A Windy Ride

(Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

December 21, 2017

We left the rest area this morning and continued south on I-25. The wind was still blowing and continued through out today's ride. (Just a note about today's pictures. Most were taken through the front windshield so if you see spots in the pictures that is why.)

Our view as we pulled out on to I-25 and start our day's drive.

There were a lot of ups and downs.

Plus, I did spot what I like to call the "wiggly worm" sign.

More beautiful scenery and we saw a couple of green fields.
What's not to love about a place called Garfield.

New Mexico highway 26 the shortcut from Hatch to Deming.
The wind was still with us but the scenery was beautiful

Just after we turned on to NM-10 I finally was in time to catch a picture of
the Rio Grande. I missed an opportunity yesterday and earlier this morning.

Hatch is widely known as the "Chile Capital of the World," for growing a wide variety of peppers, especially the New Mexican cuisine staple, and one of New Mexico's state vegetables, the New Mexico chile. (Information found on the Internet.)

As you drive through Hatch, NM you know you are in the "Chile Capital of the World" what I do not know is why both times we have driven through I have not gotten any pictures of this theme. This time I caught the dinosaur for our grandsons and the rooster for Nadine. The Christmas decorations are because I love Christmas decorations.

We are now on I-10.

I did snap one windmill today.

Just before the Arizona border and all the engines are going the same way...:)
The rugged hills are pretty amazing, also.

We are crossing into Arizona

Some of the many signs you see along I-10 in New Mexico and Arizona.
We have been lucky and have never seen the one in the upper right flashing.
Though we could see the dust blowing most of the day.

Had to include some of the fluffy white clouds.

This picture is included because it is a rare
occasion that we pass anyone.
We are retired and in no hurry...a few miles down
the road he passed us.

A trip by Willcox would not be complete for Tom if he did not stop for a
piece of Apple Annie's pie. It is now a tradition. I say this because Tom
started talking about it two days ago. Several times he reminded me we had
to remember to stop for pie in Willcox.

We ended our day with 262 miles behind us. Yes, we remember we said yesterday we were done with the long days but you all know how that goes sometime. Tomorrow for sure will be a short day, 56 miles and we will be at the Quail Ridge RV Resort in Huachuca City. Tonight we are parked at the Fort Willcox RV Park. When we noticed that the temperatures might get as low as 18 degrees overnight we decided finding a place we could hook up to electricity would be a wise idea. So ends our quest to put miles behind us. 

In yesterday's blog I had posted a picture of a train with two engines in front facing in opposite directions. Patsy remarked, "When I see train engines like that, I think of a marriage. No one can make a decision of which way to go." Which got me thinking of a Korean Wedding Tradition I thought would be fun to share. So instead of a quote today I hope you enjoy reading the following information.

Wedding ducks have special role in every Korean wedding. They were chosen as it is known that they mate for life. Long time ago a man expressed his wish to get married by bringing a pair of ducks or geese to the family of his bride-to-be.

The wedding duck symbolizes three things:
1. Peace
2. Many children
3. No separations.

Selection of the person who is going to carve a wedding duck is not easy. The person must be honourable, good friend.

Most of all he has to have all of the "five fortunes" which are being shared with the couple.

The five fortunes of the carver are:
1. He must be rich
2. He must of perfect health
3. There should be no divorces among his family members (relatives included)
4. He has to have a "good wife"
5. He must have many sons.

While working with his knife, he prays for happiness, peace, prosperity and many children (just as the duck has many eggs) to the bride (Shinbu) and groom (Shinlang).

The person carving wedding ducks must not except money for his work. Carving is the matter of honour.

Just before the wedding the ducks must be wrapped with cloths of different colour. Only the neck is left unwrapped. Then they are carried to the ceremony.

As soon as the bride arrives she puts the wedding duck on the table. After the ceremony, the bride and groom bow to the groom's mother and father two and a half times. Then the groom's mother throws the duck to the outspread bride's apron. If the bride manages to catch the duck it is believed that she will first give birth to a baby boy. If she does not catch the duck she will get a baby girl.

The female duck would have a string tied around its bill. This should be a reminder to keep silent and always support her husband.

Wedding ducks are kept somewhere in the couple's house.

Their position tells about the status in the relationship. Nose to nose means that the relationship is good, and tail to tail means that husband and wife are having troubles.  (information taken from the internet)

When our son and daughter-in-law were planning their wedding I looked up Korean Wedding Traditions and  found this information about the Wedding Ducks. We thought it would be nice to include something in their wedding that reflected Thomas's Korean Culture. Now we did not do all of it, though throwing the duck at Nadine might have been fun...:), but Tom and I did purchase the Korean Wedding Ducks below for them and they had them placed on the head table at their wedding reception. They now reside on the fireplace mantel in their home.  I asked Nadine earlier today to send me the two pictures of the their ducks that you see below. When we have visited them I have never seen them tail to tail though, as in any marriage, I am sure they are once and a while.

This was a windy day as we moved west but the skies were blue with a few white fluffy clouds. 

We had a good day and we hope you did, too.

If you would like to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.