Rock Stock

The little buildings behind the stage are part of the Gold King Mine. No longer active, the mine was opened back in the 20's during the copper boom. While mining for copper, gold was found instead. Now the mine is a tourist attraction, with the old buildings and lots of cool stuff to look at. the mine has been closed off, but they have a mock entrance you can walk into.

Last weekend, we went up to Jerome to check out Rock Stock 2008. It was a little music festival set up near the Gold King Mine. There were local bands all day and night. Our musician Max, didn't even come with us, so it was Eric, Doug, and me. Really low key and small. Doug called it a hippie fest :) It would have been more fun if more kids people came with us, as it is an all day event. Some chairs would have been nice too. And a little grill and some munchies. We didn't stay long, but it was a fun event, and we will be better prepared next year.

Doug and I collected some cool rocks with copper in them.

The above photo is looking to the east from Rock Stock. There was a nice storm going on near Sedona.

The hoola hoops were set up for anyone to use. The woman who brought them was quite a twirler!

First Eggs

The boys were playing outside when Max's friend Chance found a nest in the shed with these eggs. Very exciting! After we ate them (YUM), the boys went on an egg hunt, but did not find any more. I think only one of the girls is laying so far. Every day will be an egg hunt until we can figure out where they all decide to lay their eggs!

Monsoon season brings some awesome skies. Usually in the afternoon the clouds roll in and stay well into the night. Sometimes, the storm can be seen in the distance, and of we're lucky, it makes its way to us with some nice cooling rain and wind. This past week, just when I think I need to turn on the AC, the winds pick up and the temperature drops 20-30 degrees. The nights have been cooling off, with temps in the sixties, so a fan in the window is perfect for sleeping.

OK, so I figured out how to use photoshop a little. I cropped this photo and upped the contrast. I started using Photoshop and whatever windows thing(easier) is on the computer for the jewelry photos. Cropping and removing impurities from background is quite necessary for jury slides. It's kind of fun to play around with on the landscapes too:)

rainbow

This was just a little rainbow in the gray sky, but I thought it looked kinda cool, and it was the first one of the season that I photographed.

First Day of School

First day of school! Max is a big sixth grader and gets to go to the middle school. The bus picked him up at 6:30 this morning and he will get home shortly after 3:00. A longer day than he's used to, but everyone will adjust. The 5:45 wake up might take awhile though.

Doug wanted me to drive him this week, but he is taking the bus home, and told me I didn't have to stay with him on the playground if I didn't want to. I took the hint, and dropped him off at the front door. What a pro!

pepper

I have done a LITTLE gardening this season. The tomatoes are not too happy, but the peppers are. This one came off a plant by the pool. It is either a jalapeno or tabasco. They're tasty red or green, but they look so pretty when they're red, so I try and wait... My plan is to get a cold weather crop going pretty soon. I can grow greens all winter! mmmmmmm-kale :)
Next up from the fruit trees-peaches.

Last Day of Summer Break

Tomorrow the boys start school, so we headed to Sedona to swim and swing at Crescent Moon Ranch(Cathedral Rock), and have a little lunch in town. The restaurant we went to had a view of Coffee Pot Rock. I think the name is pretty obvious, but if you can't tell, look at the rock on the right. A percolator, not Mr. Coffee.

On our way into town from Cathedral Rock, I had to stop and take a pic of the clouds. It rained a little on the drive home, and when we got home, we had a nice little storm. We got home just in time to get the clothes in that were hanging out to dry.

Summer break is over for us, back to the school schedule. Max is starting Middle School, and is having mixed feelings. He found out today that his good friend Chance is in his homeroom class, so he's feeling a lot better now. Met Doug's teacher yesterday, and the new bus driver. Doug will start taking the bus home, and maybe after a couple weeks, go both ways on the bus. It would save me gas and time. So much for feeling whacked out about the school bus! I don't think there will be any tears this year either(not mine anyway).