“When snow falls, nature listens.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. A few days ago I grabbed my trusty cane and went upstairs. The shower was heavenly, and I emerged prunish on every part of my body. Yesterday I paid the price, a smaller price than I’d paid before but a price nonetheless. I ended up with a very achy leg which woke me up the last two nights and also made sitting difficult. Today I am much better. I did learn one lesson. A day of pain is well worth a shower.
Cape Cod is now a winter wonderland. We have around 8 inches of snow. The prediction was for a dusting, but predictions are subject to human error, and this storm is the perfect example. It just kept snowing and snowing.
I love watching the snow fall so I limped my way to the door several times and turned on the light so I could watch the flakes. They glimmered and shined in the light. It was magical.
When I was young, a snowstorm was a gift. If it meant no school, that was a bonus, but we didn’t care all that much. It was the snow which mattered. We knew the afternoons would be spent sledding or having snowball fights and staying outside until our lips were blue from the cold. I remember my mittens had clumps of snow which hung there until the mittens dried on the cellar line. I remember how red my legs were when I went inside and changed into something warm. I also remember it took a long while before my feet got any feeling back, but we didn’t care or even notice. Only the joy of an afternoon playing in the snow mattered.
We were always exhausted and went to bed early without complaining. I think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I bet there was always a smile on my face.
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December 21, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Hi Kat,
One of the smells of winter is wet wool mittens and hats hanging up to dry. I remember having to put my hands into wet mittens when there was more snow to shovel after having shoveled snow but there was not enough time for the mittens to dry in between. Not one of my favorite feelings at all.
We got maybe 3 inches up here. Just enough for me to verify that the little red Spawn of Satan has found a new entrance to my house near the back stairs. He somehow gets up under the siding and from there into the crawl space over the back pantry where he is nice and dry and relatively warm. It is a never-ending battle.
Having been without a working shower for three weeks, I agree that a shower is worth a great deal. Even a day of pain.
You need a Japanese cavalry saddle, I think. 🙂
December 22, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Hi Caryn,
You’re so right about the smell of wet wool, and I remember how soaked my mittens always got.
I thought we had only a few inches but that was a looking out the window estimate. The news said we got 13.
If that Spawn of Satan gets cable you’re in real trouble. I wonder if he has a smoking jacket and slippers.
Everyone needs a Japanese saddle!
December 22, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Kat…I’ll settle for a Japanese masseuse to walk up and down my back…preferably a LIGHT one.
December 21, 2010 at 3:20 pm
The first real shower after surgery is heavenly 🙂 It´s worth a lot of pain after 🙂 🙂
Growing up in Gothenburg usually meant rainy winters, but every now and again a real winter came along making it so awfully cold that it was impossible to stay outdoors for any longer period of time 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
December 22, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Christer,
The pain arrives the next day but I agree the shower is worth it.
The snow looks ugly in my front yard. It is covered in brown pine needles. It had only one day of glory.
December 21, 2010 at 4:24 pm
When snow falls, nature chills.
Cheers
December 22, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Minicapt,
Perfect alternate title!
December 21, 2010 at 5:56 pm
This is a good one for the book. It takes me back to my days on the slopes. I recall that smell of taking off a combat boot after a day of sledding and yes, the feet seem to freeze in the boot. It was uplifting to get the darn things off. But nothing beats a bowl of soup and crackers which Mom had on the stove knowing we all would dig in. Potato soup was my favorite. It had onions in it. Great idea today and enjoy the snowflakes.
December 22, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Z&Me,
My favorite was tomato soup and a melted cheese sandwich. I still think of it as ultimate comfort food, and when I have it, I remember being a kid in dry clothes sitting at the table trying to get warm after a day in the snow.
December 21, 2010 at 6:02 pm
One of life’s great pleasures is to take a nice warm shower. A sink bath, or ‘whore’s’ bath may get the vital areas washed, but nothing can match a great shower.
Last Christmas Eve the Dallas Ft. Worth area had nine inches of snow for the first time in recorded history and 14 inches for the year. I don’t think it will happen again this year with today’s high at 86 F degrees.
Our friends in Europe are having a time of it with big snow storms this week again. Six of my coworkers are stuck in Europe and might get home for Christmas if they are lucky.
Global warming has reared it’s ugly head. The scientists tell us that the results of this man made warming is weird weather patterns. I have suffered through a snowstorm the week before Christmas in the UK last year. An afternoon of 75 F degree weather at La Guardia Airport in New York on the first day of spring while Dallas shivered in drizzle just above the freezing mark. Toronto Ontario had no snow last winter.
Go figure?
December 22, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Bob,
I was in the shower so long my entire body was prune-like. I think I used all the hot water in the tank. It felt so good.
I saw all the problems Europe is having when I read the paper. One airport had even run out of the fluid used to de-ice the planes.
We had the coldest summer a year ago. Even on the 4th of July we needed sweat shirts. This last summer was so hot I spent days in my bedroom, the only room with an air-conditioner. It was so awful I air-conditioned the entire house.
The weather has most decidedly gone crazy.
December 22, 2010 at 11:49 am
nothing soothes like warm water on the body!
so glad you are resting and feeling better
the holidays are upon us and with the dolls all home
life is pretty interesting at the moment!
December 22, 2010 at 2:58 pm
splendid,
Another warm shower is coming, and I am moving back upstairs. Progress indeed!
Enjoy your full house and give my love to all!!
December 23, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Kat!
I do wish you and all of “coffee” a happy holiday- and I wish you a speedy recovery- faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve!
Now- on that topic- If it is common knowlege- I am sorry – but for those that didn’t know- and want “A true and complete history of Santa” listen to the The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover at :
http://www.classical89.org/programs/christmaschronicles/episodes/
it is fairly long- about 8 half hour episodes.
maybe have some maple sugar cookies with them.
And keep the tie to the straight road strong.
Happy Holidays to all!
pat
December 24, 2010 at 11:32 am
Pat,
I’ll fill the plate with cookies, have a bit of eggnog and give a listen!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you too. Than you for being a Coffee regular!!
December 23, 2010 at 8:23 pm
When I was young, snowfall meant not having to use
“Glasswax” to make snow patterns on the windows for Christmas. Remember that stuff?
December 24, 2010 at 11:30 am
Rita,
I loved using that stuff on the windows. It came with great patterns, and we all felt like renowned artists.
December 24, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I love Glasswax. It’s just the best thing for decorations and then when Christmas was over and the decos had to be removed, you had a really clean window. I still had a can up until a year ago.