Just Stuff...

It was drizzling outside but the dogs needed a run so off we went. The sun came out and this beautiful rainbow surprised me when I turned a corner and the trail opened up.

More hiking with the dogs......they get us out at least twice a day. We are lucky to have quite a few places nearby for them to run off leash.

In this photo I can't tell who is who....Argo is now about an inch taller than Cooper and weighs about 7 more pounds. I am a little nervous about how large he is going to be.

We traveled up to the top of the Rim today for a brunch in a beautiful log house. The owners open their house once a year and treat us to fabulous food, and our little local museum keeps the profits from the ticket sales. This is the original site of the Zane Grey cabin which burned down in the 1990 Dude Fire.

The views from their deck are just wonderful.

This year the State Balladeer, Dolan Ellis, was our guest and entertainer. He has been the State Balladeer since 1966. What other states have balladeers? AZ is interesting in that we have a lot of state stuff. Some of it was chosen by students around AZ—state amphibian-tree frog, state fish-Apache trout, state mammal-ring-tailed cat, and the state reptile-AZ ridge-nose rattlesnake. (Speaking of rattlesnakes...we ran into one walking down a street in our neighborhood. He warned us with his rattle and we each grabbed a dog. Whew!)

We also have state neckwear......the bolo tie, of course. (I think Texas and New Mexico also have the bolo tie.) We even have a state fossil....petrified wood. And a state firearm.....Colt single action army.

I just love the top of the Rim......it is beautiful country and just 30 minutes from our doorstep.

One last photo of Mr. Argo.....he is at the public golf course where they let us run the dogs. They enjoy the creek there and the wide open spaces to run. All the apple trees are loaded this year....Argo eats at least two each trip.