I left this off the last post about Lincoln. There was a tall fence beside a building with this old door being used as a gate (of course I loved that!) and tacked beside it was a faded piece of paper with A Cowboy's Prayer written on it for all to read. The writing was faint, I couldn't make out all the words, but luckily Diana, at Bequest Bears had transcribed it. Thanks, Diana, for doing the hard part.
A Cowboy’s Prayer – by Badger Clark
Oh Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.
I love creation better as it stood
That day You finished it so long ago
And looked upon Your work and called it good.
I know that others find You in the light
That's sifted down through tinted window panes,
And yet I seem to feel You near tonight
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.
I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well,
That You have made my freedom so complete;
That I'm no slave of whistle, clock or bell,
Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.
Just let me live my life as I've begun
And give me work that's open to the sky;
Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.
Let me be easy on the man that's down;
Let me be square and generous with all.
I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town,
But never let 'em say I'm mean or small!
Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the hawse between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!
Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget.
You know about the reasons that are hid.
You understand the things that gall and fret;
You know me better than my mother did.
Just keep an eye on all that's done and said
And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long, dim, trail ahead
That stretches upward toward the Great Divide.
I love creation better as it stood
That day You finished it so long ago
And looked upon Your work and called it good.
I know that others find You in the light
That's sifted down through tinted window panes,
And yet I seem to feel You near tonight
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.
I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well,
That You have made my freedom so complete;
That I'm no slave of whistle, clock or bell,
Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.
Just let me live my life as I've begun
And give me work that's open to the sky;
Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.
Let me be easy on the man that's down;
Let me be square and generous with all.
I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town,
But never let 'em say I'm mean or small!
Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the hawse between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!
Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget.
You know about the reasons that are hid.
You understand the things that gall and fret;
You know me better than my mother did.
Just keep an eye on all that's done and said
And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long, dim, trail ahead
That stretches upward toward the Great Divide.
OK, time to get down to some serious business here - we are talking gambling and eating!!! It doesn't get much more serious than that!!!!
Walt took the above picture as we were leaving, as you can see the clouds have broken and the rain has moved on...we did too, back to the cabin to watch the wildlife and look for a bear.
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| Statue in front of the Inn of the Mountain Gods |
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| Part of the golf course, beautiful grounds! |
On the day we were supposed to do the loop it rained (thank you, God!) so our plans changed a bit. Instead of driving in the rain and dodging lightening bolts we decided to go to the Inn of the Mountain Gods for lunch and to try our luck at the one armed bandits.
Lunch was in the Gathering of the Nations Buffet and the variety and quality of the food made you wish you had a larger appetite. I started with fresh fruit and cold shrimp, followed by a "build your own" omelet with a side of guacamole and sour cream. I managed to stuff down a piece of cake and a cup of coffee at the end.
Along the hallway leading to the buffet were displays of Indian art hanging on the walls and these two statues.
I am embarassed to say I didn't get the information on the beautiful statue on the left.
The wood carving on the right is entitled Mountain Spirit Dancer by Monte L. Morgan.
This fountain was in front of large windows looking out over the golf course and lake. Gorgeous!
One of the views includes teepees adding to the Indian atmosphere. They probably hold lawn equipment or a pump or something, but my Harlequin Romance mind has an Apache warrior in one with his captive woman.
Since cameras aren't allowed inside the casino, we left them at home and snapped the above with camera phones...not too shabby. Speaking of the casino it was the next stop and conveniently located just down the hall.
I keep a small coin purse with petty cash for Mom in my purse. I called her and asked if she wanted to gamble any of it. After careful deliberation she said to "donate $5 to the casino". HAH! She of little faith. Not only did I win, I won big on the penny slots....thirty nine cents! That's right folks, I said THIRTY NINE CENTS!! I never got to my own money, her $5 kept me busy for the duration.
Time to hit the road again - this time to Ft. Stanton to continue on "the loop".
Ft. Stanton was built in 1855 by the soldiers of the 1st Dragoon and the 3rd and 8th infantry Regiments to serve as a base of operations against the Mescalero Apache Indians. It is named for Captain Henry W. Stanton who was killed fighting the Apaches in 1855.
It was seized and occupied by the Confederate forces in 1861. They moved all the supplies to another location and abandoned the fort burning the buildings as they left. The stone walls survived and in 1862 the New Mexican Volunteer forces un Kit Carson reoccupied the fort.
On a quick side note this is the location of a shootout between Captain Paddy Graydon and Army doctor, John Whitlock. The gist of the cause is Capt. Graydon supposedly massacred innocent Indians. No good outcome, both men died as a result. Whitlock was shot 128 times by Graydon's rioting troops. That will do
it.
The fort was the center of settlements formed by farmers and merchants in the isolated Lincoln County area. They depended on the fort for the majority of their business as well as protection from Indians. The soldiers also were civilian peace keepers and took part in settling three of the local wars: the Horrell War and the Tularosa ditch War (both racial conflicts between Hispanic farmers and Anglo ranchers); and the Lincoln County War.
At the edge of the fort, not sure if this was actually part of the fort or not. BBQ pit looks a bit small to feed a whole troop though.
As things settled down, the Mescalero Apache on a nearby reservation and new communities popping up in the area, the fort was abandoned by the Army and closed. In 1899 the Public Health Service acquired the fort and used it as a tuberculosis hospital for the Merchant Marines. The warm dry air was perfect for the treatment and more than 5,000 sailors were treated between 1899 and 1953. The patients lived in specially constructed tents since fresh air and sunshine were the only known treatments for tuberculosis at the time.
During the Depression the fort was used as a CCC work camp and later became an interment camp for the German merchant seamen from the luxury liner, SS Columbus. The crew scuttled the liner outside New York to prevent the British from capturing it. The Germans were the force behind the building of the swimming pool, gardens for produce, recreation hall and other amenities. The interment camp also housed Japanese, both internees and those families threatened by mob action.
From 1953 to 1997 the fort has been used as a tubercular hospital and State Hospital fo rthe Developmentally Handicapped. It was for a short time a low security women's prison and been home to several juvenile, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. A non-profit was created in 1997 when the state was looking to dispose of the property.
Unfortunately the museum was closed, write ups I have read said it was well worth a visit..maybe next time.
Yep, I found another one.....
Next stop - the Merchant Marine Cemetery near Ft. Stanton.
We actually went to the cemetery before Ft. Stanton and wondered why in dry and hot New Mexico there would be a cemetery for Merchant Marines. After we went to Ft. Stanton and read that it had been a tuberculosis hospital for the Merchant Marine it all became clear. Not quite sure why some have names and headstones where others just have numbers thought. Four of the crew from the luxury liner Columbus are buried at one end of the cemetery together, separate from the main part. Along with them is another headstone with a German sounding name. Another mystery.
This 5 ton anchor taken from the Drake Victory is a memorial to Merchant Marine veterans of WWII wherever they are. Their casualty rate of 1 to 32 was one of the highest of all services.
Dedicated May 22, 1993
American Merchant Marine Veterans
Road Runner Chapter
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sign on the wall as you enter
Plaque on the monument
IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
Flowers at the base of the monument
Unsure of the meaning of the jar of change, it was the only one we saw like this.
Cornerstone of a curb high wall outlining one grave.
Not a bad place to spend eternity....
and that was the end of the loop other than a picnic ....and boy did we get more than a sandwich. But you will have to wait until another post to see that. Right now we are going to ride into the yummy meringue pie, or at least that is what the clouds reminded me of.
(MORE TO COME!!!)
Lunch was in the Gathering of the Nations Buffet and the variety and quality of the food made you wish you had a larger appetite. I started with fresh fruit and cold shrimp, followed by a "build your own" omelet with a side of guacamole and sour cream. I managed to stuff down a piece of cake and a cup of coffee at the end.
Along the hallway leading to the buffet were displays of Indian art hanging on the walls and these two statues.
I am embarassed to say I didn't get the information on the beautiful statue on the left.
The wood carving on the right is entitled Mountain Spirit Dancer by Monte L. Morgan.
This fountain was in front of large windows looking out over the golf course and lake. Gorgeous!
One of the views includes teepees adding to the Indian atmosphere. They probably hold lawn equipment or a pump or something, but my Harlequin Romance mind has an Apache warrior in one with his captive woman.
Since cameras aren't allowed inside the casino, we left them at home and snapped the above with camera phones...not too shabby. Speaking of the casino it was the next stop and conveniently located just down the hall.
I keep a small coin purse with petty cash for Mom in my purse. I called her and asked if she wanted to gamble any of it. After careful deliberation she said to "donate $5 to the casino". HAH! She of little faith. Not only did I win, I won big on the penny slots....thirty nine cents! That's right folks, I said THIRTY NINE CENTS!! I never got to my own money, her $5 kept me busy for the duration.
Time to hit the road again - this time to Ft. Stanton to continue on "the loop".
Ft. Stanton was built in 1855 by the soldiers of the 1st Dragoon and the 3rd and 8th infantry Regiments to serve as a base of operations against the Mescalero Apache Indians. It is named for Captain Henry W. Stanton who was killed fighting the Apaches in 1855.
It was seized and occupied by the Confederate forces in 1861. They moved all the supplies to another location and abandoned the fort burning the buildings as they left. The stone walls survived and in 1862 the New Mexican Volunteer forces un Kit Carson reoccupied the fort.
On a quick side note this is the location of a shootout between Captain Paddy Graydon and Army doctor, John Whitlock. The gist of the cause is Capt. Graydon supposedly massacred innocent Indians. No good outcome, both men died as a result. Whitlock was shot 128 times by Graydon's rioting troops. That will do
it.
The fort was the center of settlements formed by farmers and merchants in the isolated Lincoln County area. They depended on the fort for the majority of their business as well as protection from Indians. The soldiers also were civilian peace keepers and took part in settling three of the local wars: the Horrell War and the Tularosa ditch War (both racial conflicts between Hispanic farmers and Anglo ranchers); and the Lincoln County War.
At the edge of the fort, not sure if this was actually part of the fort or not. BBQ pit looks a bit small to feed a whole troop though.
As things settled down, the Mescalero Apache on a nearby reservation and new communities popping up in the area, the fort was abandoned by the Army and closed. In 1899 the Public Health Service acquired the fort and used it as a tuberculosis hospital for the Merchant Marines. The warm dry air was perfect for the treatment and more than 5,000 sailors were treated between 1899 and 1953. The patients lived in specially constructed tents since fresh air and sunshine were the only known treatments for tuberculosis at the time.
During the Depression the fort was used as a CCC work camp and later became an interment camp for the German merchant seamen from the luxury liner, SS Columbus. The crew scuttled the liner outside New York to prevent the British from capturing it. The Germans were the force behind the building of the swimming pool, gardens for produce, recreation hall and other amenities. The interment camp also housed Japanese, both internees and those families threatened by mob action.
From 1953 to 1997 the fort has been used as a tubercular hospital and State Hospital fo rthe Developmentally Handicapped. It was for a short time a low security women's prison and been home to several juvenile, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. A non-profit was created in 1997 when the state was looking to dispose of the property.
Unfortunately the museum was closed, write ups I have read said it was well worth a visit..maybe next time.
Yep, I found another one.....
Next stop - the Merchant Marine Cemetery near Ft. Stanton.
We actually went to the cemetery before Ft. Stanton and wondered why in dry and hot New Mexico there would be a cemetery for Merchant Marines. After we went to Ft. Stanton and read that it had been a tuberculosis hospital for the Merchant Marine it all became clear. Not quite sure why some have names and headstones where others just have numbers thought. Four of the crew from the luxury liner Columbus are buried at one end of the cemetery together, separate from the main part. Along with them is another headstone with a German sounding name. Another mystery.
This 5 ton anchor taken from the Drake Victory is a memorial to Merchant Marine veterans of WWII wherever they are. Their casualty rate of 1 to 32 was one of the highest of all services.
Dedicated May 22, 1993
American Merchant Marine Veterans
Road Runner Chapter
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sign on the wall as you enter
IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
Flowers at the base of the monument
Unsure of the meaning of the jar of change, it was the only one we saw like this.
Cornerstone of a curb high wall outlining one grave.
Not a bad place to spend eternity....
and that was the end of the loop other than a picnic ....and boy did we get more than a sandwich. But you will have to wait until another post to see that. Right now we are going to ride into the yummy meringue pie, or at least that is what the clouds reminded me of.
(MORE TO COME!!!)
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