Slim Jim and GPS: The ag report

Keeping up with local crops and livestock:

• Elevator opposite the arch in St Louis loading barges with grain
• Longhorn cattle in texas and new mexico
• Lots of horses
• Fence everywhere; ranches
• Feedlots in new mexico
• Lots of red sandy dirt
• Along the Rio Grande in NM there was irrigation and some crops; lots of alfalfa fields
• Something was planted on top of tilled ridges in west texas; just coming up
• Amazing pecan groves in Artesia nm;  mom says to Google Artesia ag. Lots of irrigation there. 
• Angus, Holstein,  and Hereford spotted at least
• Donkeys and mules
• Llamas
• GPS says to tell grandpa that the corn in Illinois looked good and was taller than his
• SJ says grandpa has more crops than the entire state of Arizona :)

(MP's very bad cattle pic)

I've been to CA before. I've been to CO. And Texas.  But the part of the country we drove into today was a first for me and did not disappoint.  West Texas and SW New Mexico are fascinating and so unique. Granted, we experienced unusually nice weather in both places (although I really did want to feel the 108 degree to say I did), but we had a great day.

We had talked about Carlsbad caverns for so long that it had become just a spot on the trip map. When we actually saw the mountains and then the cave we realized it was well worth the spot. We chose to walk in the natural entrance even though that was an hour hike going down very steeply.  Very glad we did.

Quote of the day: "Be careful not to cross into the houses!" - Evan, as we were leaving his driveway.

Hummingbird: Evan and the cat and the park

We went to the park with our cousin Evan and then went to Walmart to get a new cooler. At the park we played tag and I did a chin up. I hung on the chin up bar for 30 seconds.

I love aunt karyn's cat. He's my best friend.