Bonding over the miles

I just finished a twelve-day, 3800 mile trip with hubby and our chiweenie, Nia.  If that isn't love, I'm not sure what is! LOL

We made the drive to Killeen, TX in two and a half days. There we stayed with hubby's sister and her husband. Our car was filled with totes that held our oldest granddaughter's belongings. She and her boyfriend drove from Arkansas to meet us to reclaim the items she left with us when she joined her boyfriend in Arkansas. After delivering the totes we spent a couple of days with the SIL. 

After Killen we headed to Cannon Air Force base in Clovis, NM to visit with a grandson who is in the Air Force and his new wife. We checked out Billy the Kid's grave and the museum then walked around the Clovis Zoo. 

We had a good time with them even though all they had for furniture were two beds and a couch. We stood at the counter to eat or sat on the couch. I have to applaud them. They aren't just spending money on items to fill their house. They wait until they find something of good quality and price before they buy. 

From there we headed across New Mexico and Arizona to visit with our friends who winter in the Wickenburg, AZ area. On the way we stopped at a quick mart along the highway where two Pueblo women were selling jewelry and pottery. I purchased a rhodonite and turquoise bracelet and a miniature seed pot.  

The woman who sold me the pot explained that the large black shapes were water features such as rivers and lakes, the orange represented the sun and the thin lines represented rain.  

Our friends in Wickenburg like to participate in the roping and barrel racing sessions that go on all winter long in Wickenburg.  The first day of our visit our husbands went with us on a tour of the area and thrift shops. I managed to snag six red dresses that I give to an artist who makes a "living" display of red dresses along a highway in California that depicts the lost lives of Indigenous women. I'll get those sent off this week. 

The second day with our friends, hubby went with my friend and I to check out a small town in the hills outside of Wickenburg.  It had large boulders, small houses and a fun gift shop. Also, a small thrift store where we nearly froze to death. ;)

We headed home yesterday and drove through two snowstorms and will be home today as you read this post. 

All in all, the trip went well, we had a good time, but did way more driving most days than was fun so we wouldn't be gone too long.

The good news is we discovered several places that we want to go back and explore more. I've added them to our travel list. After soon-to-be 45 years together, we still enjoy spending long hours together doing things we like.