...I had to have a new coat this year, and have not had boots in MANY years;...
Are you new to Maine?
Awesome!!!
Did you take those at Sabino Canyon?
No, they were taken in Green Valley (about twenty minutes south of Tucson).
Did you like living in AZ right away, or did it take some time? And do you plan on staying in AZ or would you move back to New England?
Honestly, the first trip we made to Arizona, about four years ago, I hated it!! I remember walking out of the airport and seeing my first cactus tree and thinking how ugly it was. Everything looked brown and I even thought the mountains were hideous. It sounds terrible, but I couldn't understand how anyone could live in such a place. There were no big, leafy trees, hardly any grass, and lots of open spaces. It was the total opposite of New England.
I'm happy to say that my opinion about Arizona has changed drastically!
I now find the mountains absolutely gorgeous, the expanse of desert beautiful, and I've even grown fond of the cacti.
I've discovered that there are a lot of beautiful and very colorful plants that bloom in the desert, and I enjoy seeing the lizards and desert rabbits all around the area. There isn't a lot of grass in and around the Tucson area, but guess what? Lowe's and Home Depot stocks a large variety of artificial turf. You can pick out your "grass", put it in your backyard and never have to mow.
My husband has loved it here from the moment we moved, and has no desire to return to Maine, ever! Well, except to visit family and friends. It has taken me a bit longer to adjust. I still have days when I miss so many things about Maine. Overall though, I am loving Arizona. I am feeling more and more content here, and I get such a sense of peace driving down the highway and looking out at the mountains and expanse of desert. Of course, it helps that all three of our grown kids are not far from us, and we get to see our precious grandson at least three times a week.
No, we don't ever plan to move back to Maine, or to live anywhere that has frigid winters. I never knew what the sun really meant until we moved here.
We absolutely LOVE the weather!!!!!!
It sounds strange to say now, but I know when I lived in a cold climate, I actually wondered how people in warm climates decorated for and celebrated Christmas. Well, duh, just like people do no matter where they live!
And I am thinking-who would want to get close enough to the cacti to put the hats on them--
Carter is looking so sweet, what a beautiful little boy!!!
Aww...thank you so much! He is every bit as sweet as he looks! He is such a loving little fellow. I can't adequately describe the amount of joy and happiness that he brings to all of our lives.
Living here and this being our 2nd Christmas, with the very comfortable temps, so many more people put up Christmas decorations than I would see back home.
This is something that we've noticed, too! We decorated a bit outside by putting out a couple of small trees with lights on them and a lighted wreath. Well, I've noticed that is nothing compared to our neighbors. This is our first year in this particular community, and well...I think we're surrounded by Griswolds!
Most of the houses are beautifully decorated with tons of lights and other holiday displays and decorations. It is fabulous to take a walk after dinner and see all the lights AND be able to enjoy it while wearing a light jacket or sweatshirt!
back to them. 
I can relate! That was one of the reasons I ended up in New Orleans!
and we will never go back to those "glorious" winters. It seems like the winters in the East are starting sooner and lasting longer. 
There is absolutely nothing like the "glorious" sunshine and temps that comes w/living in SoCal. 
