UPDATE 14 MAY 2012

We have been really busy around here lately.  Lots of spring things that need to be done.  Have taken a few pictures though and some are below.

This guy really thinks he is pretty. He has a couple of hens he is hanging around with and they show up every few days.

A couple of old trees that have died of old age.

Connie on her main squeeze Bill Cody.

Connie has been riding her bike a lot in the mornings.

A bluebird day.

We have had some pretty cold mornings where there is ice under the sprinklers.

The apple tree has lots of blossoms this year.  I can taste the apple pies already.

Tracy cutting a few maple boards off of a log with his little mill that uses a chainsaw.

BACK HOME

We got home the other night and both had mixed feelings.  It is good to be on the road and see new sights, experience new places, and not worrying about the routine things one has at home.  But it is good to be home.  Lots more room in our house than the camper and showers with unlimited hot water!  And other nice things. 

We still have elk hanging around and we got to see lots of them the first morning we did our walk.  The turkeys are not around in the numbers they were though.  They are still around, but small groups.  Horses are doing well and Catmay is really glad to have us home.  She will hardly leave me alone.  If I sit down she is on my lap.  And is very vocal about how long we were gone. 

The last night in the camper we were getting supper ready and Zeus is waiting for a little cheese that I am grating.

A young bull elk watching us approach right below Carl's cabin.  There were at least 40 elk in this bunch.

These cows are wondering where we came from.  They have had the area to east of us all to themselves since we have been gone.

It looks to me like 3 of the 4 cows here are pregnant. 

APPLE VALLEY 2

Did some more hiking in the area and also to Water Canyon which is on the border of Utah and Arizona.  It is near the town of Colorado City, AZ.  Great canyon to hike and would like to explore it a little more.  Maybe next time.  Also stayed a couple of nights down in Washington, UT (near St George) with friends Gary and Georgine.  I have known Gary or GB as he is called for over 39 years.  He was one of the first guys I met when I came back from Vietnam to UT.  He is also a Vietnam Vet so we hit it off pretty good.

Connie and GB.

Getting up to where the water pools are.

Spring colors all around.

Near the top.

Indian Paintbrush in the sun.

Don't know what kind of spider this is, but click to enlarge and that is quite a egg sack.

GB and G's backyard.

I never realized that the mormon tea bush flowered like this.

G with one of their dogs taking a lap around the pool.

What can I say?

We ate way too much good food.

APPLE VALLEY 1

We left Hovenweep and headed west to the little town of Apple Valley, UT.  I say town but they will be voting soon to  de-incorporate so the government might revert back to the county as the governing body.  Just about everyone in this area has a strong opinion on whether this is a good idea.  This area is just east of Hurricane, UT.  We have a number of friends living there and stop every time we are in the area.  Lots of great hiking as it is right next to Zion National Park.

This actually in Arizona on the Navajo Res on our way to Page, AZ.

Hiking the mesa just behind our friends houses.  Looking over towards Zion.

Hiking in outer fringes of Zion.

My tree hugging hiking partners.

More hiking on the Mesa.

A little difference of opinion among us on what kind of owl this is.  

A waterglyph on the Arizona Strip.

Gary, Pam, and Connie trying to figure out the waterglyph.

Coral sand dunes to the west of Kanab, UT.