Our garden was OBLITERATED!! Family day in Albuquerque leads to a massive disappointment at the Bus

Trip setup + morning routine

• Headed out early to Albuquerque with the whole “crew” (family + kids; puppies stayed home).
• Before leaving, did a quick walkthrough of the garden:
  • Tomatoes weren’t fully caged yet.
  • Corn/flowers were propping plants up.
• Noted it was a bit chilly out; grabbed coffee before the long day.

Food + drinks (Starbucks + other meals)

Starbucks order (mentioned)

• Venti hot oat milk latte
• Venti “island colada” drink (no caffeine)
• Grande strawberry crust
• Hot taco

Travel meal highlight

• Stopped for a familiar Olive Garden in the Santa Fe area.

Costco dinner/snacks

• Tried chicken nuggets/tenders (noted the sauce is the standout—likened to a Chick-fil-A smoky flavor profile).
• Had hot dogs for dinner (eventually this contributed to Kyle’s gout flare).

Thrifting / shopping lifestyle (yard sales + bins + Costco)

Yard sales / estate sales

• Parked around the Santa Fe Plaza area and enjoyed the “cooler” vibe and yard-sale opportunities.
• Picked up a plant named Stella (with joking naming variations).
• Planned to return to another estate sale the next day.

Thrift store / tax-free weekend

• Went to Thrifttown:
  • Options weren’t amazing, but they planned to take advantage of the tax-free weekend.
  • Found a few items but the day was described as “not something you want to write home about.”
  • Mentioned avoiding sheen (commented on waste).

“The bins” haul

• Shopping at thrift bins; cart filled with assorted items.
• Dr Pepper noted among the finds.
• Planned to show the haul after getting home.

Costco haul + practical family packing

• Costco stop in Albuquerque (noted there are multiple locations in the metro area).
• Family restock priorities:
  • Dog food (puppies needing supplies)
  • Grocery restocking for the week
  • Double eggs / hard-boiled eggs as a protein-friendly deal
  • Blueberries, grapes, chicken tenders
• Packing/travel logistics:
  • Crammed groceries into the vehicle efficiently after the packed Costco run.
  • Kids/pets rode along.
  • Trip took about ~2 hours from Costco in total.

Health + hydration + recovery notes

Kyle’s gout flare-up

• Triggered by all-beef hot dogs.
• Family learned/remembered that certain foods cause symptoms.
• Kyle needed recovery/rest.

Hydration

• Recommended coconut water for dehydration (“amazing for hydrating you”).

Minimal health routines during the day

• Coffee + dog-walking/light movement early.
• Activities adjusted so Kyle could rest his foot; Wheezy/“Weezers” and a nursing leg were noted.

Travel geography + rest stops

• Driving through elevation changes:
  • Santa Fe around ~6,200 ft.
  • Mora sits around ~7,200–7,400 ft (climbing ~800 ft after one segment).
• Route highlight: frequently see rainbows on the drive.
• Potty/rest stop:
  • Stopped at the LOL rest area (windy; described New Mexico flag and the surrounding hills/landscape).

Garden disaster + troubleshooting after hail

• On returning home, noticed storm damage from the road (debris, limbs).
• The main event: hail annihilated the garden.
  • Plants were decimated, with heavy damage to lettuce/weeds and widespread destruction.
  • Some crops may be salvageable:
    • Lettuce likely trimmed back / reduced expectations.
    • Carrots might resprout (dig out cilantro and attempt to rescue/relocate).
    • Corn survived (at least somewhat).
    • Strawberry plant bruised; flowers likely knocked off.
    • Tomatoes had at least some remaining (one “little mater” mentioned).
• Home repair outcome noted:
  • A storm/shattered area on the bus/structure: top layer shattered; plan to replace the damaged panel/part.
• Next steps:
  • Plan to check solar panels/skylights the following morning.
  • “Changing of plans” due to the garden loss; reassess in coming weeks.

Clothing / home “reset” after returning

Rest day mood

• Unloaded clothes and did a deep-clean mindset—wanting the home “nurtured” and cleaned before a busy week.

Thrift/yard-sale fashion recap (examples)

• True handmade vintage dress
• Wide-leg pants (Universal Threads) from bins
• Vintage dream boat patterned piece:
  • Lace collar
  • Belt clip missing
  • Likely handmade/old
• Skirt made of stretchy, yoga-pant-like material (for later listing)
• “Couch cushion coat” style coat (yard sale; roomy; dry clean only)
• Embellished hat (collected items like feathers/sticks)
  • Plus a sodalite necklace from a school event
• Several handmade/embroidered pieces tried on (including a handmade embroidered shirt/jacket-style outfit concept)

Additional product changes

• Transitioning bus/home toward glass instead of plastics.
• Purchased glass/ceramic items (thrift finds):
  • Ceramic glasses (including sunflower and “calla lilies” designs)
  • Fun glasses used for desserts
  • Visionware coffee/party platter set (includes a tray setup)

Notable locations, products, and speakers mentioned

Locations

• Albuquerque
• Santa Fe Plaza (Santa Fe)
• Thrifttown
• Costco (Albuquerque)
• LOL rest area
• Mora, New Mexico

Stores / brands / products

• Starbucks (oat milk latte, island colada, grande strawberry crust, hot taco)
• Olive Garden
• Costco chicken tenders/nuggets
• Dr Pepper
• Visionware (Italy)
• “Bins” thrift shopping
• Universal Threads (pants)

People / pets

• Kyle, Molly, Eli, Jack
• “Fram” (referenced throughout as the viewer/partner)
• Theodore
• Chico
• Wheezy / “Weezers” (pets featured in the routine)