We have been in Silver City for 3 Mondays and on each one of them it has snowed!

And each storm was forecast to be north of us.

But, as is typical, the snow was shortly gone to be replaced with sunshine…

And Blue Sky!

Weather notes: For fellow travelers thinking about New Mexico in the winter: Silver City sits at just under 6000 feet elevation and typically is in the 50-60’s daytime and upper 20’s to 30’s overnight in the winter. We spent Saturday in Deming area. Deming, NM is a bit over 50 miles south of Silver City and about 1500 feet lower in elevation translating to 10-15 degrees warmer. Sunday we were in the foothills of the Mogollon (Mu-gee-YONE)mountains and it was cooler than Silver City by 5-10 degrees.

The Florida (Flo-REE-da) mountains rise out of the New Mexico desert abruptly as many of the desert mountain ranges do. They look more like the earth spewed up jutting rocks than typical mountain ranges. The Floridas are particularly distinguishable as their rocky spires reach up from a particularly flat landscape.

Part way up, the road leads to 2 venues of Rockhound State Park. We drove first to the Spring Canyon section. Picnic areas and short trail heads leave from the base of this portion of the park and the valley view – Deming, New Mexico – is visible through the spires.

From a spot we walked to we noticed splotches of gold on the rocky ground opposite: Mexican Poppies*. They bloom in years when conditions are right. My folks lived in Deming for 3 years and it was shortly after they left that the poppies bloomed. There is a legend that the Conquistadors saw the “gold” in the hills fueling a rush to the area for gold of the rock kind.

The Floridas.

*And for those who know California poppies – these are very similar and maybe the same except that on googling – both are listed although I would be hard pressed to distinguish one from the other…and really – the terrain and conditions from extreme southern CA east through New Mexico are very similar.

With another Friday workday ending early and sunny, cloudless skies overhead, we took off for the Burro Mountains

The road into the desert was graded smooth. Silver City at just under 6000 feet was in the mid-50’s when we left. As we drove higher, the temperature cooled and patches of snow were visible in some shady spots.

This bit of road with overhanging oak trees was unique.

After a couple of brief side trips on more jeep-like tracks we headed further up into the mountains on Gold Gulch Road and crossed the “creek” at Thompson Canyon.

We drove through/across it…splish-splashing all the way!

Big fun for all -Karl remained attentive…

The sun was sliding westward as we descended and started back towards Silver City. Another Friday afternoon…another desert road.

Karl met his friend Coffee Girl this morning for a bit of play in the desert…

…and yes, snow….again!

Desert Dogs.

This morning’s walk, just as the sun rose: Rose Valley RV Ranch. One of the windmills left from the dairy farm.

Although this particular windmill has been disconnected from the water pump that it ran in its former life, the blades still spin. Yesterday and for the next several, those blades will be getting a workout. Snow squalls with the force of mini-blizzards came through all day yesterday. The wind whistled through the antennas on the roof and set the slide toppers flapping and the motorhome rocking.

Last evening, the sky mostly cleared and this morning is sunny and bright, but cool and breezy. The weather folks say things will be “unsettled” until the end of the week.

This morning, even with the wind, the morning sun is bright, the air is clear and sweet and the cool wind feels good in this high desert place.

Blue sky, sun tea brewing yesterday afternoon. The “walking stick” is dead, dried ocotillo or cholla – the cactus “stalk” after it has died and dried in the sun. The green plant is chaparral which grows in the desert and is used in a tea or to make a tincture. The tea/tincture has antibiotic properties.

As I set the jar of tea to brew in the sun I thought what an interesting tableau everything made. Rose Valley RV Ranch is located on property that was home to the Rosedale Dairy here in Silver City. They used farm artifacts and parts of the barns for decoration as well as for some wind break/privacy fencing around the sites.

But the fences don’t keep snow off the sites! Yep, again…

Snow tea?

The drive through the Black Range is a winding climb to Emory Pass. We ascended from low juniper, cholla and yucca to increasingly larger pine and finally the grand Ponderosa Pines which eventually thinned at the summit.

We met friends of Steve’s at the pass, enjoyed the view and then descended to Hillsboro, New Mexico.

Breakfast at the Cafe was excellent – green chile everything was on the menu. The cafe was a feast for the eyes with antique farm implements and furniture. A pellet stove kept things cozy and large windows let the morning light reflect warmly off the beautiful old woods of tables, floors and cabinets.

Across the road, next to the post office, is the town library and this Saturday was the monthly bake sale in support of the library.

We procured a few or several goodies in case further sustenance was required…

Then we headed for the hills!

A drive up a dirt road, through 2 ranch properties, over the same creek about 8 times and we ended up at a forest service spot where the creek ran through. The air was clear and dry, the sky as blue as you can imagine in your minds eye, the sun warm enough to make us all warm and send Karl into the creek.

A pile of bones marked a dumping ground for dead cattle. Karl took a hoof for his own and lay down near the creek for a chew while we explored.

We headed further along the road which changed from a solid dirt road to a humpy-bumpy dirt road. The Jeep was in heaven :)!! – not 4-wheelin’ but in the dirt and rocks. There was a cave to maybe find and explore that required a short hike, but it was warm for Karl – and for me! – and I had brought computer and Kindle so…

…Karl and I had some quiet time in the shade – wonderful!

It was a southwest day.

We drove from Silver City through the Black Range to Emory Pass meeting friends of Steve’s from Las Cruces at this overlook early yesterday (Saturday) morning. It was a beautiful start to a gorgeous day wandering about the area, looking, shooting (with cameras :)! ) and sharing stories.

It rained overnight. This morning dawned cloudy with cool, sweet air. It is to be rainy and possibly thunder and hail but there are a lot of photos to be looked at and maybe a story or two to tell so a good day to be home.

More later.

Yesterday afternoon, Cherry Creek, just above Pinos Altos, New Mexico.

We came to New Mexico for the snow :)!

Overlook above Pinos Altos – We got high!