...New Mexico Visit...Day TWO...

...we're trying to make this a contact-less visit...as far as the general public is concerned...

...so we decided to drive up to the Santa Fe National Forest...where we could be fairly certain not to encounter any other people...

...and...guess what...it rained in the dessert...so refreshing...for about 20 minutes...haha...

...we stopped and got a contactless lunch...and ate it in the truck...

...just a bunch veggies and avocado on a bun for me...

...and a huge order of french fries to share...

...we passed an Amtrak train...they are certainly having a scenic ride right now...

...stopped at this historical marker...

...and thought that the 'continued' on the back was funny...

...an absolutely gorgeous drive into the forest...

...it's greener here than it's been for a few days...

...we passed this adorable pueblo church...the Macho Chapel...and we chuckled again at that name...I would have loved to go inside...but of course it wasn't open...

The historic one-room El Macho church is still used occasionally. An active cemetery, San Antonio Cemetery, surrounds the church. Throughout the 1900's this church was also known as San Antonio-El Macho or simply San Antonio. Spanish American colonists built a 16'X26' church in 1858 in the Pecos Canyon at El Macho. In 1966, Calvin Horn described the church as being red sandstone, having nine rows of pews with room for four people on each pew on each side of an aisle. This church replaced one built by settlers in the 1830's and was restored in the 1950's after a back wall collapsed. During the restoration, workers found 35 bodies in wooden coffins under the church floor. They were reburied in a common grave. Spanish settlers in New Mexico, including the Pecos area, were burying some people "en la capilla" or "en la iglesia" before 1900. The first recorded burial at El Macho is 1904, but there must have been earlier burials. There is an older cemetery on the hill above the church that dates from the early 1900's. (Information provided by Frank Collins of Cowles, NM) source

...and another interesting article here with some beautiful photographs...

...see what I mean...gorgeous...

...we stopped here...where the kiddos had hiked before...

...and allowed the Airman's Baby to cool her toes in the Pecos River...which reminded me of the Pecos Bill story (tall tale) that we read...in the 6th grade...haha...

...stopped at the beautiful Benedictine Monastery on the way back...it's so pretty...and I loved that they have the word 'Peace' on their gate...

...the drive back Albuquerque was beautiful as well...

...I tried a spicy Ginger Beer...it was good...but I could only take a couple of sips at a time...it was that spicy...

...back home...it was time to grill some more tofu...

...and play with a baby...

...and make a salad...

...and share another meal...

~Have a lovely day!