Why I go to the mountains

I love driving up into our local mountains.  It's only a 10-15 minute drive from our house in the desert up into the pinyon forest, at about 3,000 - 3,500 feet.  It's so quiet up there (except for the noisy scrub jays!).  I can finally relax, roll down the car windows, smell the fresh air, and let go of the week's tension.  So, up I went yesterday.  I spent some time driving around the pinyon forest, taking photos, before heading to the horse ranch for some time with my horses.  Ahhh...an extra day of vacation is just what I needed, since I spent all day Saturday at home, in my pajamas, doing absolutely NOTHING.  I hate to lose a whole day to fatigue, but I'm finding that's my typical weekly routine.  By the time Saturday comes, I'm so dang tired from the week, that I can't do anything or go anywhere.  I just crash.  I'm usually up & out by Sunday, however...So I have an extra day today...what shall I do?

Birdhouses~Sunday Stills Challenge~111013

 I drove out Fobes Ranch Road this morning because there are some birdhouses out there.  This one apparently is #67.  I don't know where the other 66 are, because I haven't found them.  Anyway, it was a beautiful morning for a drive.  This birdhouse has been used, as you can see, but nobody was home in it this morning.  Sunday Stills Challenge for November 10, 2013.  To visit SSC, please go to:  http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Sedona rocks and sky~SkyWatch Friday~11/8/13

Our Internet lines are temporarily fixed.  A tech FINALLY ran a line from the pole to the house, but says it's a two man job to come back and redo the lines.  Plus, he was here when it was dark last night.  But, at least we are back up & running with Internet!

I took this photo while we were in Arizona 2 weekends ago.  (Yes, it's been that long that we've been without Internet!)  A storm was moving into the southwest and these were a few of the first clouds.

SkyWatch Friday for November 8, 2013.  To visit SWF, please go to:    http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Horse ranch~Sunday

I FINALLY got up to the horse ranch yesterday.  We were in Arizona last weekend, so it had been a couple of weeks.  And, boy, were the horses HAIRY!  I gave them all beet pulp and psyllium (to clean out the sand in their gut).  The farrier is coming tomorrow, so I left a check for him.  It was an awesome autumn day up at the ranch~cool, with a slight breeze.  The leaves were gently blowing across the driveway...ahhh...autumn!  I took this photo with my cell phone, so I'm hoping it doesn't take up too much data!

Internet problems won't be fixed until NEXT FRIDAY! Argh!

So Time Warner came today...did the usual song & dance...the guy put in ANOTHER new modem...still no Internet connection.  Of course, HE got a connection on HIS laptop and was ready to leave, but I screamed and jumped up and down and had a temper tantrum (he's the 4th tech to visit our house).  So, he took his ladder and went out back to check the pole where their hardware is, and GUESS WHAT?  There is indeed a problem there!  Whoopie!  Okay, so maybe not whoopie.  They can't come back with a maintenance tech until Thursday.  SAY WHAT?  Another 5 days of Internet ONLY using my cell phone and I can't post photos...sigh...I have about 700 photos from Arizona just sitting on my desktop....pulling out hair...Well, it is what it is.  So, hang in their, folks...I'll be up and running shortly.  :-)

Fall colors~Oak Creek Canyon

Hubby and I traveled to Arizona this weekend to see the fall colors there and we weren't disappointed.  We drove through Oak Creek Canyon, near Flagstaff, two times.  The first time was Saturday afternoon, the second one Monday morning.  We each took an extra day off work for this trip, tee hee!  :-)  It was worth it.  We were in Flagstaff Monday morning when the storm started to come through town, swirling fall leaves around.  Boy, was it windy!  The canyon is so different in the morning, too.  I like it better.  The colors seemed to be much more vivid.  Here are some pics from Monday morning, Oak Creek Canyon.

Fall colors~Oak Creek Canyon~Sunday Stills Challenge~102713

This week's challenge is perfect because we were in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona, yesterday.  And, the colors did not disappoint us at all!  Here are a few of the photos I took in the canyon, which is only 12 miles from Flagstaff. Sunday Stills Challenge for October 27, 2013.  To visit SSC, please go to: http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/