Short Family Vacation

I just got back yesterday after spending a week with my family in New Mexico.   We went out to our reservation  for another cousin's feast. (Puberty ceremony)   Hers was way up in the mountains and much more secluded so it was attended by fewer people.   We had a really great time.   I took Youngest Son, Middle Son, Nephew and my good friends daughter.  The country is so beautiful!  We camped out in teepee's and tents under the big sky for 3 nights.  At night I had to keep looking up at the stars.   It was amazing, just a blanket of stars.   Nothing like here in Cali in the city, I think we have too much smog.  Nights around the camp fire, watching the dancers and hanging out talking and eating.   I ate so much fry bread and pueblo bread, it is served at every meal.   I am afraid to get on the scale but I can tell by my clothes I definitely gained a few pounds!    The kids were hoping to see wild animals and they got their wish!   We saw a black bear mama walking down the side of a hill with her 3 babies!  They were so cute!   when we saw her she was pretty close to us which can be really scarey with a mama bear but there was a ravine separating us so we could watch them.   The animals out there have plenty of food so they aren't looking to attack any humans unless you bother them.   We saw a couple of elk and a lot of deer.   The highlight for the kids was the wild horses.   The went hiking a found 3 of them.  

 


I love to get in the car and drive across the Southwest, so the road trip is part of the fun for me.

Nephew and his guitar : )

The desert and the beautiful skies of Arizona

We had several thunderstorms and rain along the way and beautiful rainbows : )

Ah, we finally arrived and Middle Son and Nephew checking to see if their favorite Auntie is at home.

She was and she was very happy to see them .

She misses her California Indian boys!

Rez dogs!    Cute dogs that were running around in the front.  

Breakfast at the Old Road restaurant before we head up the mountain.

And a quick stop at the Tribal store to see if there is any Pendleton stuff I have to have and pick up a few supplies.

Definitely have to watch out for Elk on the road, they are all over and can cause a lot of damage if you hit one.  

Mescalero, New Mexico is a beautiful part of the country.   I love coming home.  I feel so torn sometimes, I love where I live now being so close to the ocean but I love it here on the reservation too, such a beautiful place.

We found the camp!!   This is just one side of it, there is more teepees and campers to the left.

 Youngest son coming out of his tent in the morning.

Teepee poles against the sky, so pretty!!!

My cousin Tora, she lives in Hawaii and she is home for the first time in about 8 years.

Waiting in the food line in front of the big teepee. (This is the teepee that the girl who is having her ceremony does all her dancing and praying)

Building the fire and waiting for the dancers to come out.  No pictures of them,  it is not allowed.

My cute N. M. nephew when he realizes I am taking his picture : )

One of the Elk we found.

After 3 days of camping out, after the feast is over we decided to treat ourselves and stay at the tribal owned Inn of the Mountain Gods.   It is really a beautiful place, 5 star.   If you're ever in Southern New Mexico, check it out.   It has a really nice casino and great restaurants too.

 Wendell Chino was one of the greatest leaders we ever had and when he passed a few years ago the fine dining restaurant and lounge were named after him.  

Me taking a relaxing jacuzzi after sleeping on a mattress on the hard earth for three days.  Ahhhh.   It was so nice as well as a beautiful pool and spa.

I have a few more pictures to post about my trip that I will put up in a part 2.   Time to get some unpacking, laundry and grocery shopping done today!