gila cliff dwellings & white sands

What do you do when you want to get a picture of yourself on a fabulous adventure & there is no one there to take it???

You take it yourself...say cheese! lol

This trip is getting better every day! I had no idea I would be going to some of our country's most amazing National Parks, but I'll do just about anything to get another stamp in my passport book!

White Sands National Park is a phenomenon, 275 miles of of gypsum sand dunes, the largest fields in the world.

The most amazing thing about this remarkable sand is it's soooooo soft & soooooo cool. It's like stepping into a pool of moon dust...magic.

These picnic areas are ingenious, made of cool aluminium they look space age against the backdrop of ancient sands.

The one thing I've fallen in love with on this journey...

CLOUDS.

How cool is this?

My bestest friend {as long as she keeps up the good work} on this trip, my Dodge Durango.

This is the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the mountains high above Silver City, NM.

You climb a mile up into the cliffs to get your first glimpse of these ancient dwellings.

They're magnificent!!!

And talk about a room with a view...

The ceilings of these dwellings are still black from the smoke of ancients fires.

They can date these dwellings back to 100AD...

standing there feeling the natural breeze, looking at the breath taking views, walking where native families lived & worked & laughed & played with their children...

was a kind of a spiritual experience for me. Words can't express the grandeur of this magical place.

I am LOVING this adventure & going it alone has definitely had it's benefits. I go where I want, when I want, listen to what I want, stop when I want to stop. Dianne of Piece's of D had that one sooo right! On to another adventure today...I'm in Carlsbad, NM & I'm headed to the Caverns! The journey continues.

Wish You Were Here Sweet Hearts...

XOXO

my journey begins with a Surprise!

Greetings from Demming, New Mexico Friends!!

What a Crazy & Amazing Adventure I've already had & did I say just plain fun?

So much Fun!!! I started my journey with the thought of a SURPRISE! Carol Anne of Carol Anne's Boutique was the winner of my recent giveaway. She lives near Phoenix & since I was driving through Phoenix on my World Wide Tour, I thought I might just drop her gift off in person. I would drive up to her house like Ed MacMann holding a couple of deflated balloons & when she opened the door in her bathrobe I would shout "SURPRISE"! Hummmm, that might be awkward, maybe I should call her first & see if that would be OK. To my joy, she was delighted & we planned to meet for breakfast.

OM Goodness friends...I often talk about how the grace of serendipity intervenes in my life, but here it goes again. We were instant Soul Sisters! She is adorable, beyond sweet, so joyful & beautiful, a kindred spirit & I just absolutely ADORE her!! She loved her goodies & she even brought me some of things that I said I LOVED on my list of things to look for in ROUND TOP. Darn, I didn't get a picture yet...but soon & I kept it just the way she had it wrapped cuz it was just too gorgeous to undo! She gave me some of the most precious BABY Cabinet Cards & tied into to the ribbons she had wrapped it all in, were Antique Skeleton Keys, my absolute favorites!!

We talked for hours, I think making our waitress a little annoyed...but who cares, right! We had a blast! We talked of our joys & we talked of our sorrows. We talked about blogging & we talked about life. We have so many things in common & I know I have made a new life long friend in Carol Anne...she is a Beautiful Soul!

It's time for me to get On The Road again this morning. I'm kinda trapped in New Mexico cuz there's so much I want to see here! Yesterday I was in Silver City & went to the Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument & drove the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway & today I want to go to White Sands National Monument.

Something you probably didn't know about me...

I'm a National Park Junky! I have a Passport & I will drive miles out of my way to get a stamp in it. I love my passport above most things, it's my secret key to the places I've seen & loved in this country, in my lifetime & it's never too late to start. I got mine a few years back when hubby & I went to Southern Utah & saw Zion. I've gotten my brother Mikey into it too & everybody HATES to travel with us cuz we are always on a quest for a new STAMP. LOL It's the simple things that ultimately make you the happiest, don't ya think?

Well, this traveler needs to get to traveling. More pics soon to follow & you all know I really do...

Wish You Were Here!

XOXO

Via Con Dios...

Via Con Dios Sweet Hearts...

I'm grinnin from ear to ear...

& thinkin to myself, "Self...you know what? You're a CRAZY old lady, but after all this time you're still a hell of a lot of fun!"
Talk at you from TEXAS!!!!
Adios!

XOXO

a Magic camera strap...

So...while blog browsing at some of my very favoritest places, I happened by my friend Connie's blog, She Dreams Big, & saw a post about her new amazing camera. Many of you know that I too have a new love, my Fuji Finepix.

As I pondered the idea of us both getting remarkable & unblurry photographs with our new equipment, I saw that she had made what I considered to be some adorable Magical Looking Camera Straps & I became convinced that if I too had a Magical Camera Strap my pictures would instantly be transformed from ordinary to extraordinary! Fast Forward to today...look what magically appeared on my door step! Is it a 6 pack of eggs from the chicky fariy's?

I carefully opened up the crate as to not break any eggs when to my surprise I saw 4 of my favoritest things...brown, green, polka dots & ruffles.

Why, this isn't eggs at all! To my sheer joy, I unveiled my very own Magic Camera Strap!

I ADORE it!!!!

OMG, Connie...you are far too kind! I can picture my camera hanging on my shoulder as I meander the fields & barns & booths surrounding Round Top, Texas.

As I strike the most amazing picture taking stances know to man, strangers will be staring at me & asking, "Where did she get that adorable & yet functional Magic Camera Strap? I want one too!" After getting my perfect picture, I will turn & say...
" Go to She Dreams Big & ask for Connie, camera strap maker extraordinaire!"

I HEART you Miss Connie & I soooo HEART my new camera strap!!
Thank You Sweet Friend!

XOXO

soooo...what am I looking for?

Good Tuesday to ya Sweet Hearts...

Time is flying by as I prepare for my cross country voyage. {at least it seems that way to me, lol} I might as well be taking a steamer to Antarctica, this is quite the adventure for this small town girl!

How do you like my new brochure I made for my shop, Lambs & Ivy Boutique? My sweet friend Lynn from Blue Skies blog fame took most of the photo's on her 1st visit & they are all still some of my very favorites.

Soooo, many of you have been wondering what amazing & priceless vintage & junky booty I will be looking for on my incredible journey.

I have an addiction to baby cabinet cards, so pure & sweet.

Actually, I have an addiction to ALL cabinet cards especially if they have a tiny touch of color in them.

Tin Types & what I might do with them are always on my mind...but I just can't make myself deface these little works of art.

I must have skeleton keys to make into jewelry & anything with chippy paint will be considered!

And how can you ever have enough vintage sewing cabinet drawers? I could have 100 & still think of more things I'd like to store in them!

I just can't seem to get enough vintage religious icons lately, I LOVE everything about them. Rosaries, metals, bibles, craved wooden angels. Someone at my shop asked me recently "if I'd found the Lord"? I said "I never knew he was lost, but I do adore all things religious". Now that I think of it, I've been a California Mission junky for ions.

Of course, I plan to bring home as many old tin ceiling tiles that I can carry!

And if I find anything that even resembles this 'it's mine'!

Architectural detail is a must...

as is anything rusty, chippy, broken, half there, weather worn or faded!

So, I guess you could say just about everything there will be fair game. OMG...I hope I'm not 1 of those ladies who knocks people over trying to get too my "must haves'! Oh well, hopefully I won't know them if I do & all is fair in war & junky love, right!

Oh yeah...I'm also looking for one of these to help me get my booty all home in one piece, or several pieces if required. LOL

Sunday is Mission Texas blastoff, stay tuned!!!

XOXO

on the road again!

Ladies {echo...ladies} & Gentlemen {gentlemen}...

By Unanimous Decision {decision}...

vintagesusie {vintagesusie} will be DRIVING {driving}

to TEXAS {Texas}!

Loud roar of applause, hats flying in the air, pats on the back and a few "atta boy's" thrown in for good measure. That's right friends, you heard it here 1st...I will be dusting off the old jalopy & headin east lookin for JUNK!!!

I want to THANK YOU all for your fabulous advice! You are all the bestest bloggy friends anyone could ever have!! Yes, it would be better if I had a pal to come along...but it looks like it will just be me & Willie 'On the Road Again'!

So, as long as I don't run into this...

or run out of this...

I should be one of the lucky ones who get to go to this!!! That's right, the line of Junker's on their way to...Warrenton, Round Top, Marburger, The Junk Gypsy's Prom, Garden Antiques Blog Party & all pastures, haylofts, barns & fields in between.

I've got my maps ready, my bags packed {well, not really} & I'm beyond eager to leave. {is leavin 10 days before check-in tooo early?}
I must tell y'all, the words that really made my mind up were...
Drive Baby, Drive!!!

XOXO