One of the many highlights of my trip back to New Mexico was in spending a couple days in Mountainair. This is where my dad grew up and where my grandparents ranch was located. I would have to say that this is the place of some of my favorite childhood memories and when referring to the home of my roots, this is it.
My grandparents worked their ranch until they both died. A few years after my grandmother passed in 2000, my dad and his siblings decided to sell it. I think I cried for days when I heard the news. Luckily, a wonderful lady from Texas bought it and has remodeled the old house into the most amazing spanish inspired villa. I got to take a tour while there of the house and I wish I could have taken pics, but she did an amazing job! I'm so glad that she was the one to buy the land and instead of tearing the house down, kept its beauty and energy intact. Even tho it is now a different 'look' I could still feel the years of love and family gatherings there.
The other reason that I wanted to go to Mountainair was because my aunt bought Pop Shaffer's place (Rancho Bonito) which is a historic landmark. Pop was a folk artist and a very unusual one at that. I also wanted to spend a night at the historic Shaffer Hotel which was recently refurbished and originally built by Pop Shaffer in 1923.
As my cousin and I made plans for my time there, we both decided that it would be fun to spend the night at the hotel on Halloween night, since it is claimed to be haunted.
Even though we did not have the money to do so, I told her, book our room, we will manifest the money!
Sure enough, after an evening at the casino, we had won more than enough to spend a night there as well as enjoy some great restuarants!
So, off to Mountainair we went!
Our first stop was to meet my dad outside of Belen, NM where Eman and I own some land. I had never seen the lot we own. It was a wedding gift from Eman's dad. Now..get this....I marry a guy from Ohio, who was raised in Baltimore and for a wedding gift we get a plot of land a few miles from where my family is from!
Its nothing but stickers at this point, but quickly the area around it is developing and it is beautiful, surrounded by mountain ranges.
Dad standing in the stickers that is our lot
Next we headed into Mountainair to meet up with my dad's sisters for lunch. My Aunt invited us to her place (Rancho Bonito) and we enjoyed a most scrumptious brisket, pinto beans and raisin slaw while catching up on our lives.
(left to right) Dad, Sharla, Aunt Doe and Aunt Barb
We decided to save the tour of Rancho Bonito for the next day, so my cousin and I could get checked into the Hotel and have a fun night there.
I can't believe I didn't get a pic of the hotel, we seemed to be rushing around the whole time we were there.
The desk lady was so great and we invited her and her sister in law (who was staying with her that night since it was halloween) to join us for my made from scratch margaritas later that night.
We only had a few choices for dinner as the hotel restuarant is closed at the moment. We chose to drive to Willard to eat at the Willard Cantina.
We had the worst fajitas I have ever had, but we talked and laughed and had a great time anyway!
Once back to the motel, we got to see all of the rooms (they keep the doors open to the unoccupied rooms) Gosh, the wedding suite was so gorgeous!
I made my pitcher of margaritas and we went downstairs to the lobby to join the other ladies. We drank and told ghost stories. It was fun hearing about the encounters the staff has had working there! (If the hotel owners/mangers are reading this...your staff was the best! Always professional and joining us was I think the most gracious thing to do...and it made our visit even more memorable...give her a pat on the back!)
Although we were hoping for a spooky encounter ourselves, I guess Pop decided to be quiet that night....we had a peaceful and great nights sleep in our very beautiful and comfy room!
We slept in then went to Ancient Cities for breakfast. Shortly after arriving, my aunt found us and joined in, then a few more of her friends. We sat and listened to their stories and laughed. My cousin's father grew up there as well, but has never shared anything with my cousin, so she got to ask the ladies all kinds of questions about his family and life there. I love hearing old family stories and I guess I probably appreciate them more now than when I was younger.
Time flew by and we then went on over to my aunts at Rancho Bonito for the official tour.
One of the buildings Pop built. Was a little cabin he used as a studio. He embellished every inch of his creations, buildings or 'critters' with his style. More pics in forth coming posts.
It was such a perfect day and I am still enthralled with the work Pop did.
After a dinner of chicken enchiladas, we took a drive through an area where acre lots are being sold, but each lot has 20 acres surrounding it, so you can build your dream home and know that you will never have to look out at your neighbors place. It was gorgeous to look out and see for miles and miles...the one thing I miss about living in the east.
To be continued.....I'm off to check out the Asheville Holiday Parade today!
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