THE BIG D - TEXAS PART 2

I thought we would never get here! When Santa said Texas is huge he was not kidding. We traveled up the I20 into Dallas/Fort Worth and it seemed to take forever.

Mom and Dad had music playing and they were talking and laughing, but I have to tell you I was kind of bored. I know that some people think this area is very beautiful and it does have a rugged kind of beauty. But I miss the green of the trees and the northern lights.

Dad decided to try out their new crock pot and put in a corned beef just before we left. They heard that if you put the crock pot in the sink it would not slide around. I guess you could say that it was a big success because that is ALL I’VE BEEN SMELLING FOR HOURS. WHAT KIND OF TORTURE IS THIS?

Have you ever been on the I20 in Texas? Because I have a question – often times there is a road that runs parallel to the highway. I did not see any roads that branched off this, it just was there and then all of sudden it just ended. Do you know why those roads are there? It seemed to me like the road started no where and ended no where. I just could not figure it out.

Well, we finally got to our campground outside of Dallas near the airport. Boy is it crowed. I sure hope I can meet some friends here. Dad said that tomorrow several Santa’s are going to visit us.

But what I really want is some corned beef!!!!!!!!!!! Come on Mom and Dad Feed ME NOW!

THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS - PART 1

We entered Texas by way of El Paso on the 10 freeway. It was quite hilly and just across the El Paso River was Mexico! I haven’t been there before but Santa said that he really tries to help the children who live there. So many are very poor and never really get a nice Christmas. Even I noticed the difference in housing between the United States and Mexico.

It didn’t seem to me that we had driven very far and all of sudden we seemed to be all along in this vast landscape. Mom told Santa that we had better decide where to camp as there were very few places to stop before we reached the Midlands area.

After several hours we pulled into a very nice campground in Van Horn. Boy, the campsite managers sure were pleased to see Santa and Mrs. Claus! Then when Mom came to get me they couldn’t believe it and said we had to be the real ones. They were so excited that they ran to get their camera and take pictures so they could show their grandchildren.

We were still in the mountains at over 4000 ft elevation. I was introduced to my first desert hare! I got to chase it for a little while as I saw it before Mom and Dad. However, it ran under the fence and out of my reach. Well at least I had a little fun. It was quite beautiful here and you could see for miles! Even though it was early in the year the sun seemed to take forever to set.

When it was finally dark and we could look up into the night sky we were rewarded with seeing millions of stars and the Milky Way. It was almost as clear as the North Pole!

Well tomorrow we are off to Dallas to see some more Santa’s. I can’t wait!

NEW MEXICO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT

Upon leaving the Phoenix area we headed south toward Tucson and into New Mexico. The scenery was quite beautiful and lots of rolling hills. We were over 4000 ft in elevation but it did not seem that way.

We spent the night in a little campsite just over the border in New Mexico. At night I could heard my brethren the coyotes “yip, yip, yipping”. I’ve seen them before but I must admit that I really have no desire to join them. Even I can acknowledge I am quite spoiled living with Santa and Mom.

Oh, did I tell you Mom had to resort to using rubber bands to keep the drawers from sliding in and out? It seems to work fairly well, but in my opinion this is one noisy sleigh! Of course the elves did not build this so the workmanship was not up to what we are used to. I know Mom and Santa were very disappointed that there were no catches in the drawers and cupboards to stop them from opening.

Not very many people live in this area so the little towns are spread out and mostly you just see the scenery. I must confess it is rather refreshing after the hustle and bustle of Southern California, where everyone lives so close and there are so many people.

Soon we are going to cross into the great state of Texas. Dad said it will take a couple of days to drive through Texas. Can you imagine!!!

THE DESERT - CACTUS, ROADRUNNERS AND MORE

Wow, the desert is certainly VERY different from the North Pole and the kind of weather I’m used to. Good thing we are visiting this area in the winter. My coat would be much too hot for this desert heat.

I really liked to look at the saguaro cactus. They are especially cool and Santa said some of them are a couple of hundred years old. I like the roadrunners too, in fact, I wouldn’t mind chasing them. You know, I’m a pretty fast runner myself. But Mom wouldn’t let me. Gee, how is a snow dog going to have any fun?

We stayed in a place that had lots of campers that are called “snowbirds”. Mom said that many people who live in the Northern states spend the winter down south. Well I sure don’t understand that. Who wouldn’t want to spend time playing in the snow? Anyway, this place also had some little small houses all surrounding a golf course.

I guess it looked Ok, but there was hardly any grass and then the management did not want me to walk on it! Why would you plant grass and then tell me I can’t walk on it? I don’t understand that, boy humans sure have odd rules.

We got to visit one of Mom and Dad’s very close friends, Fred and Chery. I certainly liked them too they are so nice and I know they thought I was beautiful. Fred is a professional photographer and I told him that I would be glad to do a photo shoot anytime he wants. Chery is a professional singer and has a beautiful voice. We could only stay for one night but I hope we see them again soon.

We are heading south on the I10 now going toward New Mexico. I wonder what is there?