Monday, February 29, 2016

Leap Year Day!


A very Happy Leap Day to you all.
 I feel almost as if it's a holiday, this extra day in our year. 
I looked it up on Wiki and saw this year is also called an 
Intercalary Year or a Bissextile Year. 
Truth. 
We live by the Gregorian Calendar which stipulates 
this extra day every four years to keep up with astronomy. 
I'm okay with that. 
Like I said before, it feels like a holiday to me.

Most of you are probably working as if it were any other Monday (SORRY),
but I took off on my bicycle this morning to capture my neighborhood. 

Here I go...



Daisy. 

The weather today is truly spectacular. It's supposed to reach about 88 degrees by this afternoon, but the low temps and cool breeze this morning make it all worthwhile. 
In Arizona we have to grab cool wherever and whenever we can. 
Sunshine, glorious sunshine, and blooming flowers along the way today.



I look forward to the intoxicating scent of these tiny 
orange blossoms all winter long, and they never disappoint. 




I love this little daffodil. You might call it a narcissus or jonquil.
I think I like jonquil actually. Yes, Yes I do. 


These beauties above were all in my neighbor's yard this morning. 
Isn't that bearded iris so sweet? 
The name Iris is taking from the Greek word for rainbow, 
and is also the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow. 




I noticed a few houses displaying our nation's flag today and I LIKE it!!!
I did look up the flag-flying days for 2016 and didn't find February 29th on the list.
No matter - patriotism is a wonderful prideful devotion. 
It just feels right. 



No fresh eggs in this coop, sorry! 



How lucky is this little guy in the ride-along? 
Thanks mom - you are awesome. 


It is so convenient to jump on the Western Canal Path and ride for miles.


I am amused by the protective structure along the golf course.
Sometimes I get a zing of electricity from those towers,
but I've never been hit by a golf ball!! 


People are working today!




And the animals are relaxing. 



Riding through Kiwanis Park, I spotted the weekend's refuse. 
Jeez, we are wasteful. 




This is the coolest kids' play area around - Makes me wanna be little again!!
How cute are those bucket swings? 



Would you call this the 
Robot Elephant-a-Saurus Play Structure?



Hopscotch and little animal bouncers. 
I love the old-school feel here but it's all new and updated for safety. 






Getting ready for the catch of the day - good luck buddy.




Lovely, right?? 
It is so very peaceful. 



This hard-working gentleman allowed me to take his picture. 
Check out ALL those cans - that bag is monstrously heavy. 
God Bless Him.




I love finding unusual art pieces in public spaces. 
There are four blocks at the corner of Baseline and Rural with grated spaces
and objects held within. This one had stones with words hand painted on each. 
I focused in on one of my favorite words of all time...
Teachers.
I love 'em. 



This one was filled with rusted tools and equipment. 
I have driven by these a hundred times and never noticed the display.
Interestingly sad how little I pay attention to my surroundings until I'm up close. 




These sage just started blooming this weekend - gorgeous vibrant purple! 
And this bougainvillea too - wow. 



I love a neighborhood school - This is Fees Middle School. 


I totally agree with the signage - Don't we all? 
Who doesn't support academic and life-long success for every single young person?
I mean really, who doesn't? 
Our very future is based on the 
next generation and their successes. 
Thank a teacher. 



I rarely see pink lantana, but when I do... I smile. 

We used to have about 20 lantana plants in front of our old house. 
They drove me crazy in the winter with their black frosty tips
that reminded me of crispy burnt toast. 
Now I admire them from afar. 



Must be election time here in Tempe - Get out there and vote people. 



Okay, so I got hungry. 
No shame in snagging a Chocolate Old-Fashioned from Bosa.
There's a few more left for you....



Enjoy the day.

Until next time....
Deb :)



Thursday, February 18, 2016

Conquering the Summits of Arizona

Okay, so we're trying. And by trying I mean that we have done very little hiking, but it's still on our To-Do List. And by list, I mean, well... you know what I mean.

Our son, Zach reminds me (often) that just saying I'm going to do something does NO good if I don't do it. So again... let's go hiking!




Last weekend we headed up to North Mountain. Zach said it was much easier than Camelback Mountain. Well, he said everything is easier than Camelback around here. BTW, Erin and I made it to the heli-pad on Camelback in November, and I was whooped and blistered. My fault that we had to turn around and head back down, but of course there will be a next time.

President's Day and a day off (surprisingly) for Jeff so we headed up the 51 north towards Glendale and North Mountain. It is absolutely gorgeous here in the Valley of the Sun during the spring, but everybody knows that, right? Here's a shot of the lower quarter of the trail - it's slightly rocky with a designated dirt path.




Our trusty Aussie, Wyatt, joined us on this hike! He is the same age as we are (in dog years!)



This moderate hike wore us out as we are supremely out of shape and just getting over cough/colds, but we persevered all the way to the summit. Check out the view from about half-way up the mountain.





We were seeing a bit of an inversion layer over the north valley on this day - some might call it SMOG, but we don't because we're from L.A. where it's really smoggy. 



And... the Summit of North Mountain with the valley beyond. Pretty amazing, right?





I'm so glad we made this a priority and can't wait to keep conquering the Summits of Arizona!!

Check out the website for information on North Mountain right here: http://www.northmountainvisitorcenter.org/

Until next time...
Deb :)