Fall into Flag

We went up to Flagstaff to see the Fall colors. Most people think of Arizona as lacking in seasonal changes. However, Fall colour in Flagstaff is very predictable. The 2nd weekend in October brings the height of color. The green of this aspen grove is changed almost overnight into a beautiful yellow roofed outdoor cathedral.
Something about walking through through that beautiful grove, brings back other Fall hikes. Hiking with Star in Zion a couple years ago, driving through aspen groves around San Francisco Peaks, walking through our Rim Aspen grove when the kids were little, it goes on and on. I remember the last hike with my Dad which was in Oak Creek Canyon North Fork. We didn't know yet that his melanoma was back. We really really enjoyed that hike, spending time together with the leaves falling all around.
A family we met playing on a "bouncy pole". The little blond guy asked me to join them and I did. He didn't buy me calling it a horse, stating that horses don't bonce.
This cute kid was climbing up onto this felled aspen. He was probably 5 or 6 feet above the ground and having the time of his life.
Our Flagstaff neighbor, Barbara joined us on our hike.
Green, blue, yellow and white together for quite a picture.
One of the mother trees in the grove
This is the first aspen we saw
So many leaves on the ground, but most of them still on the trees. In one to two weeks the trees will all be bare. Glad we got to enjoy them!

Donald Duck seen in Flagstaff!

We were in Flagstaff this weekend enjoying weather, hikes and various creatures. We found this great little lagoon at the country club that you can walk around enjoying the ducks and other birds. This Mom and ducklings were very cute.
Jump right in the water's fine!
This is the view of the lagoon with our own Mt. Eldon (which we see from our window) in the background.
"I just got back from the beauty shop! Do you like my new do?"
When we were kids living next to the canal we had a duck like this visit and stay for quite awhile. He became one of our many pets and we loved him dearly. He came to us because of the canal, stayed because we kids loved him so much! We named him Donald Duck. I think this is his great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandson!

We went on a hike in the same area in a small part of the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. These pictures are from that hike.
I've always liked the bark of the Ponderosa pine tree
These clouds come and go every day. The morning is usually clear and the clouds start rolling in mid to late morning and it often rains in the afternoon then the clouds are quickly gone!
One of my favorite flowers, Indian Paint Brush.

Wearing pants and long sleeve shirts!

We spent the past few days up in Flagstaff. What a change from 114 degrees in the shade! We arrived in Flagstaff, opened the windows and felt this wonderful, cool, cool breeze. Talk about a breath of fresh air, it was heavenly! Then it rained, not a lot for Flagstaff, but lots and lots by my dry Phoenix experience. I even got to put on long pants and a long sleeve shirt off and on all the few days we were there. I took this picture when we were hiking along side Schultz Creek. Understand this was mostly a dry creek bed, but was very green with many wildflowers. In Arizona we bestow the name creek on anything that has running water at any time during the year. It may be almost dry 99% of the time, but if water runs through it during a rain, it is a creek! This is a mountain creek so it is greener and wetter than most.
We also hiked the beginning of the Weatherford Trail which goes up to the top of San Francisco Peaks. However, we turned off after about a mile and walked through this beautiful Aspen grove. As we got close to the grove, I thought I heard running water! I thought for 2 seconds that maybe there is a little spring back here. I said, "Is that water", Jules said, "It is the leaves". The aspen were growing so close together that the leaves overhead sounded like running water. We were the only people back there and it was magical.




The blue flower on the left is lupine
The one on the right is Indian paintbrush.

Columbine, grows in moist, shady, green areas



The trail through the aspen grove

Old Caves Crater

We hiked to the top of a small volcanic crater in the Flagstaff area. There are caves caused by lava gurgling to the surface. There was a small Sinagua village built in the crater and caves. What is left now are piles of stones and pottery shards on the ground. I wished later that I'd taken a picture of some of them to show you. Most people may not have recognized them because they mostly just look like a flat stone. Mostly they were red on black, but a few had black on white designs painted on one side. It is so great to see them in situ, but of course they have to be left in place in case they ever decide to excavate. Also, I would feel too guilty taking any home.
One of the many caves
View from the top with another small volcano in the distance and Indian Paint Brush (red flowers) and Fairy Duster (pink)
Close up view of the Indian Paint brush flowers.
Prickly pear cactus flower
View of San Francisco Peaks (to right) and Mount Elden (to left). The view from our condo looks at Mount Elden. I love this view because it shows both mountains side by side. Usually you see only one or the other. I always imagine that Mount Eldon was formed from the top of San Francisco Peaks when it exploded, but I have no idea if that is true or not. Oh no, now I have to look it up! OMG I was wrong! San Francisco Peaks used to be up to 15,000 feet tall (classic Fujiyama shape). The tallest of 3 peaks (Humpreys, Agassiz and Fremont) is 12,600 feet. It collapsed into a partly emptied magma chamber formed after a Mt. St Helens-like explosion, then there were glaciers leaving the inner basin the smooth valley it is now. Elden is formed by lava flows and magma pushing sedimentary blocks of rock to the surface. I still like my idea!
This is a old, old alligator Juniper tree. The close up shows you why is is called Alligator. The newest branches look very red, much like the red of manzanita bush branches.
This is the flower and seed (looks like a duster) thus the name Fairy duster!
Close up of Fairy duster seeds
Another view of San Francisco Peaks. We had a great few days. Mum went with us to Flagstaff. We walked around downtown Flagstaff, enjoyed all the little shops and the old town streets. Trains go through town every 20 minutes or so. The trains are a big part of Flagstaff. It is great to fall asleep listening to the trains and feeling the cool air coming in the windows. We ate breakfast on the porch, walked around the golf course in the evenings greeting all our neighbors, both human and canine. Dogs are a big part of the evening walks and I always miss Kiwi at these times. She loved to go with us to Flagstaff. I was taking her for a walk one evening when we arrived. I had her on a leash, but all of a sudden she takes off chasing a skunk. She thought she had caught this furry creature and in fact she did, for half a second till it squirted her right in the mouth. Poor Kiwi, she was crying, foaming in the mouth and stunk to high heaven. I was told that either tomato sauce or vinegar takes skunk smell away. Well, believe you me I tried vinegar and it certainly didn't work. She had to spend the night in the garage. We took her to the groomers and they said that this happens a lot to Flagstaff dogs. They knew just exactly what to do and she came out smelling like a rose!

Flagstaff and flowers

We went to this meadow in Flagstaff which has a prairie dog village. We didn't see any prairie dogs because it was mid day, but we saw a lot of beautiful flowers. We took a short walk and Rowan said, "I think it it going to rain, we should hurry back". The sky was very dark and it started to thunder and lightening. We headed back and made it to the car just as it started raining!
Papa and Dilly with matching shirts. Aren't they cute?

Rowan is pointing to the an entrance to the prairie dog village. When we were here before there were lots and lots of prairie dogs. I think I have some pictures of them. I will have to try and find them.
Rowan, Dilly and Tadbit (Rowan's frog friend) lounging in the wildflowers in front of our cabin.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!

We went to Flagstaff and it snowed on Saturday. We got about 3-5 inches. It snowed all night Sunday after we had to go home and they got 18 " more in town (much more on San Francisco Peaks).

This is a view of Mt Eldon from our window

Don't you love the snowflakes!!


This is a Junco. They are in Flagstaff in the winter and love the snow.