The rainy non winter of 2017

Not a whole lot to write about in this post. Just some pictures and videos to share. 

Zach loves to play with his trains.

Natalie doesn't think this is very funny but I think it is hilarious. Zach thought he was a dog one day and brought me his keys in his mouth and wanted to play fetch. No he's not the first three year old on the planet that has done that. 

On a hike doing some coyote scouting. Thought I would head north of Cave Creek. I may have had some coyotes calling back while I started my distressed rabbit call or it may have been some campers. This spot wasn't as good as I was expecting. It was too close to camp grounds and nothing came in. 

A week prior I had tried calling in Scottsdale where I could only use a bow. I had four coyotes come in within a couple minutes. I knew where they would be coming from because I heard them calling when I got out of my car. Then came charging in at my call just 15 feet to the left of me. I got my first shot out at 40-50 yards while the coyote was running and missed. Then the next three came charging in one by one. The last one stopped when it got past my call and headed back. I pulled back and was aiming and accidentally released early and missed. The coyotes were very bold and hung around for 5 minutes 80 yards away. When I tried to come out of the bush and take aim at one they finally took off. I wish the coyotes were this brave where I can use a rifle. Coyotes are just too fast for me to get with a bow.

Somewhere in Cave Creek area.

On a hike around Daisy Mountain last week. All the flowers started blooming. The blooms are getting more intense every day.

In between the mountain ranges there is a blue section. That is Lake Pleasant. I think it's the first time I have seen it from Daisy Mountain. It's only a small section of the lake as the rest is behind the mountains. The furthest row of houses is where we are moving at the end of the month.

Poppies everywhere.

Yesterday after work I took the wife on a hike up Daisy Mountain. As we were going up I told her about one of the first times I was hiking up Daisy and some not too intelligent ladies told me they saw a turtle at the first summit. A turtle in the desert. I knew they meant desert tortoise. Well yesterday when I got a few hundred yards from the summit I heard a hissing noise and had a wobbly step. I turned around wondering what the heck I had stepped on and there was a desert tortoise. It's illegal to harass the tortoises but I had to pick it up to make sure it wasn't hurt. While I was checking the bottom of the shell the tortoise peed on my leg. I took it away from the trail with hopes that someone fatter than me wouldn't step on it.With all the hiking I have done in the desert I have found three tortoise shells. However this is the first live tortoise I have found. I was starting to think I would never find one.

Everywhere north of Phoenix is insanely green this year from all the rain.

In this picture it's easy to see Lake Pleasant because of the reflection of the sun.

Gavilan Peak. I still haven't found my way up this one.

New River and Desert Hills.