I find it hard to believe how fast the last 6 months have gone by... I got to discover more about the awesome state of Arizona. I know that you always think of sunshine and cactus. But the state holds more than one can imagine.
The gorgeouse red rocks of Sedona....(a trip up to Sedona with Mom and Jim)
A ride with my friend from the island, Keith, going into Lake Rosevelt. Looks like the Okanogan to me....very very pretty. 
Some flowering catcus...I understand that this is the start of the wild flowers and cactus to bloom...I am lucky to have got a glimpse of what will come in the next month. So weird to see such delicate flowers on such a prickly plant!!!
And, to blow my own horn....my tomatoe plants. Daniel and I have been enjoying these little morsels for about 3 weeks now. Nothing and I mean nothing, beats the taste of a home grown tomatoe!
These little guys came to me free of charge. Another wild flower in AZ. Remember we are still just in March! I love all the color!
Another great shot of the cactus!
I went for a ride today up north to Carefree and Cave Creek. This area is called The Boulders...you can see why. Very cool to see how they build the homes around the huge boulders. I understand that you can't move or change where the boulders are when building. I heard that someone up here has a pool built into the boulder on their land. I would like to see that! Maybe next time lol
I got to spend some good sunshiney time with my Mom and Jim this year. They came down for the month of Feb. Mom showing off her flowers while out for a day of golf in Tempe.
I drove with Mom and Jim up to Las Vegas when they were on their way home. After showing them around the city (with much help from our friends, Steve and Jackie) they headed home and I spent the weekend with Chrissy and Ryan...such fun. Boomer and Frankie were happy to see me too!
Some other site seeing trips with Mom and Jim. This is on the way to Sedona, called the Cliff Dwellings, where the old indians built their homes and their lives in the cliffs. I will make a blog about all of that very cool stuff at a later date thought! Yup, they actually lived in those "dwellings" overlooking the river. Smart indigineous people!
Our friends from the island were also here for just over 3 months. Having cocktails at Tony, Pat and Chris's place....
Old friends seem to come out this year. Frank and Dans friend from the younger days came by for a visit with his new toy!!!! Garnet and his "vet" Cool
And, some of my new friends. Catherine, Andy and Karen. We were enjoying the nice day at the park party.
Laurie Anne, doing her part working the party...
Catherine, at the age of 80 something!!! got on and went for her first Harely ride... good for you Catherine. And she loved it!
So we are heading home thursday morning...I had a great time this winter with my friends and family visiting me. And I loved meeting the new folks down here too. Oh, yeah, volunteering at the Animal Shelter allowed me to meet some really cool people too. Those people that work there full time are saints I tell you. Glad to have been able to spend some time helping out the little dogs and cats too.
Laurie Anne, doing her part working the party...
Catherine, at the age of 80 something!!! got on and went for her first Harely ride... good for you Catherine. And she loved it!
So we are heading home thursday morning...I had a great time this winter with my friends and family visiting me. And I loved meeting the new folks down here too. Oh, yeah, volunteering at the Animal Shelter allowed me to meet some really cool people too. Those people that work there full time are saints I tell you. Glad to have been able to spend some time helping out the little dogs and cats too.See you all on the island soon.
Peace and Love
Shannon
Then, of course, they showed all the countries, as well as states, that enjoy the park for the season. OH CANADA!
The park is acutally on the Maricopa Salt River Indian Bands land. I was happy to see that they came out to show themselves....some lovely little dancers. And some elders chanting and playing to keep them in time.
Life is good....just ask my Mom. She is enjoying a morning ride in the Mercedes! All tuck in from the wind. It only got to be 80 degrees today in the afternoon!!!!
The start of our day trip to the Flats on State Route 88. We picked up another rider on the way. He was from Alaska. Another Northerner enjoying the good winter weather down here.
The bar at Tortillia flats...a bit of fun for the bar stools there!!! Lots and Lots of ambience. The money on the walls does look like the Frontiersman though. (Gosh, I remember actually cleaning all that money off the walls and ceiling in Coombs. That was about a million years ago!)
Mom and I on the patio at the "Flats"
I will leave sunday to meet them in Laughlin. About a 4 hour ride from here...spend the night there and then head south again to Scottsdale, where they have a rental unit in the same park as Daniel and I.
The street is lovely and actually quite. The home is also located ideally close to highway 51 and the 101.
The awful kitchen....very dark and in need of more space! Just wait to see what we have in mind for this cute little one!
Master bathroom with it's very outdated pink tile and toilet and shower!
Main bathroom also needs alot of work.
The main living area.
The backyard. We need a new airconditioning unit.
And in this one, it looks like he has had one too many! LOL