Sycamore Canyon

What better way to spend a 4-day weekend... just a few of my favorite pictures from this weekend :)

Our camp


Incredible scenery...



Beautiful flowers




Wild horses!!!



Adorable minis!


Water, water and more water...




Good friends and good dogs...


Old barn...


And a new headstall for my horsie :)


For ALL the pictures, click here http://s754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/ppranch-azbcr2010/Sycamore%20Canyon%2005-2011/

Riding Despite the Virus...

Yes, I am. BUT following the vet's advice and using common sense... restricting rides to small groups of well-known friends with backyard horses only, in places that are NOT popular horse places... so no lectures necessary :)

That said, please enjoy a few shots from Sedona...







I took a TON of pictures, if you want to see more go here: http://s754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/ppranch-azbcr2010/Sedona%2005-21-11/?start=all

And if you want to join us for part of the ride... click here

Two Days Later Another Graduation

Kinda sprung on us at short notice but as things worked out, it worked out... so this morning I picked up my next-in-line brother, Scott, and headed over to the main campus of ASU for the graduation of my niece, Stephanie, from the teacher's college (Lindsey's graduation Thursday was from the business college).

Hilary had a job interview in Wickenburg which conflicted so she didn't make it, but Lindsey and Andria were there, as well as my mom again, and of course Scott, and my dad and his wife, and my "little" brother Steve with his wife Laura and all but one of their six kids...

While we were waiting we took some pictures because Lindsey had to get Andria to the airport for her flight home and we weren't sure they would be able to stay for the whole ceremony... and as it turns out, they weren't...
Uncle Steve with Andria and Lindsey. Wow that flash really washed them out, so I turned it off.

My dad with Andria and Lindsey. Apparently turning off the flash was the wrong move {sigh}


And for my brother, who didn't have a camera with video, some action, although {sigh again} I discovered that even though I knew in advance to be careful of it, I still moved the camera when I screamed... that was her on the far left just before the camera dipped, but I did get back to her and catch her coming down the stairs and the aisleway...

Afterward we took more family pictures, won't bore you with too many...

Me and my "little" brothers... and yes, the biggest one is the youngest...



And I learned something today. I learned how my kids feel when there is an event that necessitates both parents being in attendance... even at almost 50 years of age, with parents having been divorced almost as long as they were married, it was awkward for me. To add to the stress, my little brother informed us all that since the last picture of the 5 of us was taken at his wedding to Laura 23 years ago, he wanted a picture of us all together. He had figured out how everyone should stand and although some strain met his request, he did get his wish.


Me with nieces Stephanie, 22, the graduate, and Dennarae, who turns 17 next week.


I'll leave you with the two graduates

Mini Therapy

Andria joined me and some of my friends for a mini visit today, a first for her... we took Foxy, Ozzie, Susie Q and her boy Victor, and bottle baby Emily Ann...

Foxy is an old pro:

Emily Ann is going to make an AWESOME therapy donkey!!! She has no fear of anything!

Susie Q kept a close eye on her baby boy, and he was glad for that, it was all new to him, his first time indoors!


This facility includes several trips in the elevator...

Victor wasn't too sure about this... so Andria assisted! (We came across a scale later and weighed him, 52.7!!)

He was much better about LEAVING!

And he got used to things as the visit went on.

Emily Ann decides to put on the brakes!

This gentleman was trying to convince Foxy to wear his hat for a picture, she wasn't too sure...

So he showed her how it works!

Later Foxy got a lullaby

Susie Q being petted... I just love pictures of the old hands on the minis!


This gentleman was so excited, he didn't want to let go!

But he had to share his ponies...

And check this out... WHAT IS IN THE ELEVATOR?

THE END!

Or not... one of the caretakers went and got her daughter from the attached daycare and found us in the parking lot...

"Just my size!"

Lindsey's graduation!

This morning I got up REAL early - 4:00! - so I had time to feed all the animals and get ready, and by 6:00 I was headed for Scottsdale to pick up my mom in time to make it to Tempe for Lindsey's graduation from ASU at 8:00 in the morning...

It was really crowded but thanks to cell phones we did find her... she is just to the left of the close end of that light bar to the right of the ASU sign...


What, you can't see her? Let me get closer...

Yeah, I know, I can't tell which one is her either - but I tried!!! Meanwhile, I got a nice shot of Andria and Hilary waiting...

And then Hilary took a shot of Andria, me and my mom waiting...

Hey it was something to do to pass the time! Along with this... take a WILD guess how many times I had to take a picture before I got the words lined up just right...

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2011!

Now for some ACTION!
Apparently when I scream I can't hold my hand still {sigh} so I missed the actual handing of the diploma, but you can recognize the long blonde hair...

Watch the left side of the screen, Andria did a BETTER JOB catching the actual hand-off... but on the big screen...

Afterwards we went outside to look for her in the crowd...

And take some pictures, starting with Grammy and the 3 girls... Hilary - STOP TEXTING!!!

There, that's better :)

My turn...

The graduate and her diploma - well, her diploma cover anyway, apparently they mail the real things later, saves from problems with which one to hand which person!

Found a nicer background so took some more... my 3 girls...

My 3 girls being goofy...

Three generations...

Afterwards Grammy took us all to lunch at Olive Garden, YUM!

Didn't take any more pictures but I got to spend the rest of the day with all 3 girls, we had pedicures and were going to catch a movie but the one we wanted wasn't playing at the theater we found (since not one of us is familiar with Tempe! Lindsey attended the polytechnic campus of ASU in east Mesa, bu the graduations were all at the main campus) so we ended up hanging out at Tempe Marketplace and finished off with Coldstone...

Then we said goodbye and after dropping Hilary off on our way home, I had Andria all to myself for a little while...