Southwest Soaring Museum, New Mexico

Friday, 16 May 2008

Yesterday, driving westward from Tecumseh, Oklahoma, Mike & I visited an entertainment museum - the Roger Miller Museum - located in Erick, Oklahoma. Today we had the opportunity to visit a soaring museum - located on Route 66, on the east side of Moriarty, New Mexico.

We were not allowed to take pictures at the Roger Miller Museum. Today, I am allowed to take as many pictures as I wanted to, of anything in the Southwest Soaring Museum.

I didn't know I am interested in planes until today, amazed by the different kinds of sailplanes and gliders.

From the outside, it looked like a big warehouse

First plane I saw entering the museum was this "Little Bird 1". I guess it is built for any little child to feel what it is like in a glider!

The collection of gliders

The oldest glider in the collection: Northrup Primary Glider (built 1929)



2nd oldest glider in the collection: Franklin P-S-2 Glider (built 1930)

Hang Glider

This is an interesting piece: Benson B-8 Modified Gyro Glider

A model of what the place would look like in future.

N.B. What I also enjoyed also on this visit is playing with Duffy.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries, Groom, Texas

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Travelling along the Interstate 40 in Groom, Texas, we could see the white cross from far away. It has been claimed to be the largest cross in the western hemisphere but after checking the internet it is now the 2nd largest. The cross at Effingham, Illinois is 8 feet taller, standing at 198 feet.



There were 13 bronze sculptures, depicting the different scenes from the time he was condemned to death until his body was removed from the cross.

Station 1: Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judaea.

Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.

The Last Supper in front of Station 12 - Crucifixion of Jesus and the 2 thieves.

Chief Yellow Horse Trading Post, Lupton, Arizona

Monday, 12 May 2008

It is located at the Arizona - New Mexico border, along the Route 66 and Interstate 40. Chief Yellow Horse Trading Post is too prominent to be missed because most the stores and signs were painted in yellow!

Mike took every opportunity to practise his bagpipes, for the funeral on Wednesday 14 May in Oklahoma, but couldn't stay long because the wind was blowing too hard.



The animals and eagles looked real from the top of the rock formation where Mike was practising his bagpipes. I can't make out what the white and black colored animals were.



Sure like to visit this place again if we drive this way again. We didn't get to visit the fort because it was closed. I wanted to take pictures of the distinctive yellow color of the stores but the wind was so strong and pushing me.

Yuma Arizona Stake 50th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, 26 April 2008

We have the machine. We have the sugar. We have people scheduled to work every half an hour. We have children queuing for it. BUT there was a problem with the supply of electricity to the cotton candy machine. It kept shutting off even before and after our schedule time.



This is one fishing ground where you would definitely get a 'fish'. I went around to check what is behind the curtains. There were a few youth sitting there placing 'fish' (I didn't go closer to see what they were) onto the line/hook that was thrown down to their side.

Menudo in Brawley

Friday, 18 April 2008

It is a soupy Mexican traditional dish, made of tripe, hominy and chili. They said it is an antidote for hangover, it is a cure of many ailments and it is always prepared on New Year's morning.

When I first tasted it in January 2008, I didn't like the smell of it. I thought the hominy were big barley and that the barley were out of date. I know now that the hominy are not barley but hulled and dried kernels of corn. I recognised the tripe as stomach linings of cows.

2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try again. The smell didn't repulse me as it did in January. I thought it tasted alright but I was not interested to eat a bowl yet.












Today, I ordered a small bowl. It would be a shame if I don't, being in a famous Mexican restaurant in Brawley and having driven 1 hrs 15 minutes from Yuma to get there.

It tasted better when added with chopped onions, fresh cilantro and lemon juice. Accompanying the menudo and the plate of condiments was a plate of flour tortillas.

Do I like menudo? Not really. Would I eat that again? Maybe after a few months.

Yuma County Fair 2008

Saturday, 5 April 2008

This was the 5th day of the 56th Annual Yuma County Fair. We were able to visit for about 2 hrs. It was not so crowded during our time of visit so that was good. I am sure the 1st day must be crammed with people because admission was only $1.


One could spend the whole day there. There were different exhibits. entertainments, games, stage shows, contests, music, magic, dances, rides, food, drinks for the whole family.

Encounters with real animals are rare in my life, except at zoos, so most of the pictures I took were animals!

The Budwiser's Clydesdales were magnificent! This was the first time I have seen Clydesdales in real life. They were big, tall and beautiful. I asked the security guard whether I could touch one of the horses. I knew the answer would be no, because the horses didn't know me and it would be dangerous. So I just stood there and admired them instead!

At the Livestock Barn, a 11 year old boy sat inside a matted pen, stroked his beloved his pet while she slept. Jewels is 8 months old, waiting for her turn to be auctioned.

Some of the other pigs that would be auctioned as well.

I wondered why the sheep's mouths were covered - to prevent them from making noises!

Ba Ba Black Sheep - It was completely black while the previous two were grey/black. It was being washed and groomed for the auction - for higher bids?

I must have come at the right time at the right place - pictures taking of the children and their sheep, by newsmen or the fair committee. I noticed from the fair pamphlet that Junior Livestock Large Animal Auction was held only today and no other days. I asked a lady standing next to me why they take pictures of the sheep's backsides!

Last but not least of the animals I saw this day were the calves.

South West Arizona Stand Down 2008

Saturday, 15 March 2008

We were enjoying ourselves at the swap meet when Mike was called to play at the South West Arizona Stand Down at the Desert Sun Stadium. Today is the 2nd of the 3 days annual event. I learnt Stand Down is organised to provide support and services to veterans, especially the homeless and the needy.

Watch the Wind

Sunday, 2 March 2008

The wind blew a neighbour's trash bin onto the middle of the lane! And being fitted with rollers, it continued to move along the middle the road! This emptied bin has not been taken back to the house after the trash had been removed and so became the wind's victim!

Few hours before that, I had to go back into the house to change my church clothes because the wind was blowing my skirt up. And then returning back from church to see the opened lid trash bin moving along the road, in front of our house, amused me!

28th Annual POW-WOW - California

Saturday, 1 March 2008

It was an early spring celebration at an area adjacent to the Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation in Winterhaven, California. I didn't know that we were in California until Mike told me on the way home. It was only 2 miles north of Yuma, Arizona.

I learnt that in the olden days, a pow-wow is a gathering of Native Americans of any tribe. Nowadays, both Native and non-Native Americans meet to have fun. A dancing session was going on when we arrived. I would have love to stay and watch, but it was unpleasant sitting in the open air with only my hat shading me from the heat and sun! It is only Spring and I thought it would be not too cold (like the winter) and not too hot (like the suummer)!

There was a guy dressed up in an American Indian costume and he happened to be sitting next to me and it was interesting to note that there were a lot of beads on his clothes and shoes. He said it took about 3 months to do the bead work on his clothes. Even his roach were finely beaded (yellow part). It was made of real porcupine hairs and real eagle feathers.

Beautiful colorful necklaces and ear-rings on sale!

The bear and the eagle are the Native American Indians' special animals - symbol of power, etc.

I am impressed by the beautiful bead work - even on hair clips as well!

Another kind of craft from the Native American Indian's heritage - Kachina dolls, based on their spiritual beliefs.

Potteries

This guy had already taken off his headdress when I asked if I could take a picture of him, but nevetheless posed enthusiastically.

Mike said I must try this - frybread - Native American food. It is a flat dough deep fried. This is an Indian taco topped with mashed beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and cut lettuce, served with salsa.

I was so full after eating that and when Mike came back with a flannel cake, which I have not eaten before, I couldn't eat anymore. Anyway, I did tried a few bites. After having a whole flybread, having another deep fried dough is definitely not my cup of tea.

Meeting Irene Bedard was the highlight of our visit to the pow-wow. She is so pretty. This is the first film star in the movie industry that I have met personally! She was "Pocahontas" in the Disney animated film of the same name.

I asked her whether I could have a picture with her. Without hesitation, Irene stood up from her chair, walked and stand next to me. That was so sweet of her. I told her I am also Irene too!

It was surely an interesting visit, learning about the Native-American-Indians, moreso because Mike's maternal grandmother is a Choctaw, and that makes him a Indian as well!

Relief Society's 166th Birthday Party on Chap Goh Mei

Thursday, 21 February 2008

I was looking forward to Relief Society Birthday celebration this year because this was my first experience in Yuma and US. Relief Society will be 166 years old on the 17 March 2008 and I am proud to be a member of it!



Every party is unique. I thought the purple invitation card was cute. We had fun playing games. And instead of cutting a big birthday cake, we received a birthday cake each in the form of a cupcake and a candle!

For me, tonight party compensated my traditional Chap Goh Mei celebration.

Chap Goh Mei means the 15th night in the Hokkien dialect. It is the 15th day of the Chinese New Year (which started on the 7 February 2008 - the year of the Earth Rat) and marks the end of the 15 days festival. Families would have dinner together, like they did on Chinese New Year's eve. In some places there would be cultural performances, lanterns procession, lion dances, etc.

Chap Goh Mei is also the Chinese Valentine's Day!

Yuma Crossing River Daze Arts & Craft Festival

Saturday, 16 February 2008

These were what caught my attention...

He was playing to the tune of "Unchained Melody" on the instrument. I don't know what you call that musical instrument.


The imaginations and talents of quilters


A different kind of art. From far they looked like plaques of concrete.


Decorations around the lamp posts?