Staining the Bench

The first coat of stain is on the bench, Kari. How does it look?

Second coat of stain this week.

Snow at Home & HERE!

This is what we are missing...

NOT!!!

(Thank you Lori, Sam & Nick for the picture.)

And then when we walked to church this morning...

 This peak is 5057' elevation, the hiking club's 

destination on Friday. It is part of the Superstition 

Mountains and my view, usually snow-less, every day.

Those dark clouds brought more snow. 

When we got to our favorite Sunday brunch place...

 Snow had fallen in AJ, enough to pile on the ground.

It was melted by when we left the restaraunt.

When we got back to CV, I stopped by the new duck pond...

 

 .39 rain flooded the walkway and brought the mallards.

A beautiful reflection of the clouds, trees and winter homes.

The good news, temperatures are to reach

high 70s by the end of the week. 

Our winter will be over!

(Sorry folks back home...)

 

 

Sunset & Moonrise

Last week we were enjoying a neighborhood birthday party along the desert. I had brought my camera because it looked like a great view of the sunset. It was.

Then someone told me to look to the east. It was full moon night, and as the sun was setting the moon was rising.

 A great night to spend outdoors with friends in AZ.

A Visitor at the Bird Feeder

I was sitting outside late in the afternoon and noticed a new little fellow at the bird feeder.

I will have to get the bird book out to determine what kind, but he had a bright yellow breast. The house finches had been feeding earlier. And of course the greedy doves stop by about 4:30. I've moved the hummingbird feeder, but as of yet, no fluttering birds have stopped by that I know.

Hiking Black Mesa Loop

 Today's hike in the Superstition Mts. was the Black Mesa Loop. A very pretty hike on the backside of the mountain we see each day. It was a new hike for both of us. Curt took the 9.1 mile loop. I did not. I did about 4.5 miles, in and out.

 Up on the sandstone ridge, four barrel cacti are growing. It always amazes me where the desert seeds land and where life can grow.

 These were my sixteen hiking partners.

 I enjoy seeing the unusual rock formations and more of the yellow green lichen that grows only in the Superstitions.

 We noticed all the tracks in the sand near this little watering-hole. It must be a spring.

 I looked up near the end of the hike and noticed this splash of red. Blooming flowers in an unlikely place.

The stately saguaros

A saguaro used to frame my shot

 Some of Curt's thirty-six hiking companions taking a break in the wash.

 The famous Needle in the background. There is a hike planned to that pinnacle in March. Another long trek.

Curt saw some unusual formations also.

We passed a small watering hole and noticed these prints in the mud. Not horse. Not deer. Bobcat?

Another great day in AZ!

Climbing Camelback Mountain

Named for its double-hump shape, Camelback Mt. resembles a giant sleeping camel in the middle of metro Phoenix. The CV hiking club decided to add Camelback to their list of hikes. Seventeen hikers climbed the sleeping camel.

Camelback Mt. is in the background of the photo. The hikers are walking on a residential street to the trail head.

 Beginning their assent, all 17 of them. It is a continuous climb, on a narrow path, over rocks and boulders. Nothing like the last two hikes!

This view gives you an idea of the posh neighborhood of Paradise Valley. This is a resort. Look at all the swimming pools!

 Dogs, kids...the trail is used by people of all ages.

 This is another view from another side of Camelback. I'm not sure if this is one house or a spa, whatever, it isn't small!

 They could see downtown Phoenix.

 See the brown layer of smog? The rain is supposed to clear it out for a couple of days.

At the summit. The group decided it should be an annual hike. Probably not for me, ever.

Whitford Canyon Hike

56 hikers took to the desert on Wednesday for a new hiking destination. Whitford Canyon is part of the AZ Trail north. 46 hikers headed north for a longer hike. 10 of us headed south to the canyon, which promised a walk through a red rock canyon. Whitford Canyon delivered. One of our prettiest hikes.

Nancy, hike leader, sharing last minute info.

 AZ Trail North

AZ Trail is a walking/hiking trail that runs from

the border of Mexico to the Utah border.

 Desert hiking on the north trail.

 Lunch break for the north group.

Some of the hikers sporting their new green hiking shirts.

 A group of Quad riders on the road.

 The view before Whitlow Canyon.

 Red rocks

 Red rock canyon walls

 Saguaros and cottonwoods

 A beautiful morning for a walk in the AZ desert.

Layered red rocks

 

A small rattler waking from the brumation state;

reptiles do not hibernate, they brumate. 

Yes a new word for me, too.