The High Country

The Little Colorado River in Springerville Arizona

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Mourning Cloak with wings open

Damselflies

Little Colorado River in Greer AZ

Hoary Comma Butterfly

Hoary Comma Butterfly, wings open

Painted Lady Butterfly

Diurnal Moth, Ctenucha cressonana

Ruddy Copper butterfly

Small Wood-Nymph butterfly

We headed East this weekend to the White Mountains, hoping to see some rain.  It looked promising for a while, but the sun was with us every day.  Summer was showing her colors in Greer on Saturday.  The Little Colorado River was in full bloom, and there were dozens of butterflies and moths enjoying the day as well.

Grand Canyon North Rim, with a few stops along the way...

Heading North

Navajo Reservation

Beautiful Views all around

Evening at the North Rim

Hiking Trail

View from the Trail

Eastern tailed-blue butterfly

Buffalo in the Rain

Basking in the Sun

Colorado River at Lee's Ferry

Cooling off in the River

We did not want to leave this place!

Heading Back to the Desert

A Gardener

People often ask me how I became interested in gardening.  I would have to say that my Dad influenced me to become curious about nature and the outdoors.  When walking with him through the woods on his farm, or in a backyard garden he took pride in knowing what each tree was named as well as the birds who visited every summer.  He always had his binoculars handy to investigate deer, hawks  or other animals that stopped by his yard.  

Thanks Dad, I miss you, but think of you when ever I step outside in my garden.

My garden is now in full bloom

A hummingbird visits the Orange Jubilee

Splish Splash -  White Crowned Sparrow

Hungarian Poppy

Desert Bird of Paradise Tree

Lemon Queen Sunflowers

Hollyhocks

Hollyhock Babies

Yesterday, I snapped some pictures in the garden, and last night made Hollyhock babies with a sweet 5 year old girl who loves to pretend.  It was nice to smile and look at life through the eyes of a young child.  

Winter in Arizona - a few of my favorite things...

Lettuce fresh from the garden

Butterflies basking in the sun

Lavender in bloom

Pretty Cactus

Towhees scratching around in the leaves

Walks in the Arboretum

Spring flowers in bloom

Mt Atlas Tree showing off her berries

Full Moon rising over the lake

Fall

Time to do some baking!

Who doesn't love cut out cookies?

Decorated and ready to go to the park

A Plate full of Pumpkins

We were invited to a lovely family picnic last month.  Friends who we have known for many years got together at a local park. The weather has cooled down here in Arizona and it was a beautiful day to be out. Equally important is that fall is when I start baking again!  I am not a fan of turning on the oven in the summer, but as soon as the weather cools down, the baking begins.   As luck would have it, I won a give-away from a talented, stylish and sweet blogger, who I have been following for years at Elderberry Street.  I received a box of goodies from her just in time for the picnic that included adorable leaf cookie cutters and flavored sugars. Perfect combination for getting creative.