Latest Update

It has been a very busy couple of days. Since I've last posted, we've gone to the Queen's Creek Olive Mill, I've visited the pool and read, went shopping to Target (I love Target), hiked Camelback Mountain and relaxed. What have you been doing on your Spring Break boys and girls? 

I'm going to a bookstore today so wish me luck in not bringing any books home. They are heavy and I do not know if I've got extra room in my suitcases. 

This is Brittney our tour guide for the Olive Tour. The machine she is standing next to is called the Expeller. You pour the olives into the top of it and it basically presses the olive out of them. 

 This is a 3 year old Olive Tree.

 This is a 7 year old Olive tree.

We got a chance to sample some olives at the end of the tour, these are the Jalapeño

filled olives. I liked them and the garlic filled ones. 

We went to a very fancy shopping mall called the Biltmore Shopping Plaza. After our hike we were hungry and thirsty so we stopped at the Haagen-Daus ice cream shop for a Smoothie. Mine was Very Berry and it was delicious. Here are some photos of the courtyard you walked through to get to the stores. It's very different than out malls. 

 This flower garden smelled incredible. It has tones of petunia's. I wanted to bottle it up and take it home.

We had Easter Brunch at a golf course called Sun Ridge Canyon. I got to play with some play dough while we visited. Here's the Bunny and her Peeps. 

Here we are outside of the golf course. Brunch was delicious.

 Getting started on Camelback Mountain. This is one of the hardest climbs in Scottsdale. We made it to the Saddle this year. My feet haven't been the same since we came down. 

Here is my husband being funny. 

 Above are two of the spectacular views from the mountain. I'll come back again next year in more shape and ready to go to the top. I hope you've enjoyed the update. I get my tripod today so I'm looking forward to taking some pictures of the sunsets and more flowers using my macro lens. 

Until next time. 

Bike Ride through Scottsdale

That was a long ride but so worth it. My friend Ken took me on a bike trip around the city of Scottsdale. Who knew there were so many trails you could ride on. I think we travelled about 25 km. The funnest part was stopping for frozen yogurt at TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt). It truly was the best frozen yogurt I've tasted. Maybe it's because of the long bike ride and I needed a rest or because Ken's bike just 'happened' to make a right turn at the end of the path, either way I'm glad it did. 

 These are the bikes we rode on. I loved it. They're called Townies and I think I've got to get myself one.

 This lizard was scurrying through these rocks and I just happened to get a photograph of him.

 Here's my friend Ken after we finished our delicious yogurt. 

 Some ducks looking for food.

 Very pretty garden sign outside of a condo complex. 

 Snap Dragons. They were my favourite. 

 Silverado golf course with Camelback Mountain in the distance. I've been to the top of it before and I plan on going again. 

 Here's the trail I'll take. I will make sure to go up the easy side this time. 

 Flowering cacti. 

 Some kind of Aloe Vera plant.

 These types of tunnels are all over Scottsdale. It makes getting around on the pathways so easy and safe. You never have to ride on the busy road. 

 Ken is waiting for me to take my picture. You can see the pathway keeps on going and going.

Just a fun picture of me trying to take a picture of the water running down the side of a big basin in a park. I got it but the basin isn't in focus. 

We're off to the Market in Mesa and and Olive Tour. Should be an interesting day of pictures. 

Walk About

On yesterdays walk this is what I took pictures of. I am trying to be creative in the photos I am take along with learning how to use my camera. This is my perspective of Scottsdale, AZ. These posts have nothing to do with school other than showing you how I can post my vacation pictures and be thoughtful in what I choose to snap pictures of. 

Here goes: 

Getting started.

My favourite trail to walk along in the mornings. Today I am going to borrow a bike and ride along it. 

Having fun swimming. My goal was to capture the rippling of the water and the splashes of the water fountain. I think I was successful.
This fountain comes at the very end of the trail. 

Part of Camelback Mountain.

Grass. Don't you love the colour?

I could not resist taking a picture of the grass. This is my favourite green colour. 

The grass poking through gives this picture and interesting look. Can you figure out what the metal grates are? 

Are you wondering what this might be? 

 This is a hybiscus tree. The fluffy parts come first then the flower appears. It is in it's blooming season now.

 Another hibiscus. I thought the white puffy things looked a little bit like Pussy Willows.

This is one of my favourites because the grass got really blurry in the background and you can really see the metal seat of the bench popping out. Oops, I gave it away. 

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures today. It's your last day of school. Hooray you made it to Spring Break. I am looking forward to reading what you do over your holiday. Keep visiting because I am going to post more pictures. I am wondering what I will find today? 

Oh, The Things You See Walking Around a Neighbourhood!

Good morning again! I trust you are having a good time with Mrs. McDace. Glad to hear it. I am hoping to have some posts this afternoon that I can write back to you about. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I spent some time in the swimming pool and laid on the lawn chair and read my book. As kids, you'd probably be in the pool but I preferred to be sitting on the side watching. The sun was quite powerful and even though I did not get sun burned, Phew! I know I need to get some better quality sunscreen. The stuff I brought from home is old and I don't know if it's going to work as effectively as it should.

I took my camera with me on my walk around the neighbourhood and I saw all kinds of interesting things. There is one in particular that I'm wondering if you know what it  is. I'll let you look at it and see what you think. 

It was a beautiful walk, the sidewalks are clean (I mean no snow. It does not snow if Phoenix, AZ because it is a kind of desert). The grass is green, the flowers are starting to bloom and the whole time I could hear birds chirping. I hope you enjoy the pictures. 

New growth.

This is where I am staying. It's the brown door on the left. The gecko you saw yesterday likes to walk on the wall with the windows. He comes out at night to eat the bugs. 

Mountain View Park

Park and school area around the condo, one of our favourite places to walk around.

I think this is the prickly pear cactus.

I wonder why the playground equipment is covered over? 

The sky is always this blue.

One of my favourite houses on my walk. Wouldn't you want to sit out there and read a book?

A pretty cool tree house. I was wondering what happened to the roof?

What does the bark look like?

A bird who was chirping.

There you have my photo adventures for Tuesday. I am looking forward to hearing you comments about them.