We were in Hobbs, New Mexico for two weeks in April and left here after church on Easter morning. Today we returned to Hobbs for another two week work commitment with Habitat for Humanity. The map above has the states colored in which we visited this year. We don't expect to color any more in for 2014. 
This map covers our camper travels in the three years since Dan retired. There is an obvious blank thru the middle and in the far SE. Delaware, Rhode Island, Alaska & Hawaii are also blank. 
It was a cool rainy morning when we left the little campground at Hot Springs Nat'l Park. The campground was almost full, complete with generator running neighbors. We soon found some peace and quiet...
This map covers our camper travels in the three years since Dan retired. There is an obvious blank thru the middle and in the far SE. Delaware, Rhode Island, Alaska & Hawaii are also blank. It was a cool rainy morning when we left the little campground at Hot Springs Nat'l Park. The campground was almost full, complete with generator running neighbors. We soon found some peace and quiet...With the helpful advise from a Salem Facebook friend we had a nice visit to Northeastern Texas. 
Our first stop was Laura's Cheesecake shop in Mt Pleasant. The bakery is in the back corner of a thrift store. We bought a couple slices of cheesecake to go and a couple peanut butter cookies with Reese's Pieces in them, over the top good!
Second stop, we bought a pound of brisket at Texas Bar-B-Que Corral in Mt Vernon. 
Third stop, Walleye Campground at Lake Cypress Springs. We were alone in a large nice park with hot showers and a great view. 
I sat outside and quilted in the late afternoon. There were some large jumping and splashing fish and some busy squirrels otherwise just quiet. 
A heron was hanging out on a boat slip across the water. We ate our brisket before I remembered to take a photo. 
Here is the cheesecake in two portions topped with the last of our blackberry jam. All delicious. This upper eastern corner of Texas does not resemble any of the cliche images I have ever seen of the state. Lush green pastures and farmland, friendly folks where ever we went. While we were there we started to get the bug to do some Habitat for Humanity work again. We checked with several local affiliates but each only worked on Saturdays if they were building at all. Since it was early in the week we decided to move on. 
Here is the Red River as we crossed it going into Okahoma. (There is a reflection of my hexagon quilt in the window) Our destination: Chickasaw Nat'l Recreation Area. 
We found yet another quiet park with hot showers and a nice lake. 
I waded for the first time since Acadia. 
Dan found a large clam shell on the beach. 
He even plans to bring it home. 
I reached a "milestone" on my hexagon quilt... I attached all of the side pieces I have worked on since June. As a reminder this is the "before" image:
These are most of what I attached.
From Lawton we turned back south to Texas. Here we found the familiar landscape of the desert southwest. 
Twenty eight miles down the road we came to the real "milestone" of this post:
Our first stop was Laura's Cheesecake shop in Mt Pleasant. The bakery is in the back corner of a thrift store. We bought a couple slices of cheesecake to go and a couple peanut butter cookies with Reese's Pieces in them, over the top good! Second stop, we bought a pound of brisket at Texas Bar-B-Que Corral in Mt Vernon. Third stop, Walleye Campground at Lake Cypress Springs. We were alone in a large nice park with hot showers and a great view. I sat outside and quilted in the late afternoon. There were some large jumping and splashing fish and some busy squirrels otherwise just quiet. A heron was hanging out on a boat slip across the water. We ate our brisket before I remembered to take a photo. Here is the cheesecake in two portions topped with the last of our blackberry jam. All delicious. This upper eastern corner of Texas does not resemble any of the cliche images I have ever seen of the state. Lush green pastures and farmland, friendly folks where ever we went. While we were there we started to get the bug to do some Habitat for Humanity work again. We checked with several local affiliates but each only worked on Saturdays if they were building at all. Since it was early in the week we decided to move on. Here is the Red River as we crossed it going into Okahoma. (There is a reflection of my hexagon quilt in the window) Our destination: Chickasaw Nat'l Recreation Area. We found yet another quiet park with hot showers and a nice lake. I waded for the first time since Acadia. Dan found a large clam shell on the beach. He even plans to bring it home. I reached a "milestone" on my hexagon quilt... I attached all of the side pieces I have worked on since June. As a reminder this is the "before" image: These are most of what I attached. I am much closer to the end than I am to the beginning of this project.
We traveled west across southern Oklahoma. We slowed down to look around in Lawton, the home of Fort Sill, where Dan had his survey training in preparation for his time in Vietnam. The town has grown and Dan did not see anything that stirred any memories from the 19 year old that he was in 1968. I found a nice quilt shop and little more fabric for my next project.
From Lawton we turned back south to Texas. Here we found the familiar landscape of the desert southwest. We traveled to yet another empty campground where we spent a quiet night with coyote seranaders. The next night, Halloween, we were at free park in Brownfield, TX with hook-ups for electricity. We appreciated the electric heater when we woke to 40 degrees this morning!
The old Ford hit 200,000 miles! We have had a few "fixit" events on the way, but for the most part this red rig has been quite reliable. 
Entering New Mexico. We left Hobbs on Easter. From there we traveled on to California and our daughter's wedding to our wonderful new son-in-law. Since then, we have made a grand circle through our country and returned to Hobbs in time to celebrate All Saints Day. It was no "ordinary time" for us.
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