Payson, AZ

We DO get snow in the mountains in Arizona. Honest! Here's a picture to prove it. The picture is not, however, from this year. The forecast has predicted a little snow several times, lately, but all we have gotten is rain. Once in a great while we get a white Christmas, but most of our snow falls in the Spring. I've seen 2 feet of snow over Easter break.

My pic, taken just off Airport Rd., in Payson, AZ.

"Magic on the Mountain" is the name given to Payson's Holiday festivities.

Swiss Village Shopping Center, in Payson, has their annual Christmas Lighting tonight (Friday, November 28th) starting about 5:30 pm. There will be caroling, a live Nativity scene, Santa, and various "open house" touches in stores. The festivities continue Saturday and Sunday.

"Magic on the Mountain" is the official name for the holiday festivities in Payson, I'll add more about what's coming soon. Gotta go get out our Christmas wreath for the office!

We went to the above event, but it was kind of a "bust". It had rained all day, and not too many people showed up. The following events are predicted for NICE weather.

BUT COMING:

Payson's Electric Light Parade is Saturday, Dec. 6th (this weekend!) on Main Street. For a small town, we have a nice parade. It is COLD, so bundle up. There is hot chocolate and coffee available to purchase. The parade starts from the Sawmill Crossing shopping center (Beeline and Main St.) and goes West on Main. We usually got to dinner in the shopping center and then walk on over to see the parade.

Also this weekend is the annual "Toys for Tamales", held Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. I just found out- the location on this one has been changed to Gerardo's- a restaurant on Beeline Hwy. in the center of Payson. Bring a new toy for a plate of tamales.

On Sunday, Dec. 7th, there will be a Christmas show "The Spirit of Christmas" at the High School auditorium. The show is free admission, but please bring donations for the local food bank. Shows are at 2pm and 6pm.

On the next Saturday, Dec. 13th, in Green Valley Park, there will be a Santa's Workshop for viewing and picture taking, and at dark the Holiday Boat Regatta will take to the man-made lake. This down Main Street.

Lights graphic was found on a large graphics "compilation" site.
If you hold the copyright, contact me, and I will give you credit
or take it down, whichever you prefer. Wreath and poinsettia are
my pics from our office.
Simple at Heart logo- that's me.

This year I just can't get it together enough to be in a craft show. I'm getting calls from people wanting my candles, and I hate to disappoint, but we do what we have to do. We are managing almost 100 rentals this year, and we are BUSY! Maybe I'll make some cinnamon roll candles and sell them at the office!

Anyway- there are shows galore coming up in Payson.

The show I often participate in is the Presbyterian Church Show. It will be held this year at the Payson Senior Center, on W. Main Street.

Saturday, November 8th, from 8am to 2 pm.

There will be lots of homemade goodies,
Food, Santa, Music. COME AND ENJOY!

I will be adding more shows in the next day or two, so check back!

Xmas tree is from a large compilation graphics site:
http://www.hellasmultimedia.com

When we first moved to the Payson area, we lived in mobile home about two miles South of Star Valley (a small town four miles East of Payson). Now this put us OUT IN THE COUNTRY! we had all kinds of wildlife around. One morning a woodpecker woke us early banging on the metal roof. We had an owl perched near and calling one evening. And one night, in the Fall, I woke up and heard what sounded like a SCREAM. It was down at the end of the valley and I wasn't sure I heard right, but as I lay awake listening it moved closer, and then passed our house.

It scared me half to death at first. I swear, it sounded like a woman screaming. I wondered if I should wake my husband, should we get up and see about it, should we call 911? But the way the sound was moving up the valley, with no other noises, no commotion or sounds of violence, made me think it MUST be an animal.

Turns out it was a bull elk. If you have never heard them, watch the video (make sure you turn your sound on).

Elk are calling all over the Rim Country. We live in town now, but behind us are 5 acre lots and National Forest is near (not uncommon in Payson). One night we heard an elk SO CLOSE that we could hear the intake of breath before he bugled. We couldn't see him, he must have been in the trees, on the 5 acre lot behind us.

If you love Fall, or miss it because you now live in the desert, come and visit Northern Arizona. The nights are just starting to cool, and the leaves will start changing soon.

OK, I'm cheating just a little with this photo. The leaves aren't changing JUST YET in Payson. The photo is from another year. But the nights are getting cooler, and it won't be long!

If you live in the hot part of the state, come visit us in Northern Arizona. we're low 80s now in the day, low 50s at night. Beautiful weather!

And the leaves will be turning soon!