Camping!

In June I was CRAVING camping! I needed a camping break... but half of the state of Arizona was on fire... so we stayed safe and just went north of Payson.

 I was SO sad that I did not get to toast marshmallows and make Smores!

 Here is our camper all set up...

 Mike had to take some "thinking" breaks!

 We LOVE to cook at our campsite..... so we cooked breakfast and dinner... but at lunchtime we were out exploring what Pine and Strawberry had to offer and we tried some new little restuarants.

 It's always fun trying new places to eat.

 We also went to several arts/crafts/antiques/thrift/gifty/junky places

 We saw many things we almost couldn't live without... how about this spray painted cow and sliver metal cactus?!?!?... if our yard was only bigger! Ha!

 Some of our adventures were very strenuous and Mike had to have some more "thinking" time.

 While Mike is thinking I always bring all my coupons/recipes/catalogs/magazines/andjunk to sort through and organize.

 I LOVE watching little forrest critters so I always put out some food... on a paper plate of course... and see who comes to nibble.

 Heres some of the scenery around our campsite

 No I didn't steal the scenery... We went to a HUGE nursery in Payson and I wanted to take a bunch of the plants there home... but the nursery guy and Mike convinced me that the plants there would NOT survive in Phoenix... so I settled on some cool little succulents to put on our patio table. I will be happy to report that they are all alive and well!

 OK... the highlight our our trip.... While we were driving around we noticed the Tonto natural bridge sign so we decided to take a look. Neither of us had been there in a LONG time and couldn't remember anything about it. It was SO cool!

 We walked to some of the view points and took pictures and saw all the trails that go down to the cave and water. We did not plan on hiking and did not have enough water with us but we will definitely go back and do that.

 But there was one short trail that said it went to a waterfall... OK... we will do that while we are here... well... it starts as a trail and then it turns into 900 steps! This better be good!

 Well... it was worth the walk! I was even more excited about it than Mike... somehow I sense Mike's excitement was sarcasm....  OK... while you scroll through the next few pics just imagine the sound of water drops and calm symphonic music.... Ahhhhh.....

 I was good and obeyed the sign even though I wanted to go farther..

 I have never seen so much real live fern and green plants... It was so pretty and lush I just loved it!

 Ok... now it's back up those 900  steps!

 When we got back to the parking lot we saw this!

 Wild piggies! I probably got closer to them than I should have but I had never seen a herd of wild piggies before!

 Now it's back to our camp site and more wildlife!

 And more thinking.... (zzzzzzzzzz)

 I can't forget to mention how GOOD we ate... I guess we are just like the wild piggies when we go camping!

 steak and all the fixins...

 Chicken stew and biscuit dumplings... I sure missed the dutch oven and cobbler... darn fire restrictions!

I had SO much fun thanks to my camping buddy! (ok... you know that we are holding Martinellis... just look two pictures up... the labels didn't show and it looks funny! ha!)