Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! (And then MELT!)

I grew up in Yuma, AZ. If you don't know where Yuma is, it's 20 miles from Mexico, and right on the California border. Think HOT, and DRY! If it rained 2 or 3 times a year we were lucky. I always hated the climate (even though "snow bird"  Winter visitors come from Canada and Northern US states to winter there), and I always said "I want to live where it snows".

My Dad, who grew up in Northern Arkansas, would always reply "No, you just THINK you want to live where it snows".

In the early 1990s, when our children were quite small, my husband and I decided to take a big leap, and move from Yuma. We went to Williams, AZ. Pine trees, fresh air, small town, SNOW. LOTS and lots of snow. That year was a record snow fall year- 90some inches. By the time the winter was over, I understood what Dad meant.

Snow is magic when it is falling, I still love it. And it is so beautiful all spread out white and pretty. But when it stays, and stays, and stays, it's not so pretty. Underfoot it packs down and freezes and gets slippery. And along the roads it piles up all dirty and ugly and mucky.

We moved to Payson, AZ at the end of March.Williams was still grey and brown, with melting snow all over. Payson was greening up, with Spring shrubs and bulbs coming up. So pretty.

Payson has the best snow imaginable, the magic without the muck. It falls (several times a Winter, usually), it's lovely for a few days, and then it has the good grace to MELT! We got 6 inches, mostly Monday night. Tuesday morning the roads were quite passable (of course it took me half an hour, with shoveling and tire spinning to get out of my driveway). By Wednesday the roads had been plowed, and were not only clear, but largely DRY. There are still drifts and expanses of snow around, but we are supposed to be sunny today and Friday, with a temperature of 50 degrees, so a lot of it will melt off. 

The picture above was taken on Monday evening, some snow already fallen, more coming that night.

The picture here is the same tree (to the left), on Tuesday morning, after about 6 inches of snow the night before but with several hours of sunshine.

The only problem with lingering snow in Payson, really, is if you have a shaded porch or step or driveway- then you will have to shovel, or the white stuff may stick around and turn icy.

If you want to live with four seasons, but not too extreme- Payson is the place!

Pictures by me