Fire and Coals Crackling

We enjoyed a camp fire and I could not resist taking an up close photo of the red fiery embers.

We hope you cook or roast something delicious today.

The winter season is a great time to share around the fire and the kitchen with friends and family.

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The Blue Stormy Sky With Lone Tree

I like this lone tree living at the red rock on a cliff.

This photo was taking just before the storm started. Although you can see raindrops that had landed on the redrock making spots on the sandstone.

I found this tree and red sandstone near Page, Arizona on Navajo lands. I had to hike back in to find it though.

It is a amazing that a little green bush and small tree can find a way to grow on these red cliffs.

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Quack, Quack, Quack!

Here is a photo of a mother and ten little ducklings.

They do not belong in the rocks, under a bush, by a cement driveway at a home.

The mother and little ones were not near water, which can be very dangerous especially in the Arizona heat.

There are groups like Liberty Wildlife who can help provide animal rescue when this situation occurs. And that is who we called. But some of them ended up in a neighbors fountain until all of the little ducklings could be captured.

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Dragonfly Resting on Thai Princess

I was pleasantly surprised to see a dragonfly resting on the head of my Thai Princess statue, which sits next to the swimming pool in my backyard.

Dragonflies are signs of good luck and I like to see them flying around.

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Fire Near The Freeway

I was a passenger in a car driving on the I-10 freeway on the west side of Phoenix when I saw this big white smoke plume.

I grabbed my camera and quickly took this photo from the moving vehicle.

This is a different type of cloud in the sky.

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Hole in the Rock

A beautiful day for hiking up to Hole In the Rock.

This popular hiking spot is at Papago Park.

The weather is very nice right now so people are getting outdoors and enjoying all types of activities.

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Phoenix Open Begins!

Today is the first day of the Phoenix Open.

The event is 75 years old and is hosted at TPC Scottsdale, which is shown in the photo.

The Phoenix Open has the largest crowds on the entire PGA Tour. Fore!

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Brilliant Sunset on the Horizon

A dramatic orange glow for Sunset. Enlarge or all of the color and details that will burst from your computer screen.

I took this photo from Papago Park. Sometimes it is hard to look through the camera at such brilliant color and light. Happy Sunday!

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Camelback Mountain, Clouds and Blue Sky

This is a photo taken from by backyard looking up at this gorgeous sky.

I was amazed to see these fluffy white clouds lazily drifting in the brilliant blue sky over Camelback Mountain.

I ran and grabbed my camera before the scene disappeared. It looks like a painting.

Enjoy and have a great day!

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Orange Phoenix Skyline

Here is a photo of the Phoenix Skyline taken from Papago Park Mountains. Enlarge this photo for great detail.

The orange glow really adds dimension. The water in the forefront of the photo looks like a mirror.

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Red and Black Arabian Costume

Look at the details in this photo of this red and black Arabian costume.

This costume for horse and rider was worn during the Arabian Mounted Native Costume event at the 55th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse show.

The Arabian Horse Show runs from February 11 through February 22.

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Arabian Horse and Costume

At the 55th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, one of the events is a Native Arabian Costume Event.

Look at the photo of this beautiful and proud Arabian.

The Arabian Mounted Native Costume event is one of my favorite events at the show.

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A Trainer and Arabian Horse

Look at the photo of this trainer and his Arabian Horse getting ready to compete in the ring.

The Arabian horse is alert and watching the trainer for cues.

The Arabian is a beautiful color and competed very well in the ring at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

The Show ends on February 22, 2010.

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A Gorgeous Black Arabian Horse

Look at the photo of this proud, sleek, radiant black Arabian horse.

The 55th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse show starts on February 11.

The Scottsdale event is one of the top events in the Arabian horse show world.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

The two flowers nestled so intimately in this beautiful pinkish red bougainvillea seemed appropriate for Valentine's Day.

The flowers look so delicate and the color and detail of the bougainvillea is so pretty.

I was lucky to find this image in my own backyard.

Don't forget to buy flowers for your someone special. Happy Valentine's Day!

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The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

The 55th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show started on February 11 at West World.

There will be more than 2,300 horses from around the World coming to Scottsdale.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Cactus Point and Pollen

And one more macro of a vibrant cactus flower.

I like the juxtaposition of the cactus point and the center of the flower caked in pollen.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Desert Bee and Cactus Flower

Here is a photo of a desert bee and an entire image of the cactus flower from yesterday.

Since 2002, the Africanized honeybees made their way to the Southwest including Arizona. The Killer Bees do attack small animals in backyards as well as elderly people and they attach in swarms and repeatedly sting. Some have died from the stings. It is not real common but does happen.

My scariest encounter with a swarm of bees was once when I was hiking in the desert and I heard this hum that started to sound like a roar. My instincts were that something was wrong. The sky got dark so we laid on the dirt under a tree in a low spot and the swarm flew over and we had no incident.

One other time I had a swarm of bees take over the front door at my house. One at a time the bees would get into my house and fly around and I could not figure out where they were coming from. Finally I saw the swarm and had to get a beekeeper to come and remove it.

Do you have any interesting bee stories?

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Close-up of Cactus Flower

I really like macro photos and this one has details that are quite interesting.

It almost looks like a piece of art.

I took this photo of the cactus flower blooming while I was hiking in Saguaro National Monument Park.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Cactus Forest

Here is a photo of the many saguaro growing on the side of the mountain at the Saguaro National Monument Park in Tucson.

Each Saguaro is so old and so majestic.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

They Went That Away

Here is a photo of Saguaro ribs that are standing after the Saguaro cactus has died and the fleshy outer layers have deteriorated leaving behind the saguaro ribs standing like an Egyptian Sentinel to be a tombstone to mark the life and death of a saguaro.

In hiking on trails in the Saguaro National Park in Tucson, you see many interesting sights of nature.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Close-up of Cactus Arms

This photo shows a close-up of the arms on yesterday's Saguaro cactus.

Tucson's Saguaro National Monument Park is full of thousands of these magnificent Saguaro cacti.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Gigantic Cactus Tree

There are many trails to hike in the Saguaro National Monument Park in Tucson.

I was hiking and found this stately and gigantic cactus tree. It was a perfect sky and day to take this image.

Remember it takes 80 years of life before a Saguaro cactus can start to grown an arm. You can now see how old the Saguaro cactus is in the photo.

Also, the cactus weighs approximately 100 pounds per foot (150 kilograms per meter). These cactus are very heavy from the dense, moist flesh containing so much water.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Saguaro National Monument

Now we will venture to Tucson's Saguaro National Monument. This national park is truly beautiful.

You drive for miles as it is 91,440 acres (37,000 hectares) of which approximately three-fourths of this area is true wilderness.

There are two sections of the national park. In the West is Tucson mountains, and to the East is Rincon Mountains. Each section has a visitor's center.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Swimming Pool at El Conquistador

Here is a photo of the swimming pool at the Hilton El Conquistador resort in Tucson.

Gorgeous isn't it. The backdrop of the mountain really makes for a dramatic swimming spot.

The Tucson tour will continue for the next few days.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Tucson Textures of a Cactus Flower

Here is a macro photo of a cactus flower. You can see the textures and the pollen of this colorful flower that was blooming in the hot desert.

Bees come to visit these flowers and the life of the flowers re short-lived. You can see the buds of other flowers that have not opened yet in the background of this flower.

Tucson is a higher elevation than Phoenix. Tucson is approximately 2,000 feet (600 meters), whereas Phoenix is approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters).

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

El Conquistador Resort in Tucson

I am still continuing my photos of Tucson and this is a photo taken from the balcony of my hotel room at the Hilton El Conquistador.

The sky was very interesting and that is the moon above the mountain that you see.

Tucson has lots of nice resorts nestled in the mountains.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Theme Day: Wood

Today is the theme day for City Daily Photo bloggers and the theme is wood.

I thought this might be a creative way to show wood.

I was in Sedona and saw this fascinating pattern on this tree that was made by a termite (or some type of wood bore). I liked the blue sky and Sedona red mountains in the background.

This week, the photos on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site features the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. If you have not been there yet, you should treat yourself to a preview of a visit on our site. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with its beauty.

To see how other daily photo bloggers have interpreted the theme of wood: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants