8:30 a.m. - My Mom's house in Carlsbad, NM - Looking out her back door.
Mom lives in a community where the yard work is taken care of through homeowner fees. This morning Sweetpea was fascinated by the gardener, who was mowing the lawns. She waved every time he came by, and, occasionally, he saw her and waved back.
9:00 a.m. - The living room of Mom's house.
Sweetpea spent awhile playing with two of her "babies" and a little doll-sized kitchen. The kitchen came with a plastic turkey, to roast in the oven, but this morning she decided it would be more fun to roast such things as her babies' shoes, a hair brush, and pretty much anything else that would fit.
9:45 a.m. - From my Mom's back patio.
There's a pretty little man-made water feature that runs behind the houses on Mom's street. It is landscaped with plants, bushes and trees that do well in this southwest climate.
10:00 a.m. - On the bank of the Pecos River, in Carlsbad.
Sweetpea and I took a little walk along the river. The river is only a five minute walk from my Mom's house. This is the railroad trestle that crosses from one side to the other. I would have gotten a picture of the two train engines that crossed the river while we were there, but they were so noisy that Sweetpea got scared and climbed up into my arms. Hugs and reassuring came ahead of taking pictures.
10:15 a.m. - On the bank of the river.
A little speedboat on the river. I was hoping there might be some water skiers for Sweetpea to see, but we weren't so lucky.
10:35 a.m. - In a picnic shelter beside the river.
Okay, in my defense, I only raised boys! Sweetpea asked for "two ponytails" today. I tried, but they don't look nearly as cute as when her mama does them.
11:00 a.m. - Mom's living room.
Each day Sweetpea and I have done some kind of craft together. Today it was a bunny mask, made from paper plates. She enjoyed it, and hopped all over the house with her mask until we had to "hop" into the car to run an errand.
11:20 a.m. - Pecos Valley Pecans, a part of The CARC Farm, in Carlsbad.
My mom wanted to stock up on some pecans for baking. CARC, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people with developmental disabilities. They run a store to sell the pecans they grow on the farm. While we were there, this little lady was cracking and sorting pecans.
11:35 a.m. - The Pecos River Flume at Carlsbad.
On our way back to my Mom's house from the CARC Farm, we drove by this huge flume. From SouthernNewMexico.com: "The Flume was completed in 1890 but was destroyed by a flood in 1902. Rebuilt in concrete, at that time it was the largest concrete structure in the world. It is in use today as part of the Carlsbad Irrigation District."
1:00 p.m. - The No Whiner Diner in Carlsbad.
I ordered "dino-nuggets" for Sweetpea, assuming they would be chicken nuggets. Sure enough! But they were in the shape of dinosaurs. She ate three dinosaurs for lunch! (And, true to the name of the diner - the No Whiner - she did no whining.)
2:00 p.m. - Mom's guest room.
Sweetpea went down for a nap after we got home from lunch. She's been sleeping on a little pallet on the floor this week. I'm sure she'll be happy to be back at home in her own bed, but she's been really good about sleeping, even in this unfamiliar place. I didn't want to use a flash to take the picture, but I kind of like how it turned out anyway. (I used some lighting effects from Photoshop Elements.)
5:30 p.m. - Mom's family room.
Before dinner, Sweetpea discovered her sun-hat in her suitcase, and wanted to wear it while she watched a "My Little Pony" video (thus the glazed-over look in her eyes).
Tomorrow morning Sweetpea's mama will come for her. It's been a great week - a bonding week - for Sweetpea, Grandma and Great-Grandma. Thanks for the memories!
