“Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.”
Today is supposed to be warm, at least 40°. It is also supposed to be sunny. It isn’t. There is a moderate chance of rain. Very little snow is left. My walkway is clear. I let Mother Nature do the work.
When I was a kid, snow was a delight. I remember the piles on the sides of the roads left by the plows. I remember one pile in particular. It became a sort of igloo with rooms, a Fortress of Solitude. We had dug out the rooms and splashed water on the walls to turn them to ice. I remember eating lunch in the back room. I also remember snowball fights using the walls as protection. Those walls lasted into spring.
Even in winter I walked everywhere. I bundled to stay warm on freezing walks to school. I remember ski pants under my skirt, knee socks, long underwear which went to the knees, a sweater, a coat, mittens, a hat and boots. Undressing in the cloak room took a while. The hat and mittens went up the sleeves of my coat. The boots took the longest. They were the kind you wore over your shoes. I left the sweater on.
My mother would have been horrified to see me go out for recess. I only wore my coat. I put the hat and mittens in my pockets. I don’t remember being cold.
I can ice skate, not very well, but I do stay on my feet. On Saturdays when I was young, I’d skate at the town rink. I could glide, and I did learn to go backwards but not very far. I’d skate until my feet hurt. I’d walk home with my skates tied together and slung over my shoulder, and my feet feeling weird in shoes.
I still take delight in watching the snow fall. I turn on my back light so I can see the flakes. I keep track of how much snow has fallen by checking the height of it on the deck railing. I use ice melt safe for pets outside the back door and on the deck stairs so the dogs don’t fall. They don’t mind the snow so much.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
January 23, 2024 at 4:41 pm
It iced this morning, so I sat it out until 9 am and then headed in navigating the slush and periodic ice patches. Mrs MDH and I are heading down to Florida in a couple of weeks to regroup .
We have been through 2 weeks of not getting above 32 and my snowblower has been in heavy use. The “old days “ of a white Christmas is long gone. These days the challenges arrive in January and February
January 24, 2024 at 12:20 am
My Dear Hedley,
January is always the snowiest month here but February isn’t far behind. Last winter, though, was a bust. This winter we’ve gotten about an inch and a half. I didn’t even shovel
We had that same cold streak but it didn’t last as long as two weeks. I hibernated as I was just getting over my month long plague.
Enjoy Florida and all that warmth!
January 23, 2024 at 10:34 pm
The feeling of shoes and walking after skates is really odd, isn’t it?
January 24, 2024 at 12:22 am
Rowen,
It was really odd. I always felt as if my feet were strangers.
January 23, 2024 at 10:50 pm
Hi Kat,
Today it rained a lot and the high was 51°. It rained yesterday and was foggy with drizzle this morning. Tomorrow the high is forecast to reach 54° with a 50% chance of more rain.
I dislike snow but I hate freezing rain and sleet. Although I only live three miles from work, there is a small rise along the route and I have to cross a freeway on an overpass. When it gets icy the short trip can be dangerous because the other drivers think driving 20 MPH over the limit is a normal way to drive. Most drivers have no idea how to drive in the rain much less in the frozen stuff. In our neighborhood are a lot of pick up trucks although no one seems to be a tradesman. In Texas an old pickup always drives at least 10 MPH below the speed limit and the new ones drive at least 20 MPH above the speed limit. Too many people who live in suburban neighborhoods like ours are prepared when they win the lottery and buy their ranch. 🙂
January 24, 2024 at 12:45 am
Hi Bob,
Wow, so warm finally!! Rain is so much better than snow unless the temperature drops to freezing. We were in the low 40’s today, and it felt almost tropical. We are forecasted to get rain on and off for the next three days.
I really don’t mind the snow as long as I don’t have to shovel. It is pretty when it is falling and just after it stopped. The plows don’t come out for every storm, only the bigger ones. The plows are slow to my street as it is a small one. Skip plows the driveway and the mailbox. I am on a rural route so it is across the street from my house. The mailman will not deliver unless it is plowed.
Snow which has been rained on is the ugliest.