Choosing photos for Az Highways contest

I'm trying to decide which 4 photos I will enter into the Arizona Highways photo contest. There are 4 categories and I can enter one from each of these, landscape, people/culture, closeups and wildlife. This one would be in the closeup category (prickly pear fruit). Please help me decide and let me know which ones you like best.

Wildlife, Horned lizard
Wildlife: Anna's Hummingbird in flight
Landscape: Storm clouds over San Francisco Peaks
Closeup: Fairy duster flowers
People/culture: Grandfather and Grandson watching storm clouds in Flagstaff meadow.

Landscape, sunset over Camelback Mtn and the Praying Monk.
Closeup, ripe oranges and blossoms for next years oranges.
Culture, three Navajo ladies
Landscape, Grand Canyon
Landscape, Grand Canyon
Landscape, Grand Canyon
Landscape, Grand Canyon
Wildlife, Rattlesnakes, mating dance

Apple pickin adventure

We drove 1 and 1/2 hours through the desert to get to Date Creek Ranch where they grow apples and beef. It is on the far side of Wikenburg and the last 3-4 miles is along a rough dirt road through a desert filled with Joshua trees. Who knows why we drove so far for the privilege of paying someone to pick apples, but it was fun. Javier said that sounds too much like day labor. I said, it'll be fun, we can imagine we own a apple orchard in the middle of the desert. He wasn't impressed.
Here's yours truly with our apples. Notice all the apples on the ground. They send the cattle into the apple orchard after visitors leave to eat the discarded apples on the ground.
Mom enjoying an apple
The official apple picker. I had to tie him down or he would have kept on pickin. He was lovin it!
Some of the local scenery
A well used barn. I was talking to the owner. She said that she grew up on this ranch, left, and decided to come back so her kids could grow up here also. She said it is hard work, but she loves it.

Rainy Saturday and Hummers never get me down

Being born and raised in the desert, this little Costa's Hummingbird and I just have to get out and play when it rains. His feathers are all puffed up, but he is lovin the rain just like me!
We got 3/4" rain so far today and it is supposed to continue. My rain barrel fills up so fast! We even have a flood warning. That basically means, don't try to cross a normally dry wash because you and your car might float away. It's amazing how many people think they can make it across and end up having to be rescued. They think 4 wheel drive will get them through the deepest water or snow or they just think the water is not that deep or swift or they have an illusion that their car has a higher clearance than it really does. I actually don't know what they think, "here's your sign!" One time we were driving home from Flagstaff and it was snowing really hard. We were going really slow right behind a snow plow (that is pretty slow). A SUV comes up behind us and passes us and the snow plow going pretty fast. Next thing we know the car has flipped 360 degrees, actually landing on the wheels, but pointing the opposite direction. Both driver and passenger got out safely. Talk about a wild ride, but I don't think I would want to try it.
The Costa's Hummingbird sitting on a sunflower stalk, stretching it's wings.
Ready for take off
Hummingbirds always have dry twigs that they like to sit on to rest between nectar or bug runs.
This is a favorite perch in the orange tree
Same perch, same hummer from different direction.
Another perch in the sunflowers. I think he is peeing!
Enjoying free nectar. If the feeder runs out, they will come up to the window and scold me till I put more food out.
I looked at this hummingbird and thought, "I think that is a Rufus. I wasn't sure, so I'm glad I got pictures. We see Rufus hummingbirds in Flagstaff every summer. They come like clockwork on July 1st. However, I've never seen Rufus in Phoenix till now. This is definitely a female Rufus! I was so excited. I'm not sure if she just stopped by while migrating, or if she will stay for awhile.

Blue Skys Smiling at me

Nothing but blue skys do I see!
Hoping for rain
Supposed to get more rain

But we are blessed with blue skys!
Saguaro Cactus in bloom loves it
Aspen from Snow Bowl love those blue skys
We got 0.3 " of rain the other day
We got 0.8" rain about a week or so ago. When it rains in Arizona it pours down. It fills up our 60 gallon rain barrels in a minute or 2. Makes me long for the huge Aussie rain barrels. Arizona rain such a treat for my soul because mostly I see Blue Skys smiling at me. Happy September!

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.

What a Family!

This was taken at Faye and Javier's the night before Kelsea, Philip and Romey had to leave. We had several family get to gethers, one at Grandma's, one at our house and one at Faye and Javier's. They were all great times! They had spent the middle of the week in Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and Strawberry and returned to Phoenix on Thursday. Meanwhile back in Phoenix we actually got some rain when they were gone. I woke up at 3am Thursday to thunder and rain on the roof. I went outside to open up the hose on my rain barrel, and I got soaked to the skin. I even had to change my PJs. It was great! It was our first rain of the summer to account for anything. We got at least .6" rain! I know ya'all are really impressed (don't laugh)! It's a lot for us. I wish I had a big rain barrel like you guys in Australia, but mine holds only 50 gallons. The good thing is that it is totally filled whenever we get even a trace of rain!
Maceo who is now 10!
Romey and Jules playing, run over Uncle Julian and laugh at his silly noises.
Niko playing his violin
Romey in Faye's arms, yours truly and Kelsea
Kelsea taking it easy, Romey working on the car.

The old Fisher Price Tool Kit from when my kids were little was a definate hit. She loved the tool kit, pushing any buttons within reach, organizing the toys and playing with cars. I think she is going to be an engineer.
The cat Merlin definitely won out over most everything for Romey heart and attention. She wanted to know where he was most every moment of the day and hardly ate because she just wanted to be with him.
Romey was overjoyed at the cleverness of Merlin jumping onto the bed.