Northern AZ Getaway -- the Stewarts' Cabin

Our temps have ranged 106 - 111 since I don't know when.  At least, those are the numbers the weatherman's been telling us.  Our outdoor thermometer, which resides in the shade, has looked exactly like this every day, so who really knows?

Chris and Kelly Stewart have a cabin in northern AZ (just north of Payson) that they have invited us to many times, but it has never worked out for us to join them in the past.  They SUPER kindly extended it to us for this past weekend, as it was blazing hot in Phoenix and Chris was on call...  We were more than happy to make the 2 hr drive -- and help them keep that poor cabin from going to waste.  ;)

Temps there are 20+ degrees cooler during the day, and the nights are almost crisp.  Oh man.  I'm ruined!  Chris and Kelly have put a ton of work into their cabin, and it is positively lovely.  

Another thing we loved about it?  No wifi and no cell service.  Seriously.  When was the last time you went 48 hours without that?  No dinging, no emails... Just time with the people in front of you.  Pretty great.  

^ There's our 2013 Sequoia that we bought last month.  It's a beast, but we love it!

Such a beautiful area.  Amazing that this change in scenery is so close to home.  And risky of the Stewarts' to give us access.....  We might not leave!

 Scarlett can roam freely because she's curious but has a great recall. Not surprisingly, Khaki has to stay on leash at all times due to major wanderlust that trumps even her selective listening.  She would be gone in 60 seconds. (not that I didn't consider it........ joking.)

***

 We drove up Friday night after Mikel got off of work, hit the sack, and were up the next morning to go hiking.  Woods Canyon Lake is only about 10 mins from their cabin, so we loaded up to head there for a couple of hours.

 Woods Canyon Lake boasted lots of kayaks and fishermen.  It was a great hiking spot!

 What a mess, this one.

  My mom randomly sent Nolan these binoculars, which arrived the morning before we left to head north.  Talk about perfect timing!  He wore them every waking moment, declaring himself "a 'splorer!"

Belly shot: Aug 8 (24w, 5d)

 Even big 'splorers need smooches from their mamas, sometimes. :)

N found these sticks, then plopped down on the rock and started rubbing them together, saying, "I'm making fire!"  ha!  Future Eagle Scout?

 Baby bald eagle (as assured by one of the rangers on site).  I realized then that I had glimpsed one of the adults soaring over the lake earlier... I noticed its white head, but figured it couldn't possibly be a bald eagle.  Sure enough!

 Khaki thinks she's a lab.

 After nap, we took another hike - this time on the property surrounding the Stewarts' cabin.  Chris told us there was a creek to be found a short trapse away.  Was great to see - but tall weeds made it not quite as suited to those 3 feet tall.

Dear old dad.  Mikel about got every hair on his head pulled out by the end of this.  ha!

 Crab apples?

 Kelly, your farm sink makes a great bathtub, and Mom doesn't have to lean over!

 Nolan was MAXED on enthusiasm and was unraveling quickly by evening.  We had planned to introduce him to a campfire + marshmallow roasting, but then wisened up, put him to bed, and enjoyed our own fireside time.  Much more relaxing, and no one had to share their s'mores.

 ***
Sunday morning.  Not a bad way to start the day. (Note the jammies + binoculars.)

 Making a line of "strawberry sailboats".  Love that imaginative play is starting to bloom.

 More walking (sorry -- it's what we did!  Was so great being outside!)

 Blowing dandelions

 Scarlett loves this life!

 Khaki's jealous...

 Today was a little warmer, so we lingered in the shady spots.

Sooo pretty!

 "I'm see some birds!"

 "I'm yooking for Scarlett..." (see her in the shade at 2:00?)

Finally the time came to pack up and head back to the firey pit...  Sigh.  Glad to be in Phoenix, SUPER glad for Mikel's group, love our house --- but the heat is a lot.  Chris and Kelly, you saved our psyche this weekend!  Thank you sooo much.  No idea how we'll repay THIS, but we owe you!!

Boulder (thanks, Beautycounter!)

*Apr 29 - May 1

We got to visit Uncle Bruce, Aunt Lisa and Mokie in Boulder, CO!  I recently became a consultant for Beautycounter (probably write more on that some other time), and we had our first consultant conference in Denver -- so this was the perfect excuse to have a (tax-deductible!) visit to this part of our family.  And at a beautiful time of year.  Perfect!

Bruce and Lisa's house is in the foothills, and it is gorgeous.

 This is the view from their back deck!  

Was a touch hazy this day, but I could be convinced to sit out there for a looooong time.

*****

Because we were there during the week while Bruce and Lisa had to work, we loaded up with Mokie and took off to see an African safari/sanctuary about an hour from Boulder.

These two had lots to talk about:

Newly rescued tigers get accustomed to their new home and each other before being released into the one of the massive fields to join the others.

 I can't even guess how many tigers this place had... 50? More? Sad that so many need rescuing, but glad to see they have a beautiful and safe place to live out their lives.

An example of the placards at each different species' field/enclosure.  Tragic to read but interesting and useful to know the background of many of the animals present.

 You walk all the way down this bridge/platform and look down into the fields.  A pretty impressive place!

 Mokie treated us to lunch -- and Nolan shared part of her Snickers bar.  Luck duck!

 Lions

 Black Bear

 Not hard to be convinced to drive for an hour when the Rockies are your scenery :)

*****

 Back at the house that night, Lisa treated Nolan to a marshmallow roast.

 He wasn't too sure about getting up close to the fire.....

 Uncle Bruce with Daisy

 *****

Lisa is an avid walker (who wouldn't be, with scenery like this?) and she took us on a little road hike. It was a lot of steps for Nolan's little legs and it was slow going, but he had a blast.  I think he inspected in grand detail every rock and pine cone along the way.

 Catching a ride with dear old Dad.

Introducing him to roly-poly's

 But the real favorite toy of the week was: the doggy door!

 Just his size.

 Daisy was happy to give him a lesson in how it's done!

 *****

I was especially happy to spend a bit of time seeing Mokie's adorable apartment.  It is so cute and cozy!  I couldn't wish for a better place for her.

 What a blessing you are to me, Mokie -- and you always have been.

 She even treated us to lunch - again! - down in her building's restaurant.  The food was actually very good -- and we indulged in some cobblers and pies for dessert.  I would go back!

 Nolan got some chocolate ice cream.  If you think Grandmas can spoil, you should see Great-Grandmas at work!

*****

We left Mokie at her apartment, as she had an appt to get her hair done, and headed back to Bruce and Lisa's just across town.  Lisa generously offered to Mikel and me that she would like to listen for Nolan while he napped, so Mikel and I could go for a short hike by ourselves.  We didn't argue, and jumped at the chance!

A short hailstorm blew through the area just as nap time was approaching. (Notice the fleece jammies.  We do nap time right.)

Nolan crashed, the hail stopped, and off we went!

 In case you needed motivation to walk quickly.  ha!

 Mikel feels most alive in the mountains.  I really love this about him, and as we live in the desert, I am finding I agree.

Sad to see how much of this beautiful area has been touched by wildfires -- and how very long it takes to recover.

 Throwing rocks into the canyon.  Boys!

 Making some of these bigger, for detail!

This was so refreshing and fun, just us.  Thank you again, Lisa!  Glad Nolan took a good nap for you!

*****

 Daisy cracks me up.  She is obsessed with carrying shoes around, and will routinely come bounding up into a chair with a tennis shoe in tow.  No idea why I didn't get a pic of Boone, their other dog.  Sorry, Boone.  Next time!

 Another gift from Bruce and Lisa: the bubble blower to end all bubble blowers...

 ... which we put to use in the living room until we realized just how many bubbles it puts out!

 What a party house.

 A little more time on the deck before we headed out.

Next up: Denver!

Bruce and Lisa, you are much too generous.  Your home is as comfortable as I remembered, you sent us for a grown-up hike, and we left with clean laundry and without paying for a thing (as much as we tried!).  There is a reason why you have a revolving door of visitors!  We very much look forward to the next time.  In the meantime -- we will miss you!  And.... let's chat further about that house swap arrangement in February.  ;)