The Olde Crone reports, April 1, 2011

Hello.
I am so excited to be a reporter for the Crone's Gazette. This little reporter is just raring to go.

My transportation is provided by the folks who run the Gazette and have been very good to ask my opinion about where we should report from. My first outing was not very far from the home office. We just went north and a little west of the office to a lovely old village situated on the Rio Grande River.

This area was in the past and recently has recently again become famous for it's vineyards and orchards and of course a very good place to raise livestock and crops.

At this time of year, the huge cottonwood trees are yet to have leaves and for all the world look very "haunted" tree like. This reporter did have a bit of an allergy attack because of the horrible Chinese Elm trees which are not native trees. Bit of a sniffle and watery eyes.

In the fall, I am told that this little sleepy village, which is really a bedroom community for Albuquerque is quite a busy bee kind of place. What with the crops being ripe. Apples, corn, (and the most fabulous corn maze in the area) pumpkins and many other fruits and vegetables are offered for sale at the many farms that dot the area. In addition, the area is also known for the artist's that display at the local galleries. The Fall Festival is a wonderful activity, needless to say.

Today we dined at Little Anita's Mexican Kitchen and later took a tour of the area. Not just sticking to the main street but through the back streets and small roads that run parallel to the irrigation ditches. And that is when we found Linda's favorite animal, donkeys. We found donkeys, llamas, horses, cows, goats, turkeys (very frightening birds), baby chick, ducks and guineas for sale. And then we came upon a site that shocked all of us......Camels in Corrales. At one of the farms, the llamas and horses had paddock mates. 2 hump camels right here in New Mexico. Imagine our surprise.

And much to my delight, I found the heart of my story here in a downed cottonwood tree. All in all a very lovely, breezy, warm spring outing.

Hope you've enjoyed this pictorial and travelog. I'll be back next Friday to once again....poke around New Mexico and give you an Olde Crone's perspective.