So I’m here in my fuzzy slippers and pajama pants, wrapped in a fleece blanket. I’m sitting in front of the fire, drinking my coffee and watching the snow come down in big, puffy flakes. Back in Wisconsin? Nope. Still in Sedona.
When we decided to come to Arizona, even though we knew it would be “winter,” I was thinking we’d need shorts and sunscreen—not hats and snow shovels. The snow on the mountains and in the trees is beautiful, even though it is seriously messing with our plans! One of Bella’s friends flew in from Green Bay to spend the week with us; many of the activities I’d planned for the girls had to be canceled because of the weather. Canyons are too slippery; Pink Jeep tours closed. Such a bummer but they don’t seem to be too terribly disappointed. While I was making a pot of chili for supper, they went outside and made a snowman on the roof.
All three girls were off school Friday, and we’d planned to drive back up to Flagstaff. But that area especially, being at a higher elevation, was already calling for a winter storm. I didn’t like the twisty-turny canyon road (who needs guardrails?!) on a clear, dry day. To do that drive in the snow? With Arizona drivers and tourists? Just shoot me now! Tony ended up having a busy workday and we just had some rain, so I took the girls out for lunch and a little shopping.
Saturday’s forecast was cold but better, so we headed out toward Cottonwood. The Tuzigoot National Monument near Clarkdale was okay; I was excited to find some familiar roads from the half-marathon I did there two years ago. A much bigger hit was Violette’s Bakery—a French patisserie located inside a purple train caboose. The crepes were tres magnifique! From there, we made our way up the side of a mountain to Jerome, once nicknamed the “Wickedest Town in the West.” I thought the switchbacks on the way up were some of the wickedest I’ve ever seen. (Seriously, if you have a fear of heights, let someone else drive. Or just stay in Cottonwood!)
The old copper mining town was quirky and touristy, even if it did look like it might slide off the face of the mountain at any minute—like the infamous Sliding Jail that wound up 225 feet away from its original location. The girls liked the fudge shop and the kaleidoscope store; our evening ghost tour took us past a haunted hotel and into the Jerome cemetery, where the views (like the ghost stories) were out of this world.
After Mass on Sunday, we got supplies for the Packer game and watched all four painful innings. Honestly I think we had more fun watching the birds (cardinals, quail, hummingbirds) at the back yard feeders. During a break in the weather today, I felt sorry for the poor little guys and went out and cleared the snow from hummingbird feeder. There’s something you won’t see back home!
I hope this is the end of the snow for us and that all of you back home are staying warm and safe. Much love!