Trail Ride Training

Cindy and I are planning to go down the Grand Canyon on mules this October. It is something I have wanted to do since I was a little kid. We have been working on weight loss goals so we do this. We recently met our interim goal and decided to go horseback riding to celebrate. I had a horse when I was in high school and have had the occasional opportunity to ride since. It doesn't make me an expert, but I am not afraid.

Cindy has really never ridden more than a 10 to 15 minute being led around as a kid. She was a bit apprehensive. So the goal was to get Cindy a little more comfortable with the idea and enjoy a beautiful morning!

We got Groupons for Spur Cross Ranch. It's a beautiful area on state land, just North of Cave Creek. We had hiked there in the past and I had thought that if I ever rented a horse, this is where I would like to go.

We visited with a few other animals while we waited.

They have a mounting dock!! A great plus, as getting on was one of the things I was concerned about. Of course, don't think they will have that at the Grand Canyon.

They gave me a mule named Fred. He was a great ride. Sure footed, biddable and who can resist those great big mule ears?

Cindy did great and gained a lot of confidence that the horse wasn't going to kill her.

The most perfect desert morning, lots of flowers.

Our guide was a really nice lady. She stopped and took photos for all of us.

Our guide loved mules and rode one too. She has four of them.

Isn't she too cute?

Cindy looks relaxed.

Hedgehog starting to bloom

Brittle bush

Lots of saguaro's in this area.

Some left over décor from a haunted trail ride.

The remnants of an old gold mine from the 1880's. Apparently they got a lot of gold from this area.

Old rail tracks from the gold mine.

We crossed and road a little on some of the old Butterfield stage route. Interesting info that comes with a guide.

I had seen this house before, but didn't realize it was also from the 1880's. It was a perfect morning!

Real Gardens for Real People 2016

Last Saturday, Geoff, Penny and I were able to go on the Real Gardens for Real People Garden tour again. I always enjoy being able to see what others do with their gardens.

We started at a grade school in North East Scottsdale. They had one of the nicest school gardens I have seen. Lots of good ideas there and it was beautiful.

 There were various displays and vendors there. I always enjoy the opportunity to see raptors up close! This was a red tail hawk.

Burrowing owl

Very photogenic Peregrine falcon.

This was a cool idea to recycle plastic bottles and get additional planting space. Anyone should be able to do this!

This guy had a herpetological display that included this bearded dragon lizard.

Iris!

This was someone's garden shed décor. Vintage yard tools.

Fun little backyard farm, chickens and miniature horses.

This was a listing of all the fruit trees these people had planted in their back yard. It was almost an acre, so they had a little room.

We saw lots of phone ways to do plant tags. This little letter cubes on stakes were cute.

Mason jar lids on fly swatters.

Little painted pots as markers.

A fun way to use Christmas bulbs as garden decorations.

Another fun garden art project.

Emu bush and Coral fountain bush

Painted wooden spoons for markers.

I like this combo of colors, textures and forms.

This fun chicken coop, started life as a backyard play structure, one of those old large wooden ones. As their daughter grew, it became a gazebo and now a chicken coop. Repurposing!