Sandra Scott, REALTOR of Choice! Payson, Pine & Strawberry, AZ

Those Vicious Pansy Eating Pigs!

What do Pansies and Javelina Pigs have to do with each other?

Nothing, I wish. Every fall I plant lovely pots of Pansies to adorn my front yard. They are the only flower that I know of that can withstand the freezing and thaw of winter. You can sometimes find the flowers sticking out of the snow just blooming like crazy all winter long.

That is until the javelina pigs come through my yard in the dark of night searching for some tasty morsel of food.

The first year I planted lots of purple, blue and some yellow flowers. Their grunts would awaken me as they moved among the flower pots outside my bedroom window on cold winter nights. I'd rub the sleep from my eyes and just cringe as I heard the clatter of clay pots as they nibbled their way through my garden.

The next morning I'd survey the damage. As I replanted several times that first year I began to realize they only eat the blue and purple pansies. Hummmmmmmm. They don't like yellow ones. How interesting. I tasted each color myself but could not tell any difference in taste.

But you know what? I have only yellow pansies this year. Think I might have outsmarted those little rascals? Oh, I hope so.

The Mogollon Rim is Payson's Backdrop.

Driving from Scottsdale on Highway 87 North, you'll find yourself right in the geographic center of the state, 4000 feet higher than Phoenix, and fifteen to twenty degrees cooler...no matter what time of year.

You're in the "Rim Country," a four-season vacation getaway that's well off the beaten path. Before you is a spectacular geological formation known as The Mogollon Rim (pronounced Muggy-own).
Once inhabited by the ancient Anasazi, this gargantuan 7000 foot high escarpment bisects the state from west to east for almost two hundred miles, and towers above the communities of Payson, Pine, Strawberry, Kohl's Ranch and Christopher Creek.

The Mogollon Rim marks the Southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. The plateau extends North and East into Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

In our area the Rim is a result of uplift along the North side of an East - West trending fault and the removal of about 2500 ft. of Paleozoic age sedimentary rocks from the uplifted edge of the plateau.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park reopens after being closed seven months for park repairs. Beginning November 15, 2009 the park will transition to a five-day-per-week schedule and will be open Thursday thru Monday, 9-5 p.m.

The bridge is a geological 183-foot-high bridge which is made of travertine. The spectacular waterfall that drips from the bridge drops down into a 400-ft.-long-tunnel created by Pine Creek. Tonto National Bridge is located 10 miles north of Payson, AZ, on Hwy 87. Park entrance fee is only $4 per person. Children 7-13 are charged $1.

First snow in 2009 in Payson, Arizona left much to be desired.

I heard it was coming! I got out my down jacket, snow boots, gloves and knitted cap. Then I went to Wal-Mart shopping.

When I started to exit, the Greeter announced "It's snowing in Payson, Arizona!" I ran out like a fool, looking at the sky and dragging my groceries behind.

Such a sight! At least 3 snow flakes streaked across the glow from the parking lot lights as my eager eyes looked for the mass of white stuff that dream are made of. Where is the snowman material?

But NO! Only a few flakes swirled in the night air as I ran to my car clutching my light jacket close to my body. #%$*&!

Foiled again. No collection of snow to ensure that school will be dismissed tomorrow, no collection of snow to drape across our Mogollon Rim, no collection of snow to watch the birds play in tomorrow morning. Just a few flakes swirling in the stinking parking lot lights at Wal-Mart and melting as they hit the concrete.

%$#!: I WANT SNOW!

Geronimo Estates in Payson, Arizona is a very small remote community surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest. Located just off the Forest Service Road 64, it is South of Pine Arizona and North of Payson. Webber Creek (a seasonal creek) runs through the lower portion, with some homes backing to the creek.

From Payson, go North on Hw 87 through Payson. Turn East on Houston Mesa Rd (FR 199). Bear right when the pavement ends (about 10 miles) and travel about 6 miles to Geronimo Estates sign. Turn left and travel approimately 1 mile. You can take Hwy 87 toward Pine. Turn right onto FR 199 (3 miles short of Pine). Go 6 miles to Geronimo Estates Sign. Turn right and go approximately 1 mile.

Mountain view properties abound and the price range for homes and land range from the low's $40,000 to over $800,000. Deer and elk abound and the Ponderosa Pines stretch to the sky. Lovely forested mountains and wilderness can be seen from any location in Geronimo Estates. If you want remote, this is the place!