On Easter weekend my mom and I visited the Desert Botanical Garden. This was my first visit and it was really nice. The flowers were just about at their peak and lots of birds and critters were out. It was a warm day, about 90, but some thin clouds came in and made it really nice. Thought I would share some of the pictures.
Mom's been keeping us so busy. We need our beauty sleep.
I've been a really bad blogger lately. I haven't posted in awhile and I haven't been able to visit blogs as much. Sorry! We are doing well though, everyone is healthy and happy. Well, I have a cold and stayed home today, but hopefully it will be gone soon.
No more fires like this needed.
It has been a nice spring and we've just been busy. We've been able to get out on more hikes and our training has picked up since the yard is clear of snow.
Happy Easter Bunnies.
Astro is really coming along in agility training. Someday I need to have someone take pictures or video of him so I can share them. His focus is really improving. In our last three practices he has not left me to visit or gotten the zoomies. He's still got the potential to do those things, but he's made great progress. Our other big hold up is my lack of handling skills. But, We're taking monthly lessons and I think I'm improving too, probably at a slower rate than Astro though. :-)
PJ wants in on the fun too.
We went to visit my parents Easter weekend and a week or so ago. It's getting pretty hot in Phoenix. The last time we went Zephyr and Astro just about melted. I brought our agility equipment home since the snow is gone. Maybe we'll make it down one more time so we can swim in the pool.
The weather was perfect during my Spring Break and we were able to get out and have a lot of fun. The temperatures were in the low to mid 60s, which is great hiking weather for the dogs. One day we went down an old forest road that leads to Pumphouse Wash, which isn't really a wash it's more like a creek. I like going to this spot because it's past the area that everyone hikes in and the dogs can run free and safe.
It turned out there was no water in the creek, but there was still some snow on the side of the canyon that faced north.
It didn't take long for the boys to let their spunk out and fly through the forest. This was their first big run with no snow on the ground and they really loved it.
This video is in the nice area on the west side of Pumphouse. They were really hauling butt around their race track. I love how they cool off in the snow and try to make snow angels.
We headed back to the east side of the creek which has another nice open area and they had to have a race around here too.
They both really loved it and looked especially happy on this day.
Zephyr seemed extra happy and playful. He loves to be the chaser and in the past that's the role that he would almost always take in their forest runs. But, I've noticed lately that he's been switching more, being the chasee, and letting Astro be the chaser more often.
I will never tire of watching them run and play in the forest. I'm sure I'm like one of those parents who is always showing pictures of their kids doing the same things over and over again, yet it still seems marvelous brand new to them. :-)
Zephyr did the most running on this hike than he has since before his illness. He and Astro had four big runs plus hiking to and from the area, which I think is at least two miles from our house (I need to take the GPS and measure it). Yes, I was a little worried about how he would feel afterward. No problems, just a tired happy boy.
If you enlarge this picture you can see that Zephyr is completely airborne over a log. I am hardly ever able to catch them with all legs in the air and stretched out, so I wanted to include it even though it's not up close.
Along with never tiring of watching them run, I still get that twinge in my stomach as they fly over and between trees at full greyhound speed. Yet, they have never run into a tree and amazingly they hardly bump anything as they zoom around. Must be the awesome sighthound eyesight.
Zephyr had been getting a lot of nicks and cuts on his toes and hocks because his skin was still really fragile and thin from his medicine. It's also worse in winter with the snow cover when they can't see what they are stepping on. In fact in the month before this hike Zephyr had a big cut on his hock that I had to wrap and gave him antibiotics to help it heal. It had healed, but you might see that it was wrapped on this hike to protect it if bumped while running. I was really happy to see that he did well and only had one tiny nick on a foot when when got home.
The boys really seemed to have spring fever as they tore up the forest. Astro does love to be the chasee. He seems to really take pride in egging him on and leading Zephyr on the most challenging courses possible putting lots of jumps, tight turns, and fake outs in them.
I'm sure I can hear them laughing and calling to each other as they go.
We had some snacks and rested awhile in a cool shady area on the way home.
After a nice meal both boys were sound asleep. My sun catcher sent this rainbow to Zephyr while he slept. A perfect way to end a perfect day.
I was on Spring Break a couple weeks ago, March 12 -16, and Zephyr, Astro, and I had a lot of fun. I'm finally getting around to sharing pictures of our fun. Last year during the same week was when Zephyr got really sick and we ended up in our emergency situation. So this year really rocked! For the first time in a couple years I actually enjoyed my Spring Break. I never mentioned this on the blog, because it really sucked, but the previous year (2010) I moved during Spring Break because of a divorce. Those of you who had been following the blog then may have noticed the subtle and quiet change in the appearance of the house and backyard and were so kind not to mention it. ;-) So 2012 is already seeming like an excellent year, let's keep it up!
"Oh my gosh Zephyr, this is so much fun!" "I know Friday, it's just like when we were puppies!"
Zephyr started the week of with a play and hike date with his buddy Friday. This was their first outing together in over a year. It was so great to see them having fun again. First they played in the yard and rekindled their bond. As younger pups they would go nuts together, racing around and wrestling. Since both boys have had illness or injury in the past year, Friday had a pulled shoulder tendon that has healed nicely, we were happy that they didn't go 100% super crazy, only about 85%. ;-)
Two peas in a pod.
Our hike was really nice, most of the snow was gone and it wasn't very muddy. Friday and Zephyr took turns initiating play. They did get to run in the forest a bit too, but the pictures came out blurred. Zephyr seemed really excited to be out in a new area and was looking and exploring all around. Can't wait to do it again.
Spring Poppy
Astro's week started with a trip to Sedona to practice Rally with friends and then a hike in Woods Canyon. It's really starting to warm up down there and the flowers had started to bloom.
"I love mud!"
Astro had a great time on the trail with his friend Ursa.
"I also love shade."
It was pretty warm, 70s maybe, for a boy who's used to snow and has no fur to protect him from the sun. That didn't stop Astro from exploring though.
Ursa did lots of exploring too.
Kicking up the dust.
On the way out Astro found a rabbit to chase through the trees. After he lost it he had a big case of the zoomies and Ursa joined right in.
Cuties
By the end of the hike I'm pretty sure Astro had a bit of a crush on Ursa. We had so much fun on Spring Break that I'm going to have to share it in a few posts. Stay tuned.
I live with two greyhounds, Zephyr and Astro, and two cats, Riley and Annie. My animals live exciting lives and they like to share some of their adventures in life.
