The trip here was wild and wooly. First, there was the Mojave. Fortunately, not too hot but boy is it big! And flat! and wide! did that all in one day. Kingman AZ was quite nice. Then it was on to Gallup. The less said about the experience there, the better. We were right next to the railroad tracks. That with the broken sliding glass door, the lack of space and the inhospitable hotelier . . . well, let's move on. Just beware: don't let the Grams book your room.

The winds picked up this morning on I 40. Now, we're pulling a sailboat with a cover. You're getting the picture, right? There we were out on the highway rigging up bungies so the whole darn thing didn't fly off (and us with it).

We reached Santa Fe by noon but can't check in until 4 pm. So, here we sit in the lobby. Waiting. Fortunately, it's very comfortable. It's warm in the lobby and they have complimentary hot chocolate. So, all in all, not too bad. Got to admit (but don't tell the Grams) that sky here is amazing.

 moochas smoochas,

Gweeds

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières(Doctors without Borders) and support Kiva.

And, of course

 平和  に 働 き

(heiwa ni hataraki: work for peace)

If only she hadn't had to, ah, a world of 'if onlys'. The door to the ladies was a slider type. If only she had knocked, but no, the door wasn't locked, and so she flung it open. Well, in the loo was occupied but a rather ancient lady who almost dropped dead on the spot - good thing she was sitting, eh?

We made it through without incident this time. But, it was touch and go as people looked at her with suspiciously - well, I had her bundled up like Claude Rains in "The Invisible Man."

Machynlleth is a lovely market town. It's in the center of an alternate energy area. Lots of people living 'off the grid.' Had a lovely lunch and coffee with single draft whiskey in it. Warms you up from the inside.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support  "http://www.kiva.org">Kiva.

And, of course

 平和  に 働 き

 (heiwa ni hataraki: work for peace)

Isn't it lovely? 

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to  Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support http://www.kiva.org"Kiva.

And, of course

 平和  に 働 き

(heiwa ni hataraki: work for peace)

The whole landscape was white. I was very glad to be indoors. I was also glad to have the cuppa that Grams brought me a little later.

Grams is hoping to see the Dr. Who Christmas special here in real time, instead of having to wait for it on BBC America in February or something, for heaven's sake!

These last few days of David Tennant (nee, McDonald) as the Dr. are all the buzz here. He will be missed, I suppose.  I'm still waiting for Primeval to come back on, that's my favorite show. Even though Doug Henshaw has left , along with a few others, I still love all the creatures.

I do like the lady in the ivy. She does look a little cold though.

Right now the wind is howling - I suspect it's gale force. But, we're tucked up warm inside Gwel Y Gorwel. I do hope Bronwyn and the child like their presents. 

This is the sky about 20 minutes ago. At the mo' it's a tad darker.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support Kiva.  

And, of course 

Isn't it gorgeous?!

I've got on all my woolies and some long knickers that Grams ordered special for me from Japan - don't know what it is (she calls it Japanese technology), but it works great. Gorillas don't do cold very well you know.

I loved this farmhouse with the snow in the background.

Yes, I'm in my happy place.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support Kiva.

And, of course

 平和  に 働 き

 (heiwa ni hataraki: work for peace)