Glen Arbor Park

Just another day at the park..
Glen Arbor Park in Murrieta, CA
Essa enjoys visiting everyday to play with her friends.. running and romping and wrestling..and getting pretty tuckered out by the end of an hour!
We've met all kinds of dogs.. all different breeds.. all different personalities..and everyone gets along very well!
Socializing is soooo important at a young age..Im so glad we found this place..and so glad to have made new friends .. both four-legged and the two legged kind :)

treasures to be hold..

mushrooms...

dog-butts...

dogs in tunnels...

dog feet...

dewdrops
ahhh... life at the dog park...

oh that face...

i just can't get enough of this face...


need pics of your pets???
give me a shout!

and then there's THIS face.. lil Mz Penny..

who's battling the fight with Leukemia right now..and so the Pfatties ebay group have rallied and created a special auction to help raise money for the Leukemia - Alabama Chapter for Miss Penny..
I do hope you'll pass the word.. feel free to grab this banner and post it all over the web..and stop by the auction scheduled to start on Valentine's Day..

Essa Smiles...

..but not today...
its been raining..
all day...
and Lil Miss Essa no likey the raindrops...
needless to say..
we've had a couple of accidents in the house today :(

The Carrizo Badlands Mud Caves in Arroyo Tapiado

If you are ever in the Anza Borrego desert..you just GOTTA go explore the Mud caves
Quoting from the website: "One of the most fascinating points of interest in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves. Arroyo Tapiado, translated from Spanish, means “walled wash.” The Mud Caves are found along the walls of this wash canyon. One of the most extensive mud cave systems in the world, they contain approximately 22 known caves and 9 slot canyons.

The length of the caves varies, with some extending over 1000 feet and featuring ceilings as high as 80 feet. Caves have been reported up to 35 feet wide, and others so narrow, you have to squeeze through openings. Multi-level caves with skylights have been found, where erosion has created an opening, or sinkhole, in the ceiling of the cave. Some of the caves are fairly easy to navigate while others may require you to crawl in sections.

Getting There:

4WD is recommended. Some non-4WD vehicles have driven into the beginning of the canyon, but to drive through the canyon you will need 4WD.

The Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves are located in the southern part of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

-Take the S2 (from the 8 head North) to mile marker 43

-Take the Palm Springs or Vallecito Wash exit (dirt road heading East)

-Approximately 4.5 miles in, you will see a sign that says Arroyo Tapiado (on the left)

-Go left at the Arroyo Tapiado Wash which will be heading North

-Continue on Arroyo Tapiado Wash Road until you reach the canyon area where the caves are located. ""

This place was just the coolest ever! I can't wait to go back again and spend more time 'spelunking' heheheeh.. there were just so many to explore.. it would be great to camp right outside the cave entrance so that you can explore all day and then at dusk watch the bats fly out of them!!!

We encountered a 4wheel Toyota group of about 10 vehicles making their way thru the trails and to Diablo Drop Off.. there was even a spot along the way that we called the 'squeeze' because of huge rocks in the way..and we had to squeeze, climb and make our way over a verrrrrry tight, scary place. But, we made it and didn't get stuck! Can't say that for the Toyota group.. a few had to be wenched and towed out of the sand!! heheehe snicker..

After a couple of nites in the desert..we stopped at Vail Lake on the way home and spent the nite there. Here we got to enjoy the sounds of coyotes off in the distance..the hooting of the Owls, and the tap-tap-tapping of the Woodpecker in a nearby tree :)
In the morning..as I wandered over to the riding stables that they have on the Vail Lake property to pet the ponies :) ... i came upon a pack of coyotes all frolicking around the pond! I think there were about 6-7 of them.. playing..and running around..and investigating the edge of the pond! I could only get a couple of pics of them.. before I scared them off :(
Hope you enjoy the slideshow...and I hope you get a chance to get away for a weekend and Explore :)
xoxo
sam

swimming with sharks...

errr..i mean..swimming with baby alligator lizards...

for the past two days... I've had to fish this guy outta the pool..
not sure if its the same fella..maybe i should start 'tagging' them lol
isn't he just SOOO Cute??? awwwwww


i love them when they're so wee.. we have found them even smaller before..and they are just so adorable!

Usually..when Betsy-Boo's not doing this....


or this...

she can be found outside 'hunting' and likes to bring me lizards..

this one she brought back to play with...

then she usually takes them off somewhere and 'feasts'. We've found so many headless bodies about the yard... its disgusting!
all of this usually happens when Tippy is inside...
doing this...

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

...wandering around the back country..

ok..this first picture isn't from the 'backcountry' of southern cal.. but it is in my town..and yes.. Timmy just HAD to take me there to get one of these YUMMMMMY treats!! If you are obsessed with Thin Mints from the Girl Scouts cookie sales, then you will absolutley NEED to have a Thin Mint Blizzard from Dairy Queen!!! YUM -O!!
Actually this was our last stop of the day (DQ) after Tim and I packed up the jeep with a picnic basket and headed out saturday morning :)
We decided to wander about the 'back country' as we call it..lol..and drive thru the Bonsall , Fallbrook and Rainbow Canyon area of Southern Cal..
Its just so pretty..hilly.. and scenic..it feels as if you've escaped the city and have been plopped down right in the middle of God's country! I love traveling thru there..wishing we owned about 50 acres of hills and rocks!
This cattle farm was one of the stops..and they didn't really care for me being there taking their picture..(then tim reminded me i had a 'red dress' on..and maybe I was scaring them off!)
This creature.. not sure what to call them.. (I never did understand or learn proper cattle names.. )
but he was funny..as he stood directly over one of the sprinklers that were going ...keeping cool..or was he taking a shower??



We found a road..that wound and wrapped its way around some hill..and then narrowed and became a bit treacherous..and ended up at a locked gate :(


me.. in the mirror.. and yes..you would all freak if you could see that i am actually wearing a DRESS!!!!!!
i know..i know..
shocking!


My Timmy.. surrounded by cacti


oh ya..and have to throw in a Betsy-Boo pic for good measure..and because she loves me :)

oh ya..and a cactus farm we found along the way..
ouch


ok..get your minds out of the gutter and get over the fact they look so...


so..

phallic!!