Sunsets and Snow

December 29, 2019

We have been enjoying beautiful sunsets the last couple weeks. Thought I would share some of the pictures I have taken from our house. The Valley of the Sun has also had cold rainy weather during this time. Well, rain in the valley means snow at the higher elevations. Michael and I took a ride to Payson, approximately 80 miles or 128 kilometers, to have lunch and enjoy the scenery. There was a 22 degree difference in temperature from Scottsdale to Payson.

Four Peaks as seen from Fountain Hills

Four Peaks as seen along the Beeline Highway

Driving along the Beeline Highway toward Payson

Hundreds of saguaro cactus are in the forefront

Yes, I took most of the pictures while Michael was speeding along the highway.

The Mogollon Rim divides the state geologically, culturally, physically, ecologically. Caused by a stretching and thinning of the crust in the past 30 million years, the Rim divides the quiet, layered highlands from the jumbled, active lowlands — pine forest from saguaro desert.

The black dots in the sky are actually birds. Hundreds of birds! The movie "The Birds" came to mind.