We left Ruidoso, New Mexico this morning! We had a fun week with Jim and Susan! We enjoyed several new adventures around the area and and even got Mexican Train in on two nights!!! (Susan won one night and Bob won another!) One day we drove out to the Inn of the Mountain Gods which was a very lovely setting/hotel/casino, but with most Indian casinos, I think they smell smokey and musty, so we had a quick look around and moved on.

Nice looking golf course at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, but we elected not to play here.

 Lots of Southwestern art work at the entrance to the hotel.

We met up with some other friends from Indio, Dale and Marilyn, they spend the summer months in Ruidoso. Bob and Dale played golf one day, along with Karl Odom (also from ORI). On Friday evening, we went over to Dale and Marilyn's for hamburgers at their RV lot. Every evening the deer wait for Dale to feed them, so about 7 p.m. they came wandering through their backyard for corn.

On Saturday, we went to the Ruidoso Downs Race Track. We enjoyed the comforts of the Jockey Club, lunch, and the races on a beautiful afternoon. We tried to pick some winners -- my "high-tech" method was to go with names of the horses I liked (i.e., Ping Pong Patty, Da-licious, God's Little Angel, and Sugarintheevening!) Of course, that did not prove to be a winning idea in any of my races!

 Jim and Susan overlooking the race track.

 A photo finish!

 :( Where's MY horse???


On Sunday, we took a car drive up to Cloudcroft, it is about 9,000 feet elevation (about 4,000 feet higher than where we were.) There is an old Lodge up there that serves a delicious brunch, so we stuffed ourselves (once again). Then Susan and I did a little shopping while Bob and Jim sat in the car and played on their iPhones! 

Cooler temperatures up in Cloudcroft made for a pleasant afternoon.

 White Sands, New Mexico in the distance.

 In Alamagordo, we stopped at the Pistachio Tree Ranch. I had to add this giant pistachio nut to my collection of "super-sized" objects we have seen around the country! :)

Jim and Susan in front of a pistachio tree - can't say I had ever seen pistachios growing before!

On Monday, Bob and I went to play golf at the Rainmakers, north of Ruidoso. It was a very challenging course, but Bob played great and I did pretty good on the back nine!!! :)

Bob hits it right down the middle and shots par his first time out on this course! 

I shot 46 on the back nine! :) I had TWO pars, five bogeys, and two 7's!!! I was happy with that!!! (Don't ask me about the front nine please!!!)