Hampton Inn Prescott

... trying to catch the magic of the moment on camera, Freddy tugging at the leash.
I still meet with the drumming group once a month and we are planning a Winter Sostice Celebration for Dec. 20. It will include music, drumming, candles, a yule log!! It's my first winter in the mountains and I pester the veterens with childlike wonder - "will there be snow?" I ask excitedly. "Maybe" they say, with a knowing glance.
I completed the Hiking Spree Nov. 7 ...

Plan to leave friday afterrnoon returning Sunday. We will stay at Planet holloywood as we have been staying at Excalibur the last 15 years and want to try somehing new. Planet holloywood has the shoe Americas got Talent and across the st the new Aria hotel the one wih all the glass has a new show viva Elvis a cirque de sol show

... possible maybe that it is rodent in nature. Too fast for me to be sure. Theres lots of noises in the leaves, birds mostly. Lots of birds and I heard a woodpecker with his distinctive tat-tat-tatting. I could see him with the binocs but it was too far for a picture.
Then I could hear, long before I could see, other hikers after all. Why do people make so much noise out here? I ...

... tall beautiful Ponderosa Pines I've come to love. Quite a bit more out in the open and yesterday the temps reached nearly 80 in the afternoon. This was a 3.5 mile hike and I took a couple of hours to hike it. As usual I stopped often to check out the great views and take pictures. It was a nice hike.

Sister Lynn and her hubby Bill are supposed to be here this aft. for a quick visit. Can't wait ...

... actually got up to 65 miles an hour!! It's been awhile since I went that far and that fast. It made me a little giddy. This trail starts at 6950 ft and actually drops 225 ft, which is why I was breathing heavy on the way back and my legs felt the strain.
It begins with a walk through a meadow - can't wait to try it again in the spring when the wild flowers are blooming. Then the trail winds through a lovely pine ...

... and built their habitat into the side of the mountain. There's a creek nearby so they were able to grow crops such as corn and cotton. We also visited Montezuma Well, just a few miles north. Same culture and just as amazing. We spent a few hours checking out the area before heading for home - it was ...

... air viewing cars that are great for taking photos. The caboose accommodated 6 passengers in luxury. So if you have 5 friends you can book the caboose for $600.00 including drinks and food. The engines are a pair of EP7 units built in 1953 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and started their working life for the Alaska Railroad. For those that would like to know more about the Verde Canyon Railroad, both ...

... the boys' room and Justus met me at the door struggling under the load of a heavy white garbage bag filled with toys. He said he was bringing it for Audrey (18mo) to play with in the trailer. I had to inform him we weren't bringing the travel trailer this trip.

... kitties love me and missed me. There is cold soda in my fridge and all the cold, drinkable water I could use at my finger tips. I have my washer and dryer again. And an entire wardrobe I'd nearly forgotten. The grocery store is full of fresh meat, produce, and necessities all approved by the FDA and all looking edible. Fruit! Salad stuff! My favorite sushi bar... my favorite local Mexican restaurant... I am home.

... and rows of cheesy casino lights, i more worried that all our pennies would be gambled away by Mr W. As we were running a little late we decided to stop off in the very first casino/hotel we came across. No money of course to go on the tables so we opted for a quick spin of the $1m slot machine, some video poker and then the in house cinema. The film was Batman Begins but is also gave the big kid another viewing of the Dukes of Hazard trailer, anyone who's seen it will ...