Toe tapping music in Weed, New Mexico

Okay.  I'll admit it.  It has been really hot this summer in my home town of El Paso, Texas. Another 100 degree weekend was predicted.  The El Paso Scene web site announced a Bluegrass Festival for the small New Mexico town of Weed. Surely we could get some relief from the heat at Weed's more than 7000 feet in elevation.

One of the things I appreciate about living on the tip of Texas is that a two to three hour drive can deliver you to the Sacramento Mountains of our neighboring state of New Mexico.  My husband Wayne and I drove through Alamogordo, took a smaller road to Cloudcroft (over 8000 feet), and then an even small road for a scenic drive to Weed.

A 2010 census put the population of Weed at 63. And it appeared that most of the community members were out in force to support the festival. The atmosphere was that of a small town, relaxed and friendly. It reminded me of my childhood years in Clint, Texas.

The festival was held at the Community Center.  The crowd listened respectfully to performances by seven southwest area bands.  The crowd was generally middle-aged and above (no problem with cell phones ringing here!)

Audience at festival

 Each band presented its own interpretation of  Bluegrass music.  The instruments varied as well.  I identified stand up basses, banjos, mandolins, guitars, fiddles, one harmonica, and one dobro. Tempos varied as well, with waltzes being my favorite. Many of the bands were made up of family members.

From the Heartland, Moore, Oklahoma

Vintage Bluegrass, Roswell, New Mexico

Bluegrass music fans were of all ages.

Toddler watching his grandmother's band

There were also door prizes after each band's performance and lunch available for purchase in the cafeteria. I had a bowl of beans and cornbread, accompanied by iced tea and cookies.  The beans could have used a little of our El Paso style chile!

The music and conviviality continued even outside the community center.

Informal music group

A pleasing soft rain was falling as we left the festival for our drive home.  It had been a great summer getaway.

Note:  I was first introduced to bluegrass music at a festival in Durango, Colorado where  "The Infamous Stringdusters" were playing.  Their album, "Fork in the Road", available from Sugar Hill Records, is great!

Searching for a Mexican style breakfast

Sunrise

Last week my husband Wayne and I were up in the morning at an ungodly hour and talked each other into going out for breakfast.  It was probably 7:30 am when we jumped in the car and set out for our usual neighborhood haunts.  Closed, closed, closed.  Was everyone in El Paso still slumbering?  Hadn't they heard of the early bird getting the worm?

As we drove up the interstate, looking right and left for signs of restaurant life, we reminisced about breakfasting in Mexico many years ago. Ah, the warm pan dulce (sweetbread) served in the little straw basket on a napkin, the café con leche (strong coffee with hot milk), the spicy huevos rancheros (eggs topped with chile sauce). And the smiling, professional service of the Mexican waiters.  All against a background of blooming hibiscus and bougainvillea and rhythmic music. Those were the days.

After that trip down memory lane, there was no way we could  settle for a plain old American breakfast . A small restaurant with lights on and cars parked in front appeared on the left.

Tacos Chinampa Restaurant, El Paso, Texas

You can get a sense of any restaurant when you first enter, I think, and the first impression for Tacos Chinampa was very good.  Relaxed atmosphere, moderate music, and a view into the kitchen (for some reason this makes me feel very comfortable).

Interior of Tacos Chinampa

The Mexican themed decor was tastefully carried out.

Love that tile on the table!

Even the chairs had carved chiles on the back.

Chile chair

A old-fashioned street vendor's cart displayed Mexican products.

Products for sale

Yes, the atmosphere was authentic.  Now, how about the food and drink?  I have just one comment.  "Yum."  Huevos rancheros, cooked to order, warm flour tortillas, a bottomless coffee cup, and a side serving of beans.

Not on our low cholesterol, low calorie diet menu?  Not at all.  But I felt a wave of affection for my home town, El Paso, Texas,  for offering us a wonderful bit of serendipity in the early morning.

World Cup Fever Hits the Southwest!

The excitement and emotion of the recent FIFA World Cup made my husband Wayne and me hungry to hear the cry of  GOL....... in person.  The Chivas of Guadalajara, Mexico were meeting the Cruzeiros of Belo Horizonte, Brazil in a friendly match at the El Paso Sun Bowl Stadium last Sunday.  We wanted to experience soccer as a fan in the stands rather than just in front of the TV.

Neither of us had the proper fan attire to support either team, so we chose to wear colors that at least wouldn't get us in trouble.  There are many dire tales floating around about the passion of soccer fans!

The striped attire of Chivas supporters

I had been told many years ago in Mexico City that females were not welcome at soccer matches. Thank goodness times have changed.  There were fans of all genders, ages and ethnicities.

Crowd entering stadium

Temporary grass had been laid on top of the artificial turf in the Sun Bowl.   It was taking quite a few helpers to keep it watered until game time.

Serious grass watering!

Wayne was not impressed with my suggestion that he could help me water our outside plants every day by carrying the hose like that for me.

The teams lined up on the field for the start of the game, Chivas in red stripes and Cruzeiros in blue.

Chivas and Cruzeiros

Contrary to our fears (or at least mine), the crowd was very pleasant.  Even a few quick rain showers during the evening didn't dampen enthusiasm for the match.  Maybe the large quantities of kettle corn, hot dogs, nachos, and beer being consumed had a hand in that.

Crowd enjoying game

The only evidence of typical fan behavior happened every time the Cruzeiros goal keeper kicked the ball back down the field.  The Chivas fans stood up, fluttered their hands, and as he kicked the ball, yelled a word in Spanish that I, as an ex-Spanish teacher, wouldn't allow in my high school classroom.   The word must not be considered too shocking nowadays because FIFA ruled it as non-discriminatory.  So we stood up, fluttered out hands, and yelled it too.  When in Rome...

p...

The match itself, being a friendly game, was fairly calm.  The fans provided much entertainment though.

Chivas fan

There has been talk of building a soccer stadium in El Paso.  What fun that would be for area fans of fútbol! 

A Great Community Event for the 4th

The Eastside 4th of July parade in El Paso, Texas was the perfect opportunity for my husband Wayne to show off his new hot rod, a '32 Ford.

 "Would you like to ride with me?" he asked.  Being in a parade was not a first choice activity for my introverted soul, but I decided to be a good sport.  I planned to hide behind sunglasses and a big hat.  You can see that I'm not really into the holiday spirit at this point.

As we waited in a line of cars for the parade to get underway, I had a chance to see how other El Pasoans were celebrating the 4th.

The El Paso Rhinos Ice Hockey mascot (Yes, we have an ice hockey team in El Paso.)  was getting lots of attention from the younger set.

The owner of this '55 Chevy was very helpful in showing us the parade ropes.  He recommended that we follow him.

This group straight out of "Nacho Libre" (a great movie!)  was not shy about posing for a pic.

With the scream of police sirens and the tooting of horns, the parade was underway.  All ages of El Pasoans lined the streets, some sitting in chairs, some perched on curbs, some standing, and almost everyone seeking shade from the desert sun.  We had brought a large bag of wrapped candy to distribute to the crowd.  It gave me something better to do than give a royal wave to the crowd.

Lots of really cute little kids waited eagerly for the tossed candy and ran out to scoop it up in various containers.  One optimistic young man brought two good sized empty Easter baskets to save his loot. Some groups called out, "Candy, candy", but we tried to find the shyer children to shower with sweets. One grandmother went for the candy herself  and motioned for a nearby child to back off!  

We heard cries of "Happy 4th,"  "Thank you," and "Nice car, mister"  all along the route.

The 4th of July.  A great time for community to join together for a few hours of sharing.  I was happy to be part of it.