of the red chiles drying in the ristras is heavenly! You may not know it, but the green chiles will ripen to red. That's the chiles you see in the ristras. Some smaller chiles called serranos are also used in ristras.

Thank you for dropping by, and see you Wednesday!

 

 

The Aggies Are Back This Fall

NMSU, the large state university located in Las Cruces, is open despite COVID-19 this semester, at least so far. Usually, avoiding University Avenue while college is in session is a good idea, especially around lunch time, but with such reduced numbers attending, traffic remains light and unchallenged by students pouring across every corner by using the automatic crosswalk lights. 

The NMSU campus is just gorgeous. It is shady (always a good thing here) compared to the surrounding area, and has numerous interesting flowers and foilage plants. It is kept immaculately clean, trimmed, and swept. It's a beautiful choice for a walk any time of year.

Beauty is hidden around every corner: Either flowers blooming in profusion, the surprise of a muskrat pond, expanses of lawn (very rare here), antique buildings, Spanish-style architecture, and more.

For seniors interested in keeping our minds sharp, sit in an undergraduate classes just like a regular student, for $5 per credit hour, up to 10 hours. You earn the credit, just as usual, but are on a non-degree-seeking track. If you want to seek a degree, you can, just pay the regular tuition instead of the reduced rate. 

The photographs show autumn's bloomfest of the Esperanza plant, also called Texas Yellow Bells. They are found all over the older part of campus, with blooms in the millions during the early part of October.

Come retire here!

Ghost Cow of Mesilla

Once upon a time, I believe this statuary was completely plastered and painted. Now, she is mainly her wire armament, standing patiently by the fence of her little orchard paddock and gazing at those who drive down her quiet, narrow lane in Old Mesilla.

 

I love that no matter how many times I drive around this area, there is always something more to discover. Are you considering making a move for retirement? Consider Las Cruces!

Happy Monday!

This Roadrunner is Nothing But Trash

Perched on a mesa high above the Mesilla Valley, overlooking its habitat, a giant roadrunner sculpted entirely of trash is a local and beloved landmark. At 20 feet tall and 40 feet long, it has nothing to fear from any coyote. 

"TrashBird," also known as the Trash Roadrunner, is located at a rest area on the south side of I-10, the interstate highway that runs east-west through Las Cruces. It's east of the Picacho Avenue exit, between mileposts 134 and 135. Trash Bird is accessible from the eastbound lanes, but is visible from I-10 westbound. It's seen by many visitors and travelers and is a good place for an expansive view of the Mesilla Valley. 

Olin Calk is the local artist who created the sculpture in 1993 and refurbished it in 2012 before it was placed at the rest stop.

Who knew trash could be made into something so unique and so beautiful? By the way, in Las Cruces, you'll see many real roadrunners. We have one who visits our yard frequently, and uses the bird bath under one of our pines. You can almost always see one if you dine outside at Rudy's BBQ, too. 

Thanks for visiting your NEW retirement destination, Las Cruces, the City of the Crosses (and Giant Roadrunners).