“And finally Winter, with its bitin’, whinin’ wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow.”
No question about it. Winter has arrived. Today is the coldest day so far at 30°, and we have snow. When I woke up, only the deck had a dusting, but since then, the snow has started falling more heavily and can no longer be described as flurries. The ground is getting a light covering. The sky is white-gray, and the day has a dismal look about it, but we’re warm and cozy, and that’s all that counts. My tree is lit and looks beautiful shining through the darkness of the day.
If I were a kid, I wouldn’t get my hopes up for a free day tomorrow. The snow won’t accumulate as the size of the flakes is a giveaway to the impermanence of the storm. When you’re a kid, a snowstorm is a good one only when there is enough for snowmen, sledding, snowball fights and a day off from school.
I always wanted a white Christmas. It seemed to me that Santa’s sleigh would do its best work on snow-covered roofs, and Santa did, after all, live at the North Pole where it was snowy all year-long. It felt wrong to see grass and streets on Christmas Eve.
When I lived in Ghana, there was never hope of snow. The only time it felt chilly was during the harmattan around this time of year. Nights dropped to the 70’s, and the mornings were cold. Sometimes I swear there was even a crispness to the air. My students hated the harmattan. They had to layer to face the cold mornings to finish their chores. Some wore as many as three sweaters. I loved that sensation of feeling cold and at night I’d snuggle under my wool blanket. In the mornings, I’d sometimes wear a sweatshirt until the sun rose a bit more in the sky. I’d sit on my porch with my giant mug of coffee and watch the small children cut across the school compound to their primary school just outside the front gate. We always said good morning to each other. It was a daily ritual I loved.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Christmas, Ghana, harmattan, Santa Claus, Snow, White Christmas
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
December 18, 2011 at 12:58 pm
WHEW ! only 4 more days till the winter solstice. Then finally the days ( sunlight ) will get longer.
December 18, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Morpfy,
Though I know the truth of that, it hardly seems so on a dark January night.
December 19, 2011 at 1:19 am
Then my spirit lifts with the lengthening of the days! There’s a LURCH and a POP! when we get to DST resumption. It’ll be glorious, glorious S-P-R-I-N-G!!
(Can you tell that I’m NOT a fan of winter?)
December 19, 2011 at 1:24 am
Rick,
I am am thankful of that new minute each day, but I know I have yet to face February, our snowiest month, so I’ll a bit slow to rejoice.
I too am not a fan of winter.
December 18, 2011 at 1:12 pm
We’ve gotten around 4 inches of snow now and the temperature is dropping. I think it will stay for a couple of days at least. Rain and warmer winds will arrive later in the wekk they say.
Christmas was usually green where I grew up, if snow came it came in February when it is as coldest here. But we had no hope of them closing school just because of snow 🙂
I’ve started to decorate my little tree now 🙂 It’s mostly straw figures since the tree is so small but I hope I can find some tiny christmas baubels too. I’ve had my christmas ham in the owen the first time today and it smell delicious 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
December 18, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Christer,
The temp has dropped here now to 26° but it feels a bit warmer than it did this morning as the wind has died down finally. The 40’s will be back tomorrow or so.
Snow was always a maybe for Christmas.
When the snow was deep, the sidewalks yet to be plowed and the roads still filled we had no school.
I love straw figures, and remember, no tree is little at Christmas!
December 18, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Hi Kat,
It’s 27F and mostly sunny here. If one is in the sun and sheltered from the breeze, it’s kind of nice. I was outside with no coat, only a wool/silk scarf and I was fine. I had my parka just in case.
No snow in the picture for us. Good!
Christmas is loveliest, I think, when just enough snow falls to mostly cover the grass and dust the trees. The combination of the white snow with green grass springing up through it is very uplifting for me.
Enjoy your snowy day inside a cozy home.
December 18, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Hi Caryn,
We’re down to 27° now and it’s still cold. The sun never did appear today. I was out filling one of the feeders, and I got cold. Gracie has an upset stomach and hasn’t been out much today except to look for grass. None to be found so I let her eat some spider plant fronds. They seem to help.
The snow is patchy at best here so it would probably be perfect for you.
December 18, 2011 at 2:20 pm
It was the Big Freeze (of 63) but it started on Boxing Day and it snowed for two days. We lived in Yarm Court Road, a mile out of Leatherhead and were well and truly stranded. The menfolk grouped together, got out the shovels and dug everyone out.
62 rolled in to 63 The temperatures plummeted in January, and the snows came back in February. Stuff froze.
So I went stocking shopping this morning at Target, mostly to indulge The Princess, watch City and the arse, skyped, and am waiting for the return of the great SUH at 4.00 pm as your Detroit Lions, the real America’s Team head for Oakland. My snowblower works, I don’t want to use it.
December 18, 2011 at 4:47 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I went and found several pictures of the Big Freeze. I could never imagine England would have such snow and freezing temperatures. I imagine it would have taken those men a long time and frozen hands to dig everyone out.
I didn’t do much at all today. I was going to shop for my baking needs but decided to stay in today. I read all three papers, refilled the large bird feeder and watched a few Christmas programs on TLC. Right now I’m watching the Patriots play the Broncos. With family in
Colorado, this is more than a fottball game. Teasing rights are on the line.
December 18, 2011 at 7:26 pm
And THAT boys and girls is why the DETROIT LIONS are Americas Team…..oh and they did set an all time NFL record today for comebacks as well as this sensational win…..SUH !!!
December 18, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Christer has some new photos of his snowfall and it reminded me of the snow in the country side of Fairfax County, Virginia where we used to ski and go sledding. All the farmhouses looked like Bud Christmas commercials. Made me feel an urge to go back north for the winter. I do know how you felt in Ghana because for years here in Florida it just gets brisk in January and nothing but a chill is less desirable than a chill accompanied by six foot of snow. Even the Manatee here come in to the springs for the warm water. They are always fun to watch. I can imagine what your students would think if they had to live through a winter in New England.
December 18, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Z&Me,
I’ll drop by and visit Christer in a bit. I love the houses and barns around him.
I used to laugh a bit at all those sweaters. Those nights were my favorite part of the weather year. During the harmattan, the days were not my favorite as they had winds which brought dust every day. The furniture was covered.
In February the days started to get hotter and more humid as the rain was due in April.
December 18, 2011 at 9:08 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I only saw the end of the game, and that small bit was exciting. I watched the Patriots beat the Broncos.
December 18, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Hi Kat!
I am glad you got snow…it is cold here tonight at the Jersey Shore, but there is no precipitation – – yet. We have yet to recieve ANY snow.
I just hope when it come it does not happen like last year. THAT was a bit much.
Funny to think snow was a sometimes thing in my area as I grew up. It was just a little too warm so close to the ocean. Methinks global worming has changed the picture the last few years…
Waving from Jersey – –
Coleen
December 19, 2011 at 12:18 am
Hi Coleen,
I’m not so sure I’d count this as a snow storm; flurries fits better. The day became really cold and right now it’s 27°.
Last winter we didn’t get much snow. Off-cape got a lot but most times we got rain. Just as you said, the ocean has an effect on the amount of snow.
Today is as cold as it’s been, but it will get warmer as the week moves along.
Waving right back from a chilly cape!
December 19, 2011 at 5:29 am
[…] “And finally Winter, with its bitin’, whinin’ wind, and all the land will be mantl… (keepthecoffeecoming.wordpress.com) […]