The most exciting part of the fair for both of us was the mounted shooting competition. I had never seen anything like it and instantly loved it (once I figured out the guns shot blanks. . .). The riders compete in riding around the ring shooting at balloons. They have two guns in their holster- 5 shots each. They are timed and scored on how many balloons were popped in the shortest amount of time. The riders and horses were magnificent!
The highlight of last weekend was going to the Yavapai County Fair! As usual, we headed first to the livestock.
This big guy was oblivious to all the noise and confusion and was sound asleep!
I checked off another item from my Jerome bucket list- we finally stopped on the side of the road so I could get the iconic view of Jerome on the hill!
Another view of Jerome’s Flatiron:
This week I checked off a small photography bucket list item- shooting the Flatiron in Jerome, Arizona!
Although Jerome is only about an hour from home and I’ve been there many, many, MANY times, I had never managed to walk down to this corner to take this photo. This time, we approached Jerome from the Sedona side, so I made a point of telling Lonnie ahead of time that I wanted this shot and to be ready to pull over at the first available parking space. Mission accomplished!
While Lonnie and our friends Kathryn and Scott were walking part of the trail up Sedona’s Bell Rock in April, I amused myself taking photos. I’ve photographed Bell Rock so many times (and never in “good light”) that it was hard to find a new approach- hence this partial view emphasizing the clouds.
As you drive into Prescott, you see the absolute biggest flag ever. This was taken from the Walmart parking lot- perhaps a first for me!
Wukoki Pueblo is part of Wupatki National Monument. It is smaller, but has an amazing, sweeping view of the San Francisco Peaks.
We visited Sunset Crater National Monument on the way to Wupatki. The volcano erupted over 1,000 years ago, but the whole San Francisco Peaks area is considered active though you can see no sign of that as you walk along the paths.
In the photo below you can see a “squeeze up” in a fissure in the ground. Lava pushed up through the crack and dried as a fin-shaped rock. I love how trees have grown all over the volcano’s cinder cone. Life goes on even after all the destruction wrought by the volcano.
On our visit to Flagstaff last week, we spent some time at the Arboretum. It was very enjoyable (even with the busload of second graders catching tadpoles at the pond), and we especially liked the view of the San Francisco Peaks from across the meadow. A frame is set up for picture taking, and of course we couldn’t resist taking photos of each other with the peaks behind.
When I got home, I had some photoshop fun with this photo:
We took a drive yesterday in the beautiful weather, heading over to Cornville to visit the fish hatchery. The water flowing out of the tanks and through the grate caught my eye.
It was the first sunny day after the Big Snow, and most people were able to leave their houses for the first time. We drove down to the square and watched kids making snowmen and playing in the snow. The joy in the air felt like Christmas somehow!
seen in Seligman
A great display of patriotism on the side of a building in Seligman. Happy Birthday, President Lincoln! Each February 12, I always remember my grandmother, Mimi, who was born on Lincoln’s birthday in 1888.
you are on Route 66!
