view from south mountain

I feel fortunate to live only a couple miles away 

from the largest municipal park in the country, and

most likely the world. South Mountain is a great place to 

go for a hike, run, or ride a mountain bike; there

are lots of birds, lizards and small mammals

living among the saguaros, barrel cactus, iron wood

trees, creosotes, brittle bush - a 16,000 acre oasis.

speed racer

*elliot road & hardy*

fiddlesticks is a fun park offering miniature golf,

an arcade, bumper boats, batting cage, driving range, and

go-karts. the kids, dads and moms who were 

racing around the go kart track seemed to be

having a great time, in the zone. 

agility dance

*tempe sports complex, warner & hardy*

a slow walk among tunnels, jumps, and weave poles;

arm extended to a pointing finger

memorizing.

that's what they are doing. they are memorizing the 

route they will take with their dog when their turn

comes. a route that will allow them to be quick,

and hopefully clean. that's what they're hoping for, 

a clean run.

usdaa good dog agility club event 

united states dog agility association

i've missed several postings this week, but

am back on track. just got a new puppy and have 

been occupied!

crossing green

a dog running off leash is a beautiful thing.

"Horse'n" Around

Tempe has plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun, including 48 city parks. These include neighborhood and mountain parks with the usual amenities like soccer fields and playgrounds as well as special amenities like dog parks (Tempe has 5), mountain biking trails, and several urban lakes for fishing.

Papago Park is located north of Tempe Lake between Mill and Rural, stretching north to the Phoenix Zoo. It's a place to mountain bike and hike among the rocky hills and buttes, and you might even see big horn sheep standing on an isolated boulder on the zoo grounds. But one of the amenities that I think is just great is the nearby, long-standing Papago Stables. Papago Stables is family owned and operated - one of the oldest riding stables in the Valley (as we refer to the Phoenix metro area). Bill and Samantha Scott opened the stable in 1965 at its Tempe location to the south of Papago Buttes. Not many businesses can boast such a long history, but with all the new development happening throughout Tempe and to the east and west of this very rural looking stable, I hope it persists. The hay, stalls, horse smells, smiling trail riders, and outdoor riding pen give character to the otherwise perfectly manicured boat marina to the west and fancy lakeside condos to the east. What a treat to have the option of trail riding in the middle of our big little city!

What to do on a hot day?

Tempe's Splash playground at the beach park - lots of water jets and splashing fun for the kids.

Deportes

I love that there are so many soccer/futbol fields scattered around Tempe. Just like in so many places throughout the world, though found less often in other parts of the U.S., futbol is simply available to anyone who has a ball and a few friends.

Slider on a Stone

It must be great to be a turtle, all day basking in the sun and when it gets too hot, a dip in the water. Taken at Kiwanis Park.

Boats on the Water plus a Duck

This photo of paddle boats was taken at Kiwanis Park - a great park half a mile from my house with a large lake and baseball and soccer fields, batting cage, fishing, an indoor pool with a wave pool, outdoor movies in the summer, an occasional small concert,

barbeque grills, ramadas....all the essentials of summer.

Park Bench

Serene