Organ Mountains

Organ Mountains

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Another Covid Saturday

As followers of this blog might remember, Saturday mornings my stepson Ben and I ride to the Farmer's Market for exercise (about 11 miles round trip on the ditches) and for my empanadas.  Last week I was fortunate to get the last of the pineapple empanadas at Joe and Dolores' stand so this week we left an hour earlier.  Now the market is open 8:30-1:00 on Saturdays during these social distancing times.  By leaving at 8 am we were able to get there right as it opened.  The full selection was available---except Dolores told me they hadn't made any lemon empanadas this week so all I got was pineapple.

In normal times, i.e., pre-Covid-19, the market takes up pretty much the entire downtown Main Street area.  Now it's confined to the plaza with the only vendors being food sellers.  There's three bakers, a couple of vendors of local honey, and a couple of vegetable sellers.  The stands are set far enough apart to encourage social distancing:


And the customers pretty much comply with the 6-feet apart recommendation.

The City has spent a lot to make the downtown attractive and a destination.  There's a walkway between Main Street and the parking lots a block away.  It could have been an alley but instead, it's an artistic exhibit:
Shadow selfie and Ben in the distance


Places to rest and protection from the sun

Of course, parks are still closed:

Pioneer Women's Park

So after shopping, we headed home up the ditches.  As usual, there were critters---no roadrunners today but some guinea hens had escaped:


They must live on the other side of that fence because that's where they all headed to escape that creature on the bike with those huge tires.........
I've been trying very hard not to rant on this blog but the past week just took the cake.  I wish the Federal Government would project leadership and compassion, as well as CONSISTENT MESSAGING---one day they're disbanding the task force; the next they're not; then they repurpose it; then they don't release safe opening guidelines.  The only word I have is incompetence.
So, here's a couple of links to hopefully help keep you all safe and alive:

Stay safe, wash your hands, and virtual hugs to all.  Oh, yeah, Happy Mother's Day!!