Clovis Point

In the late twenties a gravel mining operation uncovered animal fossils and projectile points at Blackwater Draw. Eleven thousand five hundred years ago early humans created large, distinctively fluted spear points to hunt very dangerous large mammals like the bison, Short Face Bear and Colombian Mammoth. The ancient bison was 25% larger than todays bison and stood 9 feet at the shoulder. These unique points were uncovered by a gravel mining operation in 1929. They were named for the nearby town of Clovis, NM. The Clovis Point is the signature artifact of the Clovis Culture.

The archeological dig and gravel mining continued side by side until 1974 when New Mexico University was able to purchase and protect the site.

The site no longer contains water because the surrounding farms have drawn down the water table. 

The white ledge is the ancient lake bed.

Linda checking is out thousands of years of fossils
and human artifacts.

Clovis points were later found in eastern North America and the Clovis people were considered to be the first humans to create a widespread culture in the New World. Recently this hypothesis has been challenged by the discovery of much older archaeological sites like Monte Verde in Chile and Pedra Furada in Brazil that predate the Clovis culture by 19,000 to 30,000 years. 

5/1/14

Get Your Hot Peanuts Here

No matter where we are, the WINs always find somewhere interesting to visit.
Hampton Farms in Portales, NM processes peanuts grown in eastern New Mexico and western Texas. They roast about 2.5 million pounds of peanuts monthly.

Got our hair and beard nets and safety glasses, we are ready for the tour.

Some kind of antibacterial sole wash. The plant is very clean. 

The peanuts are roasted at 320 degree. It takes one hour for them to reach the other end of this green roaster. 

This lady is picking out empty shells and debris out of these freshly roasted peanuts. 

The belt moves rapidly requiring a quick eye. I would not want to do this all day.

Bagged, boxed and ready for shipping. Hampton farms sells peanuts to Walmart, Five Guys, and many baseball teams. 

Peanuts for fans to enjoy during the game.

Linda is making peanut butter from
honey roasted peanuts. It is delicious

4/28/14

4/28/13

The Spencer Theater

Jackie Spencer moved from New York to Carrizozo, NM with her second husband, Dr. A. N. Spencer. Being a world traveler she wished to bring some culture to Ruidoso, NM. She saved 22 million dollars over 15 years to fund this gorgeous, 49, 474 sq. ft, state of the art theater with stunning mountain views. 33.434629, -105.602328

This is a small intimate theater with 514 seats.
The most distant seat is only 67 feet from the stage.

Jackie loved Chihuly glass

The cast of each production
sign the walls outside the green room.

4/25/14

4/24/13

Tomorrow I begin my fifth year on the road.

What a grand adventure it is. 

Heading East

Serenity is purring right along as we head east to rendezvous with friends in Ruidoso, NM

I would love to see how these cameras display Serenity. I don't think they are imaging the visible spectrum.

White Sand Missile Range

Dinner with good friends Paul, Barbara, Linda and Linda

It is sooooo good to be back on the road again. 

FINALLY !!!!!!

It has been 4 very long months. My nightmare, I would never leave Brawley. The engine was completed at glacial speed and finally inserted. Serenity could move. But, there is always a but, two cylinders were not firing at idle and when accelerating I heard a popping sound. Rod's shop spent a couple days trying to solve the problem. I finally lost confidence in their ability and headed east.

I made it to Tucson where Serenity checked into the local Chevrolet shop. A few hours later I got the call. Not a cracked manifold or other major problem that I had been abscessing over, just a cracked spark plug and bad spark plug wire that had been arcing to the block.  :-)

New engine $6486, being home priceless.

A Little Girl's Magnificent Hobby

We enjoyed a fascinating visit to Patricia Ariel's life long collection of miniatures. When a young girl she acquired her first miniatures in 1930s and after moving to Tucson in 1979 she began collecting in earnest. Her miniatures and doll houses soon out grew her home and now reside in the Museum of Miniatures for your enjoyment. The skill and attention to detail is amazing. Linda tells me that one  doll house finger nail size furnishing can cost thousands of dollars.

John Bellemy Complex

John Bellemy  ca. 1880

A copy of the artist's own home, which still stands in West Newton, MA. Electrified by the miniature's previous owners, Mr. & Mrs. G Canfiled, and restored by Pat Arnell.

Potter's Studio

Craig T. Roberts

Yellow Rose of Texas

Brooke Tucker 1983-1985

The theme of this elaborate house is "The Day of the Wedding"

Apothecary Desk Italian

Manuzio

Doll sized desk with apothecary instruments and supplies make by Italian artist, Manuzio.

Brooke Tucker Christmas

1990s 

All three rooms were designed and coordinated to compliment the china on the dining room table.

When in Tucson, you should go, there are hundreds of truly amazing pieces.

4/5/14