Sunrise, Hot Air Balloons & Dogs

Morning breaks over the mountain ridge. This was our backyard view this past weekend as we spent a very enjoyable time in Anthem, AZ (20 miles north of where we live). Heidi and I did some house sitting for some friends of ours who went to Florida for a long weekend of R & R. Giving us some much needed R & R, as well! Every morning the sun would come up over the mountain, looking up out the back patio.


Our Yellow Lab Abby found a new friend in Koda, a 9 month mixed puppy. Another responsibility of watching the house! They played with each others toys, shared food & water and had a great time together. Now they are friends for life!

Another treat, the daily morning balloon launches just over the mountain ridge. What a spectacular sight! Now AZ is the king of hot air balloon rides, as we have sun over 300 days a year, and plenty of vacant area to land (with coyotes, scorpions and snakes, of course!) But, if you are brave enough to go up in a hot air balloon, you are probably brave enough to deal with snakes, dangerous insects and wild animals. :)

Here is how close the balloons were to our backyard:

As if the back yard were not spectacular enough, here is our view out the front of the house...and yes, that is snow on the cap of the mountain in the distance.
This weekend has given us a another area which we could eventually call "home" in Arizona!

Relatively Speaking

Well, it was relative to Heidi and I, literally. My brother John Thomas and my nephew, Tom, passed through Phoenix today, and having relatives show up to the land of the sun is always a reason to celebrate! (Just getting them to come our way was an accomplishment in itself). The first of our relatives to visit us in Phoenix! Although the sun was a lot to be desired today with a winter cloud cover and temps barely making it into the 60's. But, they felt warm and fuzzy, as they drove here from the high country of 7,000 feet and 10" of snow at the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff this morning.

We went over to Thunderbird Park as my brother and nephew wanted to see the desert mountain terrain that is less than a mile from where we live. Plus that was the place to get a quick photo of us standing near a cactus.

Next, we were headed for the Westgate Center. That's where the Arizona Cardinals Football dome and the Coyotes Hockey Arena are located. Also, a great place to eat, drink and be merry. We decided to have dinner at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant. Fun was had by all!!

Ya, this is Heidi having too much fun, wearing a balloon hat, of sorts, made by the tall man with the goofy moves.

...and ya, this is Tommy, wearing a different balloon hat, made by the same tall guy making a different goofy move!

This is all of us overlooking the Westgate Courtyard after a very enjoyable time with my relatives as they pass through Phoenix and their way to New Orleans and then back home to Dixon, ILL.

Tommy, when the trip is done you should tell your Dad, "Wow Dad, that was an awesome road trip. One I shall always remember for the rest of my life!"

I know we will be talking about for some time to come, and we have pictures to prove you were here to see us.

Arizona Falls Short in Super Bowl XLIII