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Friday, May 24, 2013

From Snain to Desert Sun

Before our desert trip, we were in the midst of one last storm that put me over the edge. I was just looking at my photos from that day when it was "snaining", a combination of rain and snow. Based on this photo, I think that Shyla had gone over the edge too!
I know that it will storm again. Indeed, it will even snow again (it snows here every month except July and August) but our desert break put me in a frame of mind to cope with it and maybe even enjoy it.

What I love about the west is the vast open spaces and the hugely variable terrain and climate. By driving for a few hours, we left the snow behind us and were in a warm, if alien, world. The next photo was about 24 hours after Shyla's "unhappy" photo above. It was quite a transformation, in every way.
Flowers were blooming. A dwarf lupine...
Desert paintbrush...
And technicolor lizards were skittering around, like this Collared Lizard.
We could be outside in shorts and tee-shirts all day long, enjoying the sun's warmth.
Although we were super careful about protecting the dogs' paws with boots, R still got sore paws during our trip, so it turns out that I don't have many photos of him. We didn't want him clambering around in the red rocks any more than necessary. This is one of the few.
I love desert sunsets. Unlike our mountain home, the sun is visible all the way until it falls below the flat horizon creating gorgeous light. I can't resist photographing Shyla in that light.
We could see, on our eastern horizon, some snow-capped mountains that lit up with alpenglow at sunset. Later in the trip, when the weather got too hot, we escaped to the mountains to cool off.
Shyla really came into her own on the trip, handling the huge variety of new things that we ran into, like other people/bikers on trails, lizards, small towns where we stopped for groceries... She'll never be the most confident dog in the world but she's moving toward being comfortable in a variety of situations.
She adores the tricks that I've taught her, and she often does them without me asking. One evening, as we watched the sun dip below the horizon, she waved goodbye to the day. It made me laugh!
Have a great weekend!

18 comments:

  1. That last pic makes us laugh too - what a doll!!!

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  2. What amazing photo's :) From Milo & Jet

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  3. The technicolor lizard could make it on TV these days, there is a commercial that uses them! Of course they have to take direction, spose these guys can do that.

    Cheers and Happy Weekend,
    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  4. What a contrast! Snow and SUN!

    XXXOOO Daisy, bella & Roxy

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  5. What a huge contrast in a few hours distance, I'm sure Shyla and R so enjoyed the rocky areas, lizards and all else. Super photos, the snow in the distance at the perfect time, beautiful, Batteries recharged for maybe the last snow of the season. Greetings from Jean

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  6. Did you hear our awwwwwwwwwwwww, Shyla? The last picture is our favorite!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  7. Shyla is quite the character!! lovely lizard!
    xoxo

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  8. Mother Nature is amazing. Hot, cold, sun, clouds, rain, snow....

    We loved that little lizard, such a pretty color.

    Hope that R's paws are feeling better today.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle

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  9. It is so awesome to see how she has grown - her personality is really shining through.

    Sam

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  10. Love love LOVE the waving photo! What a beautiful pupper!

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  11. What a great adventure. :) I LOVE that lizard! So cool!

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  12. Great Pictures, the Lizard is awsome, what colours. Wow!
    Shyla is a Beauty...she looks more and more like a lady now

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  13. It is Shyla's world because she is the Daughter of the Mountains!
    Beyond beautiful photos..!
    love
    tweedles

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  14. That Shyla cracks me up too.
    Have a wonderful Memorial Day.

    xo Cinnamon

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  15. Hi Y'all!

    Love that last picture of Shyla!

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  16. I think it is so interesting to leave snow and in a few hours be in desert! Thanks for sharing those great pictures of the desert - I so love the desert.

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