Pecos Diamonds....

I think it is 8, maybe 10...definitely not 12...




It rained yesterday.

And today's forecast was 60 degrees, sunny with a 3 mph wind.

The perfect day to get rich!




But first, let's back up...

The day after we arrived in the Promised land with Clyde fully recovered from his gastrointestinal distress (the farts) and the Fox over her frostbite, we started asking the people we met what they liked to do in this area. 

There was mention of visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park (see the post), Guadeloupe Mountains NP (see the post), White Sands NP (working on the post), Roswell (so not saying for sure, but we MIGHT have been to Roswell - more than once!!!), Sitting Bull Falls (working on that post)...and Pecos diamonds!

What!!!    Pecos Diamonds???

Now we're talking - although unexpected, that one got my attention! 




And a few days ago, I was finally able to spend 30 minutes with the local expert on Pecos Diamonds!!!

And of course, no treasure hunt is legit without an old, hand drawn map...

...with some cryptic landmarks (this one had "crow on old fence post" seriously! 

...And an X to mark the spot!!! 




There is something about hunting any kind of treasure that still gets me excited...every time.  After 63 years, I really do know better, but I still fall for it!

Whether it is walking the beaches of the Outer Banks looking for gold doubloons, diving for sunken pirate ships, or searching rattlesnake infested desert to find Pecos Diamonds.

And the expert's guidance said to go after a rain, on a sunny day.

W. H. I. C. H. was today!



So I woke before sunrise, knowing we were off to hunt for Pecos Diamonds! 

Well, I should say I was off to hunt for them.

The Leading Lady decided to stay home and keep the Fox company. 

I kind of suspected J might not be up for the hunt.

Walking the desert, even though the rattlesnakes are in hibernation this time of year, (same for the tarantulas and scorpions) is not high on her fun list.




So I started off, not sure what would be encountered...when Pecos  Diamonds are at stake...

I should have known we were in for it, after seeing this sign target near the diamond hunting area! 


But I just let Clyde take the lead, finding the best path forward... 


and trusting him to warn me if he sensed any trouble...



But I did keep a watch on our back trail! 







I was also trying to keep track of the local wild life as best I could.

A Jackalope came out nearly under my feet, but since it was only a six pointer, I didn't go after it.



I was also keeping my eyes peeled for "other" critters too.

Ya know something is living in this hole...

just not sure what???

It was a wide open country, nothing but me and the oil well pumps...

dozens and dozens of oil well pumps! 

I've read you can get water from prickly pear cactus.

This was not from me trying it...

But something did! 




When it was all over, I had a great day out there looking for Pecos Diamonds.  Nearly 7 hours wandering the desert.  No sense of time passing, other than the moving shadows.

Just me, the sun, the cactus, a jackalope and Clyde.



Great fun actually, no cares in the world, living in the moment, not thinking about yesterday and not thinking about tomorrow.

And I wonder sometimes if that is the life we were originally put here on earth to enjoy...




Stop and think for a moment.  Maybe it was when you were 8, maybe it was 10...can you remember back that far?

To a time when you were old enough to be on your own for the day, deciding what fun thing to do next, your plans, your timing, your control, self sufficient.

And yet still young enough to not be burdened with typical adult responsibilities...or worries.

I believe 12 was too old, as one begins to worry about peer pressure, and plans are often made seeking to gain other's approval.



But maybe it was 8, perhaps 10...that perfect time of life when each day was sufficient unto itself. 

When you lived solely in the moment, within those sweet  long hours which stretched between sunrise and sunset, and time passed without awareness or need for a clock.

No conference calls, no To Do lists, no deadlines, no due dates, no worries about running out of time, or money...just living life in the moment.




Think about it...think hard about it.  Can you remember what it was like?

What was your perfect age like?  

When time or money had no meaning.  When you were fully living in the moment...not reliving yesterday's failures or worrying about next week's problems.




There's scripture that speaks of turning your cares and burdens over to God...

Maybe that would make life more like it should be...more like what God intended...




Living more like you did when you were 8.

And perhaps that is the real treasure I found in the desert today...



And those Pecos Diamonds?  (stay tuned!!!) 



Let the adventure continue...