Family time – El Paso

 

NOTE: I have another post this week on my guild’s show.

This is a short post about my recent trip to El Paso. The Lyon family has a tradition of gathering in El Paso in late January. Hubby was raised in El Paso and my now departed in-laws were always kind and supportive to me, so El Paso holds a soft spot in my heart. It may not be the prettiest city, but I find El Pasoans to be friendly and helpful. We were visiting to spread the ashes of my Sister-in-Law, so there was a bit of a somber tone. I won’t post photos of my Grandson, so no photos that captured the family moments.

Every time I visit El Paso, the airport is decorated for the occasion:

I find that endearing and wish I knew who to compliment.

If you spend any time in El Paso, you will see Border Patrol at some point:

We drove to Cloudcroft, NM and spent the day there. It was cooooold and windy, but nice views on the way up and down:

We found possibly the Best Barbeque Ever at Mad Jack’s in Cloudcroft:

If you spend much time in Texas, love it or hate it, you know Shiner:

Cattleman’s Steak House carries lots of memories for the Lyon family. Cattleman‘s is unique: it is a working ranch in the middle of nowhere, 35 min from El Paso, and is rated as one of the top US steakhouses by many sources. No, it is NOT the chain Cattleman’s.

It is unique in that in addition to being an exceptional steak house, the property also has a children’s zoo, snake pit, playground, aaaand:

Longhorns. This guy’s wingspan was 8′! There are lots of huge bronze sculptures:

There is even part of the movie set to “Courage Under Fire”, which was filmed at the ranch:

There was lots of family time, which was absolutely wonderful. Funerals and such do bring families together in a wonderful way. My grandson’s latest still life (he’s 4 and likes cars; can you tell?):

Chase from Paw Patrol is making sure everyone is in line. It was a meaningful family trip.