santa fe {part 2}

Our first stop, well probably our 5th, after eating and bathroom stops,

was Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.

We wanted to stop there last year, but didn't, so we made sure to do it on the way this time.

You can take your own spray paint and paint the cars, but we didn't have any with us.

It was so neat to see this up close, after seeing it in magazines and on tv shows over the years.

Such a cool place.

Boyd giving a thumbs up!

We finally got to Santa Fe after a day of driving.

We knew exactly where we wanted to go, after checking into the hotel.

We had this chile con queso dip last year,

and I've dreamed of it ever since.

So we headed straight to Tortilla Flats restaurant.

The next day we headed to the downtown square.
The weather was perfect, and we love to people watch down there,
shop and eat more good chiles.
Boyd played frisbee and ran and ran and ran.
We had breakfast burritos at the same place we had them last year,
Burrito Co. Cafe.

Then we went to Maria's for lunch.
I had chiles rellenos and my mom had tamales.
It was a delicious place to eat.

Weck's is another great place to have breakfast, if you are ever in Santa Fe.
Get their bowl of papas, with red or green chiles, and a meat and cheese and egg.
YUM.

We headed up to Taos to skip rocks in the Rio Grande.
I thought we were going to get rained on, but we only got a few sprinkles.
We did this last year, and so it was fun to come back to the same place.
There were a bunch of whitewater rafts coming in for the day,
and Boyd loved seeing them.
{I love the drive up to Taos, but those damn falling rocks signs always make me a bit nervous}.

I am so very glad that we took a day trip to the town of Abiquiu.
I highly recommend this.
We visited this breathtaking lake,
and Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keeffe lived and painted, and loved.
I can see why she was so inspired here.

 

 

If you're ever in Santa Fe, you must eat at The Shed, downtown on the square.
We had the blue corn enchiladas, with red chile sauce.
We were on fire eating these red chiles,
but WOW it was an amazing meal.

Thank you Santa Fe, for being so beautiful,
and delicious!

My sweet boy,
his favorite part of the trip was jumping on the beds at the hotel.
Go figure.

Thanks mom for the great trip.

 We really missed Kevin.
It's always good to be home.

love,
nicolle

santa fe, new mexico

I'm in Santa Fe this week.

Last year Boyd, my mom, and I came to escape the Texas heat.

We did it again this year, sort of last minute, as is usual for us.

Santa Fe is just as beautiful as ever.

We've eaten green or red chiles every day.

I can't get enough.

{Blue corn enchiladas at The Shed}.

We drove up to Taos to skip rocks in the Rio Grande,

We drove to the town of Abiquiu,

to see Ghost Ranch where Georgia O'Keeffe lived and painted.

It was breathtaking.

There is one particular mountain here that Georgia said,

if I paint it enough times, maybe God will give it to me.

He apparently did give it to her, because her ashes are scattered on top.

I get choked up every time I think of that.

I have lots of pictures, but they just don't show the beauty that your eyes can see here.

Like my mom said,

once you've been here it stays in your heart and your mind forever,

and no picture can replace it, and no one can take it from you.

We have had a good trip, and Boyd has been a big fat toot!

We miss home, but not the awful heat wave.

Hope you are all enjoying your week.

Now, I must go rescue my mom from Boyd back in the hotel room.

Be back soon.

love,

nicolle

santa fe, continued

my mom, boyd and i hit the road,
monday morning.
9 1/2 hours later,
we were in santa fe.
boyd did so well on the car ride,
there and back.
and we laughed at him a thousand times.
the weather, the food,
and the scenery were perfect.

here are a few highlights.
beautiful colors, everywhere.
we did a lot of window shopping,
and a tiny bit of souvenir shopping.







the beautiful stucco buildings.




what can i say about the food.
it was all delicious.
the chiles were amazing.
we ate a lot of them, red and green.
and i could drink coffee in the mountains,
every single day.






we visited two beautiful churches.





i became obsessed with trader joe's.
and with strawberry tomatoes.




we spent many hours in downtown santa fe,
at this park.
we did a lot of people watching,
boyd ran and played.
it was so much fun,
and so pretty.




you knew i would find a cupcake place.
we had them on tuesday,
when i turned 38 years old. yikes.
boyd had plain chocolate.
mine was called choco chile.
it had red chile in the buttercream frosting.
it was very spicy and sweet,
and i loved it.
i loved every $4.50 bite of it.
only on vacation would i pay that, right?!




we drove up to taos one day.
the drive was breathtaking.
we stopped at the rio grande on the way.




yes there were moments when i wondered,
why did i come on this trip,
with a 3 year old.
and i'm sure my mom thought that too.
ha.
but boyd did really well and had fun.
and i loved this time with him,
and my mom.
boyd only said,
i don't like the mountains,
and
i want to go back to the hotel,
about a thousand times.
bless his heart.
boyd is so done with pictures,
can't you tell?!


and i'm so thankful for a husband,
who supports my whims.


the end.