Actually, winter is HERE- as most of the country can testify. Arizona has escaped the bomb cyclone of snow and below freezing temperatures, but rain and snow are now hitting the high country, with just rain here (so far). Fingers and toes crossed that the Phoenix area (where we will be meeting our kids) will be warmer and drier.
Good thoughts sent out to all those stranded due to flight cancellations!
We were in Flagstaff last week- AFTER the big storm- for my annual knee replacement checkup. We took some time after the appointment to drive up to Snow Bowl to see how our favorite aspen viewing area looks in the winter. There were signs posted along the road to NOT STOP, but on our way back from the ski area there was absolutely no traffic going down the mountain, so we were able to pull over so I could take some shots out the window as we slowly drove by.
Today we celebrate the returning of the light- a huge thing for our Alaska family who will be joining us next week, along with our Southern California family. We will spend time in Scottsdale, which we hope will be light and relatively warm for our escapees from the dark and snow!
Happy Solstice!!!
The floofy little sparrows took shelter among the snow covered branches last week as the snow continued to come down last week. And now the snow has melted, and I’m thinking spring is just around the corner!
Here is another glimpse of the Winter of 2018.
Merry Christmas to you all!
I spotted this little tree on our October trip to Flagstaff and had to stop and take its photo. It was snowing, and I loved how the little tree was framed by the larger ones. Despite being overshadowed (literally), it grew, and showed its perfect form when covered with snow. The little tree that could!
This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door
of a vanished house left ajar.
~ Margaret Atwood
Although there are signs of Spring, winter has not loosened its grip. Although this photo is from two months ago, I could have taken a similar shot this week. Snow is only on the ground in patches currently, but it has snowed more days than not in the last week.
This is from a couple weeks ago when there was still snow at Willow Lake. It snowed again last night, but it was only an inch or so on my side of town- and I didn’t see significant snow at Willow when we drove by this morning. I love the contrast of the white snow against the warm tones of the rocks.
I had never been in snow until I went skiing in high school. For me, snow has always been something you visit, not live in. When our daughter was in her early twenties, she moved to Montana and later Wyoming. We spent quite a few Thanksgivings and Christmases with her family when they lived at Yellowstone, so I could see first hand what it was like to have real winters! And of course, now they live in Alaska. . .
But when we moved to Prescott, we got to have the experience of having snow at our own home- and I do love it. Our usual snowfall only lasts a few days and it’s really light. But this year and also two years ago, we had heavy, everything STOPS, snow- unplowed roads, no mail, no garbage pickup, and no way to get out- nothing to do but stay home and keep snow off the satellite dish. Thank goodness we had plenty of food and no power outages!
The best part of snow for me is how it totally transforms our drab neighborhood into a Christmas card! This image is from last week- shot from our driveway as night was falling.
As I write this, I haven’t been able to get out yet to take photos- fingers crossed that the snow plow guy will come later today. The photo below was taken a few weeks ago with just a dusting of snow on Prescott’s iconic Thumb Butte.
Our winter is coming in dibs and dabs this year. This was taken at Granite Basin Lake after our end of the year mini-snowstorm.
It looked like the Canada geese felt right at home as they paddled through the chilly water on this cold winter day. It was just Tuesday that Watson Lake was surrounded by white- but now the beautiful Arizona sunshine has melted most of it, leaving white in just the shadiest areas. I have learned to get out and take photos right away here in Prescott, as more often than not, the snow only lasts for a few days. This image was taken with my iPhone.
It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed . . . . .
and now it’s all gone.
One of the best things about snow is ICICLES!
We could barely make a dent in the snow covering our driveway, our street wasn’t plowed, and we began to think about how we would be able to get out in case of a medical emergency (not that we had any). On Saturday, Lonnie found a guy through our local Facebook page, and we had our driveway plowed in no time (finding a place to dump all the snow was a little tricky!). We discovered that our street at the BOTTOM of the hill was plowed, but even our snow plow hero had a hard time getting his truck up to our house.
By Sunday, the snow on the road started to melt, and we were able to finally get out. Everywhere you go, people are asking each other how they got out and when. I have one friend who finally got out Monday and another who still hasn’t been able to make it out as far as I know. Prescott is used to snow, but usually measured in inches, not feet. Our house is in an area of town where the snowfall is lighter than downtown- some neighborhoods got almost three feet in this storm!
My photo group meets today, and, due to the snow, we are just bringing digital images (no prints- yay!). All our images are to be SNOW related- and there will be SNACKS!
melinda anderson photography 