Snow in Tucson

Snow: Too Much, Already or Whee! This is Fun
     Yesterday, when the weatherman said there would be snow in Tucson down to 3000 feet we all said, okay. Then this morning it was beautiful and the Accenture Golf Tournament told how they'd let the grass grow (in other words they didn't trim it overnight to it's velvety smooth World Class Golf Tournament quality) and wet the geens down. Well, they started off fine this morning at 8 am or so just fine at about 48 degrees and pretty and very little wind, but by 10 am it started raining, 10:30 am it was pouring rain, and by 11:30 am it was SNOWING!!! Big large fluffy flakes. Everyone on Facebook was posting photos and Taylor my young 14 year old friend called me from her high school, all excited. My daughter called to tell me to look out the window, and yes, I did go out and take pictures. 

Looking West from My Front Door 11:30am

Looking Out my Front Door towards the Road

Looking East Down the Ramp

     The above photos are indeed showing just a little bit of snow, but, boy oh boy was it fun to see all the comments on FaceBook by friends in Tucson about this unusual snow day. I have a photo of  my granddaughter playing out in it. But it didn't last too long, it began raining and the snow turned to slush and mud.

Tehya Lee Palmer age 2 1/2  Playing with Large Fluffy Snowflakes

     But you've got to figure, that this little girl will probably be 8 or 10 years old before she can see snow in her front yard again if she continues to live in Tucson. 
     Now mind you, I know the rest of the nation is pretty tired of blizzards, snow, ice and winter storms and I really am truly sorry that when this storm leaves Arizona that it will probably carry a wallop for them.
Oh, It SNOWED AGAIN!
     At 5 pm I looked out the window and it was snowing again. Of course I rushed outside and took a few more photos. This time I tried to be a little "Arty" and took 30 more photos. Ahhhh, I know, but you see I am not a very good photographer. So I figured that I might get one or two good ones. However this time, I had to juggle an umbrella and tread very carefully in the slushy ice just outside my door. The rain was cascading off my roof onto my head, thus the umbrella was a necessity. 

Feb 20, 2013 5:30 pm

What a difference a month makes!!!! Compare these two views of the ramp at my house.

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona! Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was Amazing!!!

          Arizona celebrated it's 100th birthday today. President Taft signed AZ into statehood as the 48th state. The celebrations have been going on for several days and culminated today.
          Happy Valentine's Day to all those who love and are loved. My family shared sweet treats with grandchildren, our daughter and her husband. What a delight. My former visiting teacher brought over four cupcakes that she and her daughter baked and decorated, saying, "I've been thinking of you a lot and just wanted to let you know." The night before special ward friends brought us a dinner of delicious grilled salmon and chicken and rice soup. It is so special to be remembered.
          My husband and I knew a very special girl from our Palo Verde Ward experience in 2006 through 2008 when we moved to Picture Rocks. Her name is Taylor Lancaster. She entered the foster care system right after we left and was placed with a Ms. Snow in our Picture Rocks Ward. That placement let us get to see Taylor every Sunday and reconnect. We just loved this young woman. She then ended up in a different location just over a year ago and we grieved that we would never see her again. Serendipity occurred today. I went to the Snow's home for a visit with a friend. I hadn't really talked to Ms. Snow since Taylor left so when she told me that she'd finally met Taylor's new foster mom she told me she'd given her our phone number. When I returned home after the visit, I received a call from Taylor!!!!! How wonderful to get an update, get her email and to be able to keep in touch with her. She'd never left our hearts or prayers and now we can stay in touch. Love it.

        AND IT SNOWED!!!

          When my friend came to pick me up to go over to visit the Snows she told me it was snowing as she came over the pass from Tucson. If you look at the background of this blog you will be looking down the road that goes over the pass into Tucson. There were golden flowers carpeting the ground there over the weekend. I have lavender and yellow wildflowers growing in my backyard. Although I live in a little dip lower in elevation and we seemed to only have rain and hail, the mountains in Saguaro National Park West were delightfully dusted with snow. It was beautiful. But I suspect it got the wildflowers and probably killed the chance for a brilliant spring like the ones shown here. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

        Thoughts About Writing a Story

         When an amazing day happens, it should be remembered. Why not write a story. Whether it is just one simple paragraph or a one page "spotlight focus" on a family member, treasured family experience or like my special day today with it's Serendipity of Snow and old friends, family and sweet treats, we just have to take the time to DO IT! Then place it in our Book of Remembrance. We could write a longer story about ourselves (autobiography) or about an ancestor (biography) tying in to a common theme. Here are some simple guidelines to remember:
1.  Review Sources -- Choose what is to be left out
2.  Pick Out Themes -- Service, economics, achievement, holidays
3.  Assess Personalities and Character
4.  Tell the Story -- Narrative is best when selective
5.  Look for Causes -- Why things happened or Serendipitous occurrences
6.  Look for Motivation -- Reasons behind peoples behavior
7.  Bring Out Spiritual Lessons -- Bear your testimony
I hope you will take the time to record a special story that will delight you descendants one day in the future when they read it. I wish my grandmother had written about her life. I would so treasure it. So write short and in your own voice, using your own personality and it will be a TREASURE.