Tome, New Mexico

Tome (pronounced toe-mayyyyyy) is alittle community in Valencia County, New Mexico.  It is south of Albuquerque along NM47 between Los Lunas and Belen.  

When the conquistadors came north from Mexico they stopped along the Rio Grande and set up residence.   The Catholic Church - Immaculate Conception - is the center point of the plaza.  When we were there a few weeks ago, it appeared they were restoring the church.  

This sign erected for the US Bicentennial says Tome was first settled in 1600's.

Off to one side of the church building is a glassed in museum of sorts.  There are many relics and photos of years past.

Handmade tools

Santo Nino - Check out the shoes.  They have to be replaced periodically because the baby wanders around helping those in need and wears them out. 

Calendar from 1901

Front corner of the church with the plaster off.

The adobe melts.  There is a pile of the dirt on the ground. Very sad to see.

Tome Hill  - A local man erected these 3 crosses on the very top for safe return of his 3 sons. He also promised God that he would pray in front of each cross.  

To this day pilgrims flock to the top of Tome Hill on Good Friday and many other times during the year.  No vehicles are allowed so those are all foot paths.  Some faithful will walk from Albuquerque (30 miles away), some carry crosses and some go on their knees.

 

 

My Birthday con't. Luna Mansion 8/5/09

This had to have been one of the most memorable birthdays ever. One of the others was when I turned 60 and my kids gave me 60 gifts. What fun that was! Another was a scavenger hunt for a mother’s ring that had all the kids and grandkids birthstones.

Right after we moved to Los Lunas, NM in the late 70's the Luna Mansion was opened as a steakhouse restaurant. Over the years it had its ups and downs until it was closed several months ago.

A local family recently bought it and totally renovated it and this showplace of Valencia County was reopened the end of July. When we heard this I knew that was where I wanted to have dinner on my birthday. And let me tell you we were not disappointed.

It is hard to read the sign, but it was original the hacienda of the Luna family and is built of adobe. It is very unusual to see a 2-story adobe building. (Adobe is brick made with mud, dried in the hot NM sun and used a building bricks).

The décor is black on white. It sounds stark but really is warm, elegant and very inviting.

The red velvet drapes in the curved bay window are outstanding. Gene and I shared a steak dinner that melted in our mouths. During dinner one of the family members came by our table and thanked us for being some of the 1st patrons of their new venture. http://thelunamansion.com/index.htm

(The Torres family also owns the New Mexican restaurant right across the street that serves outstanding New Mexican food.)

I had mentioned it was my birthday and that resulted in a beautifully presented and fantastic piece of cheesecake with strawberry sauce and a candle.

After dinner, with Gene’s son and wife, we went to see them play beach volleyball in a nearby park.

While we were there the full moon started to rise over the Manzano Mountains.

After the games we went for pie at the Village Inn and got the call that a friend had a baby at 10:21 – Evan William.

What a day! Rail Runner to Santa Fe and the plaza, dinner at the "Mansion", volleyball, and Evan. And it wasn't over yet. After we arrived home a Lobster gram was delivered with live lobsters and clams. OMG was that good and the subject of another blog.