February 25th

Friday morning arrived and gave us a nice view of the recent snow. This view out the back of our camp is showing the Four Peaks in the McDowell Mountains.

There is an Art Fair twice a year in Fountain Hills. Once this week and again in the fall. We never expected it to be as huge as it turned out to be. It was also a pleasant surprise to see only "art" made by artisans from the Southwest and not "stuff" that somebody hauled in from China just to make a buck. Very unique stuff and really nice stuff. Of course there was some cheap crap but not too much so it made the stroll an enjoyable one.  And believe it or not, we didn't buy a thing. We met up with Red and she strolled the Fair with us.  Tom was holding down the fort at the American Legion.  

It started in the park near the fountain,

and ran up the main drag called the Avenue of Fountains.

Not sure what this was here for but Hello Kitty always fits in.

Our friend, Diane (aka Red) bought some pink boxers for her nephew at the Maricopa County Sheriff's booth and had Sheriff Joe Arpio sign them.  There she is in red waiting in line for his autograph.

Of course there was cactus for sale. It "is" Arizona after all.

These palms and cacti are all made from metal.

This Gent makes these chairs and calls them Reading Rockers. After we tested them out, we thought Snoozing Rocker would also work.

There's a trap door and shelf to store your books to read.

This dude is playing the "touch" guitar. No picking nor strumming. Just touch the strings at the fret to make music.

Here you see the owner of the yarn & bed shop in town winding yarn into a ball for a customer. 
This is quite an amazing contraption. 
I (Holly) love her shop!

There is a hiking trail right in town and climbs to a point where you can see Fountain Hills on one side and McDowell Mtns on the other side.  This shot is as we're getting higher you can see the white tents of the Art Booths.

Buster enjoyed leading the way :-)

The trail head starts right inside this development.

"Have we reached the top?  I can see the other side now."

You can see the fountain shooting in the air off in thei distance.

This shows the trail as it winds up to the top.

If you took this trail to the fountain and back, it's 3.5 miles.
(Tom Rosenmeier walks this trail every day.)

Again you see the Four Peaks.  Looks like the snow is melting somewhat.

What a gorgeous trail - almost along the backs of houses & condos.

The pond around the fountain in the distance.

Even a resting spot at the top.

We took a drive to Cave Creek.  This flag is actually painted on the stucco bldg.

One of the many interesting shops in Cave Creek.  A very cute town!

A cute, little shop along the main drag of Cave Creek.

If you can't find a pot here.....  it doesn't exist!

This is America's largest sundial near the shops in Carefree, AZ  It is made out of copper and points to the North Star.

Well hot damn......  They named a gallery after me!

How about on the corner of "Easy Street and Ho Hum Road?"

Even an English Tea Room & Restaurant in Carefree.

We're heading to the Sundial.

What would a blog page be without rocks????
 

You can tell the nights have been colder than usual when they cover the cactus to keep the blooms from freezing!
 

A better shot of the sundial.
 

They're hiring at the Mexican Restaurant where we had lunch.  Maybe I should apply and move to Cave Creek???

A Mexican Restaurant with a very unusual design.  A pond, ducks, and unique outdoor heaters.

Have you seen an outdoor heater like this?

They had to do a little trimming on this tree over the years but by golly they saved it!

I love the Mexican art flare and tiles!

Another store calling my name!!!!


 

So before we post this blog, I, Holly, have to tell you a story:  I meet some of the most interesting people in the laundry rooms and hear some of the most interesting stories.  The lady I met this past week is no exception.  She and her 73 year old husband own a horse ranch in Montana.  Since the late 1970's, they have been RVing while buying and selling antiques (mostly cowboy/western stuff).  Well the reason they were staying in our park (which is on the Ft. McDowell Indian Reservation), was to help a friend who was working for the Indians rounding up, marking and driving free-range cattle & calves.  She said they rode on horses for 2 days searching through thicket & brush for calves who hadn't been branded.  When they found them, they put a clip on their ear and had to do it quickly because the mammas were bellowing at them to return their calves.

 

And I must not forget to report that we have seen 3 bald eagles flying behind our Road Runner.  (Hence the name of our park - Eagle View :-)  And one day I saw the biggest bird in a low growing palo verde tree.  It had a comb on its head and a very long tail.  I just couldn't imagine what the heck it was so I got closer and closer and watched it jump to the ground and run slowly away.  I'll be darned... it was a Road Runner.  I never knew they went in trees!