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!