TexasT's House - Part 2

[kgj]

TT, I don't know whether you're familiar with Michael McGarrity. He's written a series of crime novels, the main character in which is Kevin Kearney. All the venues are in New Mexico and the books follow the carreer of the fictional Mr. Kearney as he progresses through a series of law enforcement jobs throughout the state. The first book was titled "Tularosa" and was a murder mystery mostly set in remote areas on White Sands Missle Range.
In that book, McGarrity alludes to Kearney's childhood. He had grown up on a ranch that the government later appropriated to expand WSMR.
McGarrity is writing a new trilogy of historical fiction books following the Kearney family from around 1850 - 1920. The first book "Hard Country" was recently released. He will be in Alamogordo on Sunday the 27th from 3 - 4 for a book signing at Hastings.
Thought you might be interested if you're in the area. He's doing signings in Las Cruces and elsewhere, too. Check his website (Michael McGarrity's Home on the Net). Maybe one of the signings will work out for you. I've met him before. Interesting guy.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

Well move over, I think I need a ride.

Afternoon Pokey.

Afternoon, jj! I'm scootin'

But with this crowd, maybe we need a bigger, faster wagon?

 

[kgj]

Ah, kgj, now you know it's the creators, the people behind the original ideas that are awesome - you and TT get full credit for that!

I just hopped on the wagon

Now, now. No false modesty. Lizardade is your brainchild.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

I had the good fortune of traveling through New Mexico as a young girl, as part of a family road trip "vacation" - Los Alamos, White Sands, Truth of Consequences, Las Cruces, Gallup, Albuquerque, Alamagordo - all the way to Whites City to see the caverns at Carlsbad. The destination was the just an end to a wonderful means. The caverns are an amazing sight, no doubt. But the getting there... that was the adventure

The trip through the southwest was more than the drive to just get where we were going; it was more about the along the way, the "I might never pass this way again, let's stop" - so, very, very glad we did. An amazing part of the world - truly. And I am lucky to have had that opportunity.

And I am glad to get to revisit it through you and Mrs. TTs eyes. Thanks so much for sharing the pics, the stories.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

Now, now. No false modesty. Lizardade is your brainchild.

Jerry's, I think. I just took and ran with it as I am wont to do at times ----------------

kgj, TT, Jerry and me -

Team Pom! View attachment 102056

 

[TexasT]

I read several of his books when I was working overseas and always enjoyed them. He's a fine writer and the New Mexico backgrounds made them all the more interesting. I'll check the website you provided and see if we can possibly meet him. It would be fun to meet him! Thanks!!

Hummm. I wonder if he might be interested in some of my stories? I could tell him about the time my uncle roped that mountain goat from horseback after the goat had jumped and was in mid-air. Turned out there was only one real problem. What do you do with a mountain goat after you've roped it? Well, it turns out this goat got very angry about this restriction to his personal freedom and decided he didn't like my uncle at all.

I'd better stop there or I'll give the ending away! Mr. McGarrity will want this for his next book!

TT

 

[jj2]

Well gee I went and took a nap and missed a trip and TT's stardom!!

 

[salemgold]

Nice pictures, TT. thanks for sharing them with us

 

[FranC]

Ah, Fran, too hot so soon? You need a parasol, a cold beverage and a break from all the hard work you've been doing. Somedays are just meant to enjoy.

I did take a break today Pokey. I think I needed to. 85 today 69 tomorrow. Welcome to the Northeast.

 

[jj2]

I do everything outside that I can under an umbrella. I've gone to some strange looking setups to do so too.

 

[Modrod.]

WoooHooo!!! The Ring of Fire! And we're here to see it. I have my protective eye wear salem. I just close both eyes real tight and then say ... "what's it doing now honey?"

Hey, I got our pic's of the Gila (pronounced Hee-lah) Wilderness and the Cliff Dwellings uploaded to Photobucket. Here's the link:

http://s1188.photobucket.com/albums/z416/texast1/Gila Wilderness/

There's been no photo manipulation done on any of the pics.

In the Cliff Dwellings, scientists/archaeologists have measured the thickness of the soot accumulation on the roof of the dwellings from the cooking/heating fires and estimate that it would have taken 10,000 years of occupancy to build up to the thickness it at now. The oldest wood found on the site measured - with carbon dating, to around 1200 AD. These people farmed and hunted and several of their fields are still visible. When I was a kid you could still see their irrigation ditches.

The dwellings were not protected until 1965 and before that time people had gone in there and hauled away truckloads of artifacts and essentially destroying the site for archaeologists and our understanding of the dwellings. Of course, during that period the vandals had done their work too.

Today, we have no knowledge of what became of these people nor why they left or exactly when.

In the late 1800's the American soldiers came though the area and burned out much of the dwellings thinking they were being used by the Apache. But the Apache say they never entered the dwellings as they considered them sacred and were actually a little afraid of them.

Many of the wall and ceiling paintings have fallen off and only fragments of them are visible now. I remember seeing many of them when I was young and they were impressive.

The landscapes in many of the pictures are of the Gila Wilderness and when I was young I spent a lot of time on horseback packing back into remote areas with friends. Doc Campbell, who lived on private land in the Wilderness, was legendary for his knowledge of the area and gave us a lot of advice on the places to see and how to get there. Here's a link to some of Doc's history and his influence on the area:

Doc Campbell.—.a Gila Wilderness pioneer:Southern New Mexico Travel and Tourism Information

Doc's home is briefly described in this article and I spent quite a few happy days there talking to him and his wife and family.

TT

Two words. Ancient Aliens.

 

[FranC]

 

[jj2]

Night Fran and take it easy!

 

[salemgold]

This Doc Campbell — a Gila Wilderness pioneer:Southern New Mexico Travel and Tourism Information was a cool article, TT. Doc must have been an amazing person to talk to.

 

[kgj]

Sun has just set here. Eclipse was awesome, very nearly total. Local astronomy club gave granddaughter a pair of viewing glasses, so my pinhole projector was pretty lame. She just turned 9. Next time we have an eclipse of similar magnitude here, she'll probably be watching with her own kids.

 

[TexasT]

I did take a break today Pokey. I think I needed to. 85 today 69 tomorrow. Welcome to the Northeast.

Its supposed to be 106 degrees in Tucson for the next two days. We sure picked a good time to go there. Oh well, I have a good a.c. in the truck!

TT

 

[technovapir]

Interesting pics TT, what a great place to visit!
We missed the eclipse. It's been overcast all day, so we wouldn't have noticed if the sun was gone...sigh.
Hope you're all recovering from eventful weekends!

 

[salemgold]

Its supposed to be 106 degrees in Tucson for the next two days. We sure picked a good time to go there. Oh well, I have a good a.c. in the truck!

TT

Your trip would have been hard to plan around the weather this year, TT. It has been an odd year when it comes to weather. It is cool in the south and hot in the north right now. Who would of thunk it?

 

[jj2]

 

[FranC]