Winter Realities

Last Saturday, Ted and I decided to take a car ride to see the effects of the 2010 record snowstorm. Come along with us and I'll show you what we saw! The first two pictures were taken on our local road. These are juniper trees laden with SNOW!!! We figure we had about 2 feet of snow in our area.

We went into Show Low and they didn't have much more snow than we did. So, we went a little farther south to Pinetop and drove through the Country Club Estate area. We estimate they had close to 4 feet of snowfall.

This is the Pinetop Fire Station where the roof collapsed. They saw the roof sagging and had time to get the equipment out. At the Hon Dah Casino near here, the roof collapsed over the fuel pumps and over the kitchen as well.

These young ladies had a tough job cleaning off this car.

Work crews were all over the area, as well as a cadre of snowplows.

Ted took this next picture and I liked the image caught in his side view mirror.

Power was out in a large area of the state, and I'm sure these laden power lines were partly responsible.

I was surprised how close these houses are to reservation land.

Free advertising!!!!!!!!

Sunrise Ski Resort in the White Mountains didn't open until yesterday because they lost power, but also because the local road into the resort had 6-12 FEET of snow that had to be cleared. ADOT was working on the remainder of HWY 260 today, finishing clearing the way to Springerville from McNary. Globe, at the base of the canyon to the south, had 11.99 inches of rain in the 5 day period. This was the 3rd worst storm of all time!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More snow...

...this time at Norm and Olga's home. They live about 2 miles from here and about 200 feet lower in elevation. I thought the pictures were beautiful and wanted to share them with you!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!

Finally...SNOW!

Today is Friday, and we've been listening to NOAA radio since Sunday. They have been forecasting dire weather warnings about snow coming our way which would be measured in FEET! So, we went to town, stocked up on everything...and waited...and waited...and waited! We had a small storm early in the week which dropped 6-8 inches of snow. Yesterday, it rained... and rained... and rained. It rained so hard that the motion sensor on our front porch light was activated and the light stayed on for hours. Usually, it goes on for passing rabbits and the occasional coyote, then goes off quickly. Then, during the night, the temps dropped, and so did the snow. We figure we had more than a foot fall, maybe more...and more is forecast through Monday.

.

When I got up this morning I opened the front door and was greeted with THIS! FYI-There are 6 steps up to the front door.

This is one of the junipers off the back porch.

And, a distance shot....

Then, a surprise! The robins stay all winter and I don't know what they find to eat.

This guy posed for me a few days ago, so I included his picture.

And, last, my motorhome is buried in the snow. I'm SO glad we're in the warm house right now!

Remember, you can click on any picture and use Ctrl + to enlarge it. Ctrl - reduces it again.

Stay tuned!

Problem solved!

I love it! I moved the table, since that seemed the easiest solution to my previous problem, and the dogs took over from there! I still think Barney has the best idea...and soft spot. ;) Once again, they were waiting for me to come home! Awww........

And for those of you with SHARP EYES, yes, the tree is still there! We haven't figured out how to store it, but I promise, it will disappear before spring!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Neighbors

Yes, indeed, we have two new neighbors! Their names are Iggy, and Horatio, and they are very well behaved! They are 1 year old male alpacas, and are very quiet and clean.
Iggy let Norm feed him...

...and Olga got to feed him too, while Jon fed Horatio. Yes, they belong to Jon T and are the hit of the neighborhood.

They've only been here a few days, but are quickly discovering that visitors mean "goodies!"

Jon has done a lot of work preparing for their arrival. He fenced in an area near his home, built them a shelter, brought in this hot tub for their summer use, or something like that!

He claims that the "ladies" will be crocheting him new clothing from the wool, but we'll see on that one!!!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!

Just wondering...

I was tutoring on Monday afternoon. Ted and the dogs were home. Ted caught Rebel on his favorite spot, the table by the window!!! Now I know why all my Christmas decorations were always on the floor! Anyone have any ideas how to keep him OFF the table when we're not home? (Barney is in his favorite comfortable spot, the back of the couch. Somehow he seems the smarter of the two dogs. He can see out the window...and be comfortable.)

Stay tuned...........