Every year on St. Patrick's Day the town turns the "World's Tallest Fountain" green. Four Peaks are framed in the arch of the fountain.
Storm clouds and green fountain. It's basically a giant water cannon. There is a large pumping station on the edge of the lake to make it all work. Fountain Hills was created by MCO Properties, the same company that did Lake Havasu City. For Lake Havasu the gimmick was the London Bridge. Here, the World's Tallest Fountain. The town has developed a beautiful park with shopping, and high-end condos around it.
Last Monday (5/19) it was 110 in Phoenix. Broke the old record by 5 degrees. Tuesday had cooled to 108...Friday to 72. This photo is from our Ellison Creek cabin on Friday afternoon before the Memorial weekend.
A sunset photo, just because they are so beautiful in Rim Country.
Putting on a second deck on the south side of the cabin.
This is our cabin in the Tonto National Forest below the Mogollon Rim, outside Payson, AZ. Although we bought the 2 1/2 acres in October '06, we have been in the cabin just since April '08. Prior to that we used our fifth wheel trailer. We are pretty excited about the new digs.
Since the weather was not so great in Ohio, I thought you might like to see what the desert looks like in March. This is Lost Dog Trail, McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The McDowell Mountains separate Scottsdale and Fountain Hills and has miles of trails in its 36,000 acre preserve.
Lost Dog Trail in the McDowell Mountains between Scottsdale and Fountain Hills.
Lost Dog Trail, McDowell Mountains. Notice that modern riders have given up their traditional cowboy hats for the safety of crash helmets. Given the number of horse related injuries treated at Mayo Scottsdale, it's not a bad decision.
Desert in bloom, McDowell Mountains
Kay with her broken ankle. She tripped on lumber as she was working on the cabin siding. A little wine helps ease the pain.
The back of the cabin
Neighbors coming home from a Sunday morning ride.
Top photo: Mogollon rim above the cabin. Bottom photo: Tonto National Forest and Mazatzel Mountains in the distance.
Kay on the deck. Mazatzal (pronounced mad-as-hell) Mountains 20 miles away in the background.
Hedgehog cactus
