Friday Foto

Need help on close-up photo

When I was working on the Sunday Stills challenge, I noticed a strange thing in one of my photos. Above the cave by the tall tree, in the top left corner, there is another cave. Is there an animal (or two) on that ledge in front of the cave? Here's the evidence.
First photo

second photo- using zoom. Look above rocks next to tree in top left corner.

enlargement of second photo. Do you see it?

Is it trickery or do you see an animal? Maybe a bear or a mountain lion, perhaps? Or is it just rocks?

Scottsdale 2012, part 6

After leaving Scottsdale, we headed into the Tonto National Forest up to Payson, saying farewell to the saguaros.

This one was amazing. Just look at all the arms.

Payson has lots of historical buildings.

 This beautiful little house, on a hill above the lake, was once Zane Grey's house, now a museum.

Every year the Hashknife pony express still rides through Payson from Holbrook to Scottsdale.

 Along the highway after Payson, there was a turnoff for the Natural Bridge. We decided to go see it. The road was a 15% grade, downhill all the way. By the time I arrived at the bottom, I could smell my brakes. Then, they stopped working altogether. Scary! Fortunately, we were at the bottom and I was able to pull right into the parking lot. I was really worried but decided that with some time to cool them off, everything would be okay. I went into the gift shop and then hiked down to the bottom of the lower parking lot. I snapped this photo while my mom waited in the car.

 The road was curvy and woodsy much of the way.

In Pine, I took this photograph of this old barn and then I saw the people sitting out front and the cars parked in back. Good grief, do they still use it?

Just across the street was this lovely little house that I'd be happy to live in.

This was a country store, still open for business.

Check out this 'out of place' totem. Cool, huh?

We saw a sign for the oldest log school house and decided to go see it.

 They only open it up for special tours but I was able to look inside.

There was still plenty of snow in the high country.

We passed by an area of the forest that had burned some years ago.

 The road seemed to go on and on for miles.

Finally, we made it to the town of Williams

and then on to the red rocks of eastern Arizona - western New Mexico.

This next area was at a rest stop. Beautiful area, isn't it?

I love the sky patterns in this photo even though they are hard to see.

Finally, we made it home, an end to a wonderful mini trip, hard to believe it was only three days.

Hobby Horse Blog Hop

Hobby Horse Blog Hop

 

This is a Blog Hop. Feel free to join in. Answer the questions below and link back to the other Blog Hoppers. Also, ask a new question.

#1 You are the lucky winner of the "Extreme Barn Makeover"? Lucky you! What things are top on your list to be remade, changed or upgraded? (Sorry, this makeover does not entirely replace barns and or add indoor arenas!)
Darn! I would've chosen the indoor arena! lol. I would add pipe fencing and gates to each stall. Also, refence the arena. (Is that allowed?)

#2 Why do you treasure a particular piece of tack or equipment?
I like my old Simco saddle because I bought it new when I was a teenager.

#3 What is the best day of the week for you?
I'm always happiest on Saturdays because I don't have to work and I can do the things I want to do: sleep in, play with my horses, letterbox, shop, travel, etc.

#4 Mares or Geldings, why?
Frankly, I prefer geldings because they usually have more a calmer and more playful personality.

#5 If you could try out any equestrian discipline, what would you try?
I've always wanted to ride cutting horses. Yalla! has the breeding, now if only I could get the training for her, right?

My question, Is Horse Fever acquired or inherited? When did you get it?

Please join us. Click here for code and instructions.

Sunday Stills (3/11/12 Small part of the whole)

This week's Sunday Stills challenge is to take a photo and then focus on a part of the picture.

  

For more Sunday Stills, please visit here.

Scottsdale 2012, part 5

Warning- lots and lots of photos ahead.

Here's some more of the highway art in Phoenix. Isn't the lizard neat?

We decided to go home through Payson to Williams instead of straight up through Flagstaff. This gave us a chance to visit Old Town Scottsdale

and do a little window shopping in the art district.

This handsome flute player was to be auctioned off, bids starting at $40,000. 

I wonder where exactly in the Southwest this is located? I would love to go see it.

I think this is Zane Grey because he has a book in his hand.

Nowadays, you can park your horsepower in the Parking Corral

and stop in at the Rusty Spur to wet your whistle. No firearms allowed. 

This is the old Cavalliere Blacksmith shop, now a welding shop, and not at all close to the bench shown in a previous photo.

I couldn't resist going up this spiral staircase.

Here's proof that I went up to the top.

This is a veiw from the rooftop. Very cool! Does anyone know if this is Camelback Mountain?

I liked this little area with the leaning trees.

I'm not sure what this building was before it was a bar, the schoolhouse, perhaps?

Too soon, we had to get back on the road and head for home.

More to come...