Winter's Last Gasp

Three weekends in a row of snow and ice have passed. It appears that Mother Nature has had enough fun with Oklahoma. Spring is just a couple of weeks away and tonight we set our clocks forward an hour. Today the temperature was in the 70's. It is hard to believe that it was snowing heavily earlier this week and temperatures were so low travel was restricted and schools closed for two days in a row. I am sad that winter is ending, but excited about beginning the process of preparing and planting my gardens. Here are some shots of Winter's last hurrah.

I am undecided which season is my favorite at this point. For now, I will enjoy them all. 

Spring forward everyone!

Snow Day Tiny House Style

Last night sleet and ice began falling on the homestead. The sound of the ice hitting the windows and roof lulled me to sleep. I woke up this morning with excitement wondering how much of the predicted snow fell during the wee hours. Looking out the window I could see it wasn't much snow, but it sure looked beautiful. I put on my boots and grabbed my camera so I could take a few snaps before the dog and cats ruined the newness of the snow. Turns out I didn't need to worry about that as the snow had actually hardened into ice! I am grateful for today being President's Day so I didn't need to worry about going anywhere. Barbara of Silver Moon Homestead posted that she encountered very slick roads and had to turn back to her home. Thankfully school was cancelled so as a teacher she gets to take the day as well. Here are some photos from around the homestead so you can enjoy the snow day too. Happy President's Day!

It's Raining, It's Pouring - Finally Rain In The Desert

It's raining, it's pouring, this old lady is...

      LOVING EVERY DROP OF IT!

This weekend it is supposed to rain consistently. I know, I know, you live where it rains and you would just love the sunshine of Arizona. Well, after 31 years in Arizona (minus a couple here and there), I am ready for weather. I want rain. I want snow. I want cloudy days.

In order to grow things we must have rain. We must have rain and snow melt in order to keep our wells full, rivers running, crops watered. Our gardens cannot grow and our animals will not survive if we do not have rain. This has me thinking about Oklahoma. I wonder how much rain and snow they get as compared to Arizona. So I decided to do some research this evening and compare them. Here is what I learned:

Annual Rainfall:
Arizona: 8.3 inches
Oklahoma: 40.81 inches

Average Snowfall:
Northern Arizona: 24.6
Oklahoma: 7.8 inches

Average Number of Days with Temp Over 100:
Arizona:  92
Oklahoma: 15

So, what does this data tell me? It tells me I won't have to worry about being snowed in very often AND I may still need an air conditioning unit for a few days a month. It also tells me that I will enjoy rain more frequently!

Do you enjoy the rain? How much rain do you get where you live vs Arizona? Comment below so we can learn about the climate where you live.