Happy New Year y'all

Happy New Year to my blogger reader pals. Not going to do much tonight but nurse this horrid head and chest cold that I came down with. Oh, and watch football!!

Some real winter weather in Arizona

wow, it actually snowed in Apache junction Az today, first time I've ever seen it snow on the valley floor since we've been coming down here, got to leave the water running tonight so it doesn't freeze. The picture doesn't have any snow in it but it's what the area looks like near here...

Jousting

Beginning in February they have the Renaissance festival a few miles from here. It's kind of fun entertainment. Every kind of medieval activity that you can perceive. We didn't go last year so we'll probably head out there this year. They have the best roasted turkey legs.... I just grab one and growl, hey, I'm not your Sheriff anymore, I can do that now!!

Lots and lots of cacti

If you like Saguaro cactus there's plenty of them around. Took this pic on one of the hikes north and east of Apache junction Az. Supposed to get some more rain later this week. No plans for new year's eve except watch football!!

Christmas eve traffic in Phoenix

Went with some friends to see Christmas lights in Glendale Az (a suberb of Phoenix). Traffic was relatively light, still lots of folks headed for grandma's!

Had a nice Christmas dinner here at Meridian RV park. The cooks served about 180 people, we had a gift exchange after which was a hoot... Now we prepare for the New Year!!

Merry Christmas y'all

Have a Merry Christmas. I'm on my yearly rant about celebrating Christmas and NOT holidays. There's a reason for the season!!!

Finally some rain

Raining pretty good outside tonight. It will be short lived though, supposed to be 72 on Christmas day. Sooooo many people from our RV park left this week for their homes up north, the frozen north. No thanks, I'll stay here! Lots of Christmas decorations in the area. This is a particularly nice one near Apache Junction. Breakfast with Lary and Sharon Lozier in the morning..

Arizona Opry

We attend this show 3 or 4 times a year. Tonight was the Christmas show. Pictured is George Stearkel, used to be a member of the rock group "the tokens" George is famous for the song, "In the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight". Dinner and a 2 hour program for $30.00, not bad

Christian dance company

The Christian dance company put on their annual (23rd) Christmas program at the Chandler center for the Arts. Very good program. They wouldn't allow photography so I'll post this!

The Jolly Old Elf

Had a nice visit with Santa last evening, he's down getting some sun before the big push next Friday. So, of course, we got into what I wanted for Christmas. I just told him to get the Denver Broncos back on track and winning again. He said to watch the game Sunday?????

Cheaper than home

Just 3 weeks ago the sign read $1.99 gallon for propane, it shot up .40 per gallon since then. Just before I left Pinedale I paid $3.49 a gallon. Hmmm, maybe I'll start a propane business in Pinedale and make a killing!

What's left of an old windmill

Water is a premium in the desert as the old timers knew, this is an area where they used to do some mining and of course you need water for such activities. This is about 6 miles northeast of Apache junction Az.

Phoenix Cardinals-Broncos

Had pretty good seats at the football game today in University of Phoenix Stadium where the Cardinals play their home games. Poor Broncos took yet another "whuppin".

Dinner theater

Went to Rocking R dinner theater last evening with a bunch of RV friends. Good music and good times had by all!

Interesting rock formation

Took this on Thursday's hiking trip, we were down in the shadows of a canyon and took this from there. Next week is a hike that's a bit harder and longer south of Phoenix somewhere.

Top of Weavers needle

Weekly hike today took us to a lush spring valley wherein a cool water spring is located, out here I guess you'd call it an Oasis. That's the top of Weaver's needle in the background. The old timers say that the lost Dutchman gold is in sight of Weaver's needle? I just know it's pretty up in that valley a few miles north east of Apache junction Arizona.

Clear picture of Wolf lake and mountains

I'd forgotten how pretty the first glimpse of Wolf lake southeast of Pinedale is when you pop over a ridge to the south of the lake. Took this last summer on one of the fishing trips in there. Probably has a bit of snow cover on it now!

One of the falls in Yellowstone

Drove nearly 150 miles today down towards Casa Grande Az. and back through Phoenix. Nothing interesting to photograph so will post this one from September in Yellowstone park. Nice and warm here today, about 75 degrees. Air quality is really pretty bad lately down here, last winter the air was relatively clean in the Phoenix metro area.

Looking towards Tucson

Another similar picture from last week's hike. You can sure see the air pollution settling into the valley. Yesterday was particularly bad but today is much better, tail end of a cold front passing through stirring the air up a bit! Thei picture taken from the superstition mountains looking south and east.

Public hangings

Got to love Arizona, had a nice public hanging last evening, (kidding of course), the RV park we stay at put on a hypnotist show, using the park residents. I laughed till my throat was sore at some of the things that the hypnotist made people do. I'm soooooo glad I didn't volunteer to get up there and quack like a duck!

Superstition smog

With the "la nina" weather pattern, Arizona is mostly dry and warmer this winter. Took this photo a couple days ago while on the hike. There is a "dirty air" warning out today for this area, not so bad here in the east Phoenix valley. Soooo, just don't breathe and you'll be ok. With millions of cars running around you'll have that. Area shown on the photo is Gold canyon area, just southeast of Apache junction.

Storm chaser vehicle

some kind of a SUV storm chaser vehicle. The thing has everything (probably including the kitchen sink) aboard. That's Win Farnsworth in the foreground checking the vehicle out! Supposed to hit 75 here today, time to soak up some sunshine!

Hiking buddies

A few of the "regulars" at the Wednesday hike. The fellow on the right (wife next to him) are from Vermont, he's our unofficial leader. The folks in the center are from Quebec Canada and speak fluent french. He is a retired drug cop. The cave we climbed to is in the background. I didn't go down in it very far (a clausterphobia thing).

From the Superstition caves

Took a pretty steep hike today to Superstition cave. Very pretty up there. That street shown is "Broadway" if you follow it way off in the distance you barely make out the tall buildings in downtown Phoenix. About 3 miles roundtrip but seemed longer because of the steepness. Above 70 here today, nice!!