Montezuma's Castle, central Arizona

There certainly isn't anything like Montezuma's Castle in Deep Canyon.  This amazing structure was built about 1100 A.D. and the Indians lived in it for over 300 years.  There is a river right next to it, Beaver Creek, and the inhabitants were able to cultivate their own crops not far away.  It was well built and built into the side of a cliff, and with it facing outward, they had a good view of the valley below.  Hubby and I have driven by this so many times and we've never stopped until today.  I'm glad we did.  It was an amazing experience!  No, you cannot go up into the ruins, but you can walk the trail below them and look up. You can, however, walk right on top of the ruins of another section of the "castle", which isn't really a castle and wasn't built by Montezuma!  If you ever do drive by it, DO stop to see it.

After the rain~Nature Notes~072811

Hubby and I were over in Scottsdale, Arizona last weekend.  It rained Sunday night.  It rained and rained, actually, and there was thunder and lightning.  So, Monday morning, I headed out for a walk. It was very humid and my hair frizzed and I was dripping wet!  But, the monsoon clouds had lingered and everything smelled delightfully like the desert, especially the creosote bushes.  The pathway next to the resort was soggy and I saw some footprints there.  Quail and rabbits were out, enjoying their morning meal (and the water, I'm sure!)  Scottsdale and Phoenix got a real drenching!  We are heading back to Arizona in mid-August, but we're driving up to the Mogollon Rim for a few nights.  Nature Notes for July 28, 2011. To read more Nature Notes, please go to:  http://ramblingwoods.com/

SOOC Sunday~Fort Apache, Arizona 052811

Hubby and I visited Fort Apache, Arizona today. Fort Apache is in the middle of the Apache land holdings in Arizona and was occupied from about 1870 until 1922 when it became the property of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. General Crook operated his campaign against the Apache from this fort. You can visit the vacant buildings at Fort Apache and there is a museum there, where you'll need to check in and pay a small fee. The fort was empty this weekend, the wind was blowing, and it was eerie. NOBODY was around except for a couple of women at the museum. I took all of these photos there and they are untouched...SOOC Sunday for May 28, 2011. To view other participants, please go to: http://www.murrieta365.com/

Ponderosa Cabins, Mogollon Rim~Scenic Sunday and Day One: Weekend Outing 011611

Hubby and I have stayed at the Ponderosa Cabins, near Forest Lakes, high up on the Mogollon Rim, about 10 years ago. We rented a cabin there for a week and did nightly BBQs and watched the thunderheads come up every afternoon. I marveled at the blue jays by our cabin and we ate soup and sandwiches for lunch at the little cafe across the street. So, when we drove up to the Rim today, we stopped by the cabins. HA! Just LOOK at all the snow in the driveway! Nobody was home. Now we are thinking about renting another cabin there this summer and just enjoying the solitude of the Rim. Scenic Sunday for January 16, 2011. To see other participants, please visit Scenic Sunday: http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/ To see other participants in Day One, Weekend Outing, please visit: http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/01/photo-time-weekend-outing.html. To see information on the Ponderosa Cabins, please visit their website: http://www.ponderosacabins.com/