Inside Out Snow Storm

Wasn’t it Just Last Week I was

Framing Nature from the Inside Out?

A Big-flake Snowstorm.

Not a White Christmas surprise.

An “Oh No-Not-Again”  Lament

The Daffodils Ignored.

 

 

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Winter Wildlife Confusion

That morning I saw a lone deer

standing statuesque

and gazing at a field of snow.

I glanced away to other mundane chores,

looked back and back again

to find her still unmoving,

shocked and staring.

“Where is that grassy field I knew just yesterday?” 

she seemed to ask.

“What is this sea of white?”

And as I ate a quiet breakfast and sipped my tea 

I realized hunger was the poor deer’s plight,

for there she stood shocked and wondering

what to do or where to be

until resigned she turned and walked back

into the forest.

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Big Snow Story

Storm Warning!

As always I feel a pent up excitement at the threat of a real snow storm.

We haven’t had one of those in a while.  In fact, we are having a relatively innocent winter.

But here came a forecast from my favorite meteorologist who predicted a shovel-worthy snowfall!

I kept watching the windows, getting more and more anxious,

like a young girl waiting for her first date, in love for the first time – waiting.

And here came the snow just as predicted!

Bill Clearing in a Snow Storm!

Make Yourself Comfortable!

I was so delighted I went out to shovel walkways even though they are immediately filling up again.

There is at least a foot of snow, maybe more, and more coming to add to the overnight pileup.

Dinner Will be Served!

I love the way the world is so transformed, with ordinary objects taking on new shapes and dimensions.

And yes, I may soon tire of the novelty and wish again for easier living.  I know.  I know.

It is foolish to love something that causes

so much disruption in so many lives, but

for now,

for this day, 

for this moment in time,

I love snow!

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Tapioca Snow

I never saw snow until I was 21 years old.

Growing up in Florida the sun was always shining – well mostly if you discount hurricanes and things.

But newly married, Bill and I left Florida to begin a life “en route” since he was a highway engineer sent to work on national park roads in wilderness areas.

My first snow was in the San Bernardino Mountains of California.

The locals called it “Tapioca Snow!”

Our world was transformed one morning and I ran outside not fully clothed and plunked down to make my first snow angel, and so happy and excited to see snow for the very first time that I rolled around in it.

You couldn’t make snowballs because the snow was so dry it wouldn’t stick together. “It’s Tapioca Snow,” they said later, and I thought it was because of all those perfectly dry little pellets.

Source: http://weatherglossary.owlinc.org/weathgloss3.html

My blogger friend, Cindy, of Mama’s Empty Nest just shared her fascinating post on “snow rollers.”  I never heard of that, have you?  And that’s what reminded me of the Tapioca snow that I never saw again.  I looked it up and found this, but it doesn’t look like the mighty deep snow of my first experience in the mountains of  California.

I still love waking up to a snow covered world even if I did come down with the flu after that first wondrous experience.

Have you ever heard of Snow Rollers or Tapioca Snow?

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Winter in Spring?

March 24, 2013.

The first day of spring has already come and gone,

but not winter.

Another snow storm is already here.

We are ready.

Ready for the wood stove again, and

a generator that looks tired but willing,

with bread, milk and staples in the pantry,

and dog food and woofer snacks too.

Will the power disappear again?

It’s winter in spring in my part of Virginia.

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The Morning After

I was drunk with the thrill of coming snow

and we got nine inches all told

with fallen trees and chaos

and then power loss and cold.

And the winds over heavy precipitation

created  widespread devastation.

Now the view from my kitchen window

is of mountains still snow-shrouded,

standing stately in a ghostly glow.

 Beware the beauty of a snowstorm and

heed the mountains’ taunting laughter.

Next time,  remember the morning after.

 

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Snow! Snow! Snow!

I love snowstorms and I don’t even ski or skate.  I just get so excited at the prospect of the world changing.

And this morning we definitely got a changed world her in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I call it The BIG Snowstorm, because I suppose it is the largest amount of snowfall we have had this year.  Well, this year is still in its infancy.  But this is definitely a BIG SNOWSTORM!

We have lost power of course.  And how lovely to have the wood stove perking away and a little generator that provides us with the basics – like water when we need it.  I know, winter storms can be burdensome but this one is more like an adventure – for the moment.

Naturally, I had to brave the elements and take photos.  With the wind and snow blowing in my face and the sounds of cracking trees in our adjacent forest, I really did feel brave.  Rozie, the dog, followed me but aimed for home in a run when she thought I was ready.  I also discovered there is a tree down across the road so we can’t even get out until Bill minces it up with his chain saw.

Here’s what it looked like an hour ago and the snow is STILL COMING DOWN!   Oh my.  It’s a whole new world.

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Winter Blues Skylights

What is it about the outside world that always makes me look UP?  The camera wants to point that way too.  So, there I was,  in the middle of the most beautiful fallen snow, with roadways and buildings and vegetation just waiting to have their pictures taken, and instead I looked up.

As always,  I think of each skylight as sending a secret messages. What are the messages here?  Well, they are secret of course, but can you guess?

Related articles

• Snow photos: Five top tips for great shots in the snow (pocket-lint.com)

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A Frog For Good Luck

There is a stone frog I hang on our storage shed, along with antique tools and other oddities like an oxen yoke.  I love the little froggy guy though, because he  reminds me of lazy summer days.  I should take him down in winter, but there he stays.  I think maybe he brings good luck – a kind of gargoyle/monster protector.  There used to be such building adornments long ago that supposedly protected against evil spirits.  Sure, I know it’s just a storage shed, but I figure the froggy’s power extends to other outbuildings – like maybe my home!

On the day of our big snow, I wandered over to pay my respects and there he was, doing his job protecting us from evil spirits.  Only this time he wore a winter hat and scarf!  It was as if he was laughing at me.  “You forgot to take me down and now it’s winter.  How do you expect me to protect everybody if I’m freezing, huh?  Summer is gone so I had to have a scarf and hat!”

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First Snow!

It’s here!

The first big snow of 2013!

And as always, I waited with great excitement for the first flakes to fall.

Born and bred in Florida, I suppose the thrill of snow will never fade and even though we lost power last night at 7PM and  it is still gone and we are still struggling with the generator, I am absolutely thrilled to see the first real snow of the year.  And it is soooooo beautiful as the sun shines on glistening heavy laden limbs and the countryside is glowing in pristine white like a young bride.

I went out as quickly as possible to get pictures!

 

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