Real Gardens for Real People tour 2012

 One of the events I really enjoy going to is the Real Gardens for Real People tour. The folks whose gardens you tour are all graduates of the Master Gardener Program through the Agricultural Extension Office. I am just going to let you enjoy some of the photos without much comment. I love the play of colors, sculputural qualities of the plants, underplantings, edibles interspersed with ornamentals. It was lots of fun. Enjoy.

Horse Back Ride in Young, AZ

 I love Groupon! I have been able to get some awesome deals. Usually they are half price and sometimes even more. Shortly after my niece arrived, I bought a Groupon for a 2 hour horse ride for two people for 48$. It was a bargain. It was at Cherry Creek Lodge. I thought Cherry Creek Lodge was in Cherry, just outside of Prescott, because I lived at Cherry Creek Lodge once for 6 weeks. Imagine my surprise to find out that it was in Young, AZ. It is a good 3 hour trip one way, through Payson, up towards Heber and then 20 miles down a dirt road.
We went at the end of the week after a big snow storm had gone through. It looked pretty cold and snowy up on the rim. I was a little concerned that we wouldn't even be able to get there down the dirt road. I was also worried that the weather might be a bit miserable.
None of the worries were an issue. We arrived just on time. It was perfect weather, in the 60's, sunny and cool.

 The property is beautiful. They have their own little lake that is stocked with bass, crappie and perch. It's a bed and breakfast. The people who manage it moved from Idaho 6 months ago. They were very hospitable. They would have loved to have us stay the night or have a meal with them. In addition to the rides and B and B, they have cattle drives, hunting trips, shooting trips, etc that you can go on.

 The ranch is in a very historic location. It is the site of the Pleasant Valley War, a big feud that went on between two families for years. It was interesting to hear some of the historical detail.

 Penny, Keegan and I all went. Keegan is an experienced rider. I am an intermediate rider and Penny a novice. We were very proud of Penny to be willing to go with us. She was a little nervous about whether or not she would come back alive. Here she is getting ready to go. She did very well. Her horse was pretty good at just following along with us.

 The three of us ready to go.

 The area was really pretty. There was a stream that we crossed multiple times. Some beautiful Arizona Sycamores. Their leaves aren't out yet, but the white trunks are beautiful. There were also some really nice cliffs.

 At the end of the ride, we had a picnic we brought at their little lake. My niece got really sunburned. It was a great day and I would recommend the location to anyone interested in a visit!

Desert View 40 year Reunion

 Four years ago, I helped put together a reunion for our grade school. It was really a lot of fun. Since this year would be the 4oth anniversary since our graduation from 8th grade, We decided to do it again. We started off at Aunt Chiladas on Friday night. Above is Kim Moody Eaton, Sandy Naylor Barry and Cathi Cooper Rehm.

 I didn't get photos of everyone, in fact I never even saw Tom Upshaw, although I heard he was there. Here is Barry Krayer and Robert Anderson, looking through the Desert View Yearbook. Next to them is Harry Spangler, our favorite Royal Palm gate crasher!

 Alan Heser was there with his delightful wife.

 On Saturday, Gina Montagno Batson and her wonderful husband, Tom, hosted us at their home. They even supplied the hot dogs and hamburgers. AND Tom even cooked them again. I think I have the same photo from our reunion the last time. On top of all that, it was even Gina's birthday!

 I didn't take as nice of photos this time, for some reason. It was great to have some folks there who hadn't come the first time. Larry Milton came with his wife, Kathy Goodsell (Mountain View). Kathy and I remembered sharing a ride in a little four seater plane when we were 18, between Provo and Phoenix. Here is Larry and Ron Stephens. Ron came from California again to join us.

 Barry Krayer and Jim Wolfe!

 Kevin Wengert, looking dapper and slim from all of his mega bike riding.

 Guy Daley came all the way from Kansas to join us this year. Here he is with Robert Anderson.

 It was so fun to see these two best friends from High School together again! They hadn't seen each other in 26 years. Nancy Lindstrom Parker from Oregon and Cathy Schilling from Cottonwood.

 Suzanne Thomas Young joined us from Texas and Kim Moody Eaton came from Glendale. Suzanne was a first timer to our reunion.

 It was so fun that Mary Flores Tesch made it this year. We had all missed her the first time. Here she is with Bonnie Dean Nelson.

 Bonnie Dean Nelason, Suzanne Barker and Mary Flores Tesch. Below is Robin Burlingame Gioradano and Sandy Naylor Barry. It was Robin's birthday too! Thanks for coming on your birthday Robin!

 Suzanne Barker, Nancy Lindstrom Parker, Robin Burlingame Gioridano, Sandy Naylor Barry and Catherine Schilling.

 Jim Wolf, Diane Graves came from California with her husband Carl Dolk (Royal Palm), Mary Flores Tesch.

 Sandy Naylor Barry, Cathi Cooper Rehm, Kim Moody Eaton, Kim Westerkamp Gwodz, Suzanne Thomas Young and Bonnie Dean Nelson.

 The two birthday girls, blow out their candles. Gina Montagno Batson and Robin Burlingame Gioradano.

 Ken Harriger made it to the party.

Suzanne Thomas Young, Kim Moody Eaton, Kim Westerkamp Gwodz, Cathi Cooper Rehm and Sandy Naylor Barry.