Snow

We are in the midst of some nasty winter weather. Needless to say, if that nasty little rodent Punxsutawney Phil had been here yesterday, he would not have seen his shadow. Sadly, he did see his shadow and we have vivid proof that winter isn't over yet.

After our fluffy little snow on Friday, the ice came. We don't have much here in town, but it's definitely enough to make the streets slick. We could tell from the scanner Friday night that there was more significant ice just a few miles south of town.....and on the flip side, my cousin who lives seven miles north didn't have any at all. Tomorrow the snow comes. Forecasts are for up to twelve inches, depending on who you listen to.

We talked about getting out, but we both decided it wasn't really necessary. After watching kids slide down our street on snow boards and snow saucers this afternoon – and then seeing two vehicles slide down the hill without their wheels turning – I'm glad we made that decision. There's nothing we needed badly enough to risk life and limb.

There have been some memorable snowstorms during my lifetime. When I was in first grade, we had an impressive snowstorm on St. Patrick's Day. Mom took a lot of photos of that snow – I was out with my little shovel, helping Dad shovel a path around the clothesline. It was wash day, regardless of how much snow had fallen. I don't know if Mom wanted photos of just the snow, or if it was the fact that my front teeth were out at the time.

The road past our house ran east to west, so it was always drifted when the winds blew the snow around. When the maintainer finally went through after that St. Patrick's storm, Mom and I walked up the hill to visit our neighbors. She took one more snow photo – the snow at the side of the road was so tall it towered over my head.

During my junior year of high school, we had a late snowstorm on April Fool's Day. I remember the huge fluffy flakes and how fast they piled up. School was let out early, and I remember how cold I got on the walk home. That wet heavy snow was a lot deeper than my shoes!

Another unexpected heavy snow came during older daughter's freshman year of college. The other two kids were still home, and the snowstorm hit mid afternoon in the middle of October. Mom and I were in the high school gym watching younger daughter play volleyball when the electricity went off. Because it snowed so early in the fall, the temps weren't cold......and those big flakes were heavy. They brought down power lines, tree limbs, and really made for a lot of havoc even though there wasn't all that much measurable snow.

When we got home after that volleyball game, we did have electricity. But the yard was full of limbs, and the limbs had taken out my clothesline. At least I did have a dryer to use until it was fixed.

I'm not a huge fan of snow. But if it must come, it's easier when it's forecast in advance so you can stock up on groceries and be prepared! I don't always like surprises.