Prescott, AZ is a delightful mountain community that looks more mid-west than western. It has beautiful Victorian homes, museums, outdoor art shows, galleries, scenery and hiking trails. Jeff and I frequently drive the hour or so to enjoy all of that and the cooler climate.

A few months ago, I went to a meeting and won a door prize of a one-night stay in a hotel in Prescott. Woo-hoo! The certificate was due to expire soon, so we decided to take advantage of it during the cool days of April. I thought we’d have great weather and made plans accordingly. Boy, was I wrong.

Our first day, we hiked alongside one of their lakes in chilly temperatures and a whistling wind. A cold front decided that was the day to begin moving through the state. Fortunately, the sky was clear and Jeff was able to photograph a turtle sunning on a log, ducks and a heron.

The next day, the sky was overcast and it was blustery and cold again. We decided to do some exploring, and drove around to places we hadn’t seen before. Because of the weather, we ate our picnic lunch in the car. Then we did some shopping and came home.

The visit didn’t go as I’d planned. I’d hoped we’d be able to hike both days, but the climate had other ideas. As a result, we were able to see and do things we wouldn’t have if the weather had been nice. Sometimes, when life throws a curve, it works out just fine if you’re willing to let go of your preconceived ideas and go with the flow.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart