If...

If I had my life to live over,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and... watch more sunsets.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who live prophylactically and sanely and sensibly,
Hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I have had my moments and, if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another.
If I had my life to live over,
I would start bare-footed earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would play hooky more... would ride on more merry-go-rounds
I'd pick more daisies!
- Poem From a Harley-Davidson Ad

Found x2

Congratulations to Careless1 for being FTF for both Bartlett Reservoir geocaches!

Inspiration from Kermit the Frog

I'm reading a book titled: Before You Leap, A Frog's-Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons. by, Kermit The Frog. It's a short book, filled with humor, it also reminds me of the childhood Muppet and Sesame Street characters I grew up with.

A few quotes from the book:

"It doesn't matter if you're a frog or a pig or a bear or even a person. It doesn't matter if you're a big fish in a little pond or a small fish in a big pond -- you're you and you matter."

"Dreams are how we figure out where we want to go. Life is how we get there."

"Having dreams and setting goals is important, but nothing is going to happen if you sit in the fog like a frog agog on a log in a bog."

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending. We've done just what we set out to do. The lovers, the dreamers, and you."

GC1P542

Mr. Bosseh-Pants and I placed a new cache at Bartlett Reservoir while hiking.

The cache has been approved, and now awaits its FTF (first to find).

We named this one: Bartlett Reservoir Hike 'n View #2

If you're handy with a GPS it's located at: N 33° 51.194 W 111° 37.284

I plan on adding #3 on a future hike. I may add #4 if I'm feeling really ambitious. It's a good hike with great views along the lake.

Hiking at Bartlett Reservoir (yes, again)

I went hiking at Bartlett today, four miles, leaving a new geocache along the way.

First, the flower pictures (it's a chick thing), if I knew the names of any of these flowers I would dazzle you with my knowledge:

Seems like a tough place to grow.







My little point-n-shoot camera is really doing its best to capture close-up shots of tiny flowers for me. I need a 35mm camera.




Next set of pictures, scenery:

This is my hiking buddy Mr. Bosseh-Pants, he makes me hike miles more than I would on my own.





Reflections. I like this one best.

GC1NZW7

James and I placed a new cache at Bartlett Reservoir while hiking.

The cache has been approved, and now awaits its FTF (first to find).
We named this one: Bartlett Reservoir Hike 'n View #1
If you're handy with a GPS it's located at: N 33° 50.872 W 111° 37.509
I plan on adding #2 and #3 on future hikes, it's a good hike with great views along the lake.

Hiking at Bartlett Reservoir

James, Cierra (woof!) and I hiked at Bartlett Reservoir today.

We placed a new geocache along the way.

It was a little too warm for "prickly foot" to hike too far today, her cholla impaled paw still seems sensitive, so we only hiked about two miles.


"Throw the stick James! Throw the stick James! Throw the stick James!"


"Y"? Because I said so.


Speak softly and carry a big stick.


Wildflowers and driftwood.


Cierra waiting in the shade along the trail.


View of the lake.


Pretty views from the trail. We'll do this again when it's not so hot, or get an earlier start. :o)

Hiking Fools

James and I found a geocache on the northeast side of Westwing Mountain, an area I'd not hiked in yet. The hiking was hard and the views were great.

Cierra, or "prickly foot" had a day of rest at home today.


A prickly place to build a birds nest.


An uphill view.


James, on our way down the mountain.


Flowers... or weeds... I'm not sure, but there were a lot of them.

Tomorrow we're hiking Bartlett Lake, then the next day James goes home :o(

Hiking at Cave Creek Recreation Area

James, Cierra (woof!) and I hiked about six miles today. We found four of the six geocaches we were in search of. One we simply could not find; the other we decided was too far away and we'd try it another day. I did find three Travel Bugs, I love TB's!

One of my hiking buddies told me that I should occasionally stop and look to see where I came from, so that's what I did, and this was the view.


Little flowers.


One of the largest saguaros I have ever seen, with the afternoon sun.


More little flowers.


Two of my favorite faces.


Cierra making her way along the trail. Her dog pack is almost always off center. This seems to bother me a great deal more than it concerns her. I wish her dog pack was waterproof, that would almost make it perfect.


Lots of little flowers.


James and Cierra, this makes my heart all warm and mushy.


Cierra. The best hiking dog.


James, tossing rocks in to the river for Cierra.


Cierra, loving life.


Cierra, helping us locate the perfect lunch spot.


Fetch *this* rock: OK, got it!


James, making sense of the map for me.


One of the geocache stops.

Waterdog

(Hit the pause button on the MUSIC, on the right --> Then enjoy the movie).

Cierra used to HATE water. Now, Cierra LOVES water. She is still a klutz though.

Refreshing?

A kind soul brought a 12-pack of Coca-Cola to me tonight. It's a mixed blessing. I thought it would taste oh-so-good, but oddly enough, it doesn't.

Hi, My Name Is...

Laura
And I am a coca cola addict.

Seriously,
like 6 cans a day serious.

Today is day THREE of NO coca cola.
Not really by choice, more of circumstances beyond my control.

The coca cola is only half the fun, I also enjoy crunching the yummy ice cubes that swim in my coca cola in my favorite plastic cup.

It's just not the same with water.

*sigh*

If you find me sniveling in the corner, you'll know why.

Today's Hike on Westwing Mtn

Doesn't that pollen just make you want to sneeze?


Anyone know what these are called?


If Cierra could cuss and call me names, she would be doing it right now for making her sit there so I could take her picture at the top of the peak by the flowers.

An Angel Has Returned to Heaven

My dear friend Jean passed away this afternoon. I feel so fortunate to have seen Ken and Jean in December while in Louisiana. I'm at a loss for words this evening but no loss for tears. I love you Ken and I will miss you Jean. You are both very precious to me and hold a special place in my heart.

Cierra - Let's Go Hiking - Movie

A years worth of hiking and exploring photos mushed in to a 2 minute movie.

(Hit the pause button on the MUSIC, on the right --> Then enjoy the movie).

Firebird One - Movie

(Hit the pause button on the MUSIC, on the right --> Then enjoy the movie).

Hiking White Peak

Look before you leap


Oh my...


Lil' white flowers


Camouflage dog


Memorized by bees


Pretty flowers


Pretty butterfly


Cierra surveying the view from the top of the peak