Rodeo Roundup

"There never was a hoss that couldn't be rode, and there never was a cowboy that couldn't be throwed..."

We can officially say we live in the Wild West--we made it to our first Steak Fry and Rodeo!! It was the real deal with live music, fresh manure, and mounted cattle hand. Events of the evening included Tie Down, Break-Away Roping, and Goat Tying.

(Dinner)

The video below is of a cowboy Bareback Riding. This is when a cowboy holds on to an animal with one hand and has to keep the other hand high in the air. Touching any part of himself or the animal prior to a full 8-seconds results in a "no-score." The harder the animal is to ride, the more points a cowboy's performance is worth. Yikes!

Red-Tailed Hawk

Jared and I were returning from a local church ward's Provident Living fair when this big guy swooped down in front of us.

Empty-beaked, he flew back up to a telephone pole to perch. Yes, he is as thick as a telephone pole. And he knew I was taking a picture of him and looked straight into the camera...

I looked out the window and what did I see?

Popcorn blossoms on the Apricot Tree!

We are excited about the fruit to follow. Jared tells stories of the awesome apricot pies he made in Argentina while he was serving on his mission. Apparently there was an apricot tree outside of his apartment window in Bahia Blanca. Can't wait to see him use his "mad" baking skills.

Cool Cacti

Just a few shots from the past several weeks:

Looks like "Geoffrey" from Toys R' Us!

The Arizona State Bird

Another Cactus Wren

See the bird in her little house?

A male wood pecker making a NEW home!