Sunday, May 31, 2009

Ziggy, NH, Hank & Duke

It is about time I actually focused on fur. I have been busy with the planting season and hiking and neglecting my favorite subjects. This handsome boy is Ziggy, an Australian Shepard that stole my heart years ago when friends adopted him. He is a lap dog and a house dog despite his breeding. You see him here in his favorite chair; given a choice of outside or his chair, he would take the chair no doubt.
Duke and Hank belong to the friend's son NH. Ziggy loves them to come and visit as long as they stay away from his chair!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Confessions of a Utah Native

I am embarrassed to admit that I have lived in Utah most of my life and this past weekend was my first real visit to Zion National Park. By "real" I mean we drove through it once at dusk but I have never really stayed there or hiked the trails before. Our great friends JH & TH celebrated his birthday and her Mother's Day by joining us for this grand adventure. The colors and views from every angle were enough to make me stop talking.....for a moment anyway.My favorite hike was not because it was easy, just the opposite, it was hard. Angel's Landing is famous and I wanted to go to the top. The warning clearly states that if you are afraid of heights DO NOT ATTEMPT. Well, TH had enough sense to heed the warning but the rest of us threw caution to the wind and headed up. The path was steep and narrow with heavy chains anchored in the rocks to hang on to if you happen to slip on what was sometimes a four foot wide trail with drop offs on both sides. One side is 1200 feet, the other is 800 which made for a gorgeous view at the top. I didn't do it "pretty" but I did it! The hike wouldn't be complete without dangling your feet off the edge. The hiking wasn't the only thing that was grand. We stayed at a wonderful B&B called the Red Rock Cottage Inn . We were served a breakfast like this one every morning in a picnic basket on our patio. We took the long way home and saw the Hoodoos in Bryce National Park. More beautiful views and a good reason to go back soon and spend more time in southern Utah.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Ruby's Dirty Photo

The recent rains make it perfect for mud puddles.....Ruby loves 'em.