Barbel's table in Albuquerque

When I arrived here on Tuesday night, Barbel had a wonderful dinner (quiche and her incomparable ginger and carrot and apple soup)....Once again, I was the lucky  guest at her purple table.

I have such happy memories of times at this table--In San Antonio, in Alpine, and in Albuquerque.  If you know Barbel, you know that she makes every meal a party.

The drive here was long and circuitous--from Ruidoso through the countryside--details of which I will write more about later when I'm not so noodly and sleepy after today's trip to Ojo Caliente.

I learned today that we humans are never less attractive than when slathered with mud.  After several different pools, each with different healing properties, I curled up like a  burrito in a red hammock and watched big clouds drifting across the sky.  It's moments like that when I feel that all is really quite well with the world.

I always leave Barbel's house inspired to serve prettier meals, and to invite friends over for dinner more often!  This was truly the Numero Uno Meal of this road trip.