A Snowy Evening

Today's weather perfectly matches my favorite book. When looking at Kelly Hines' 20 day blogging challenge, Day one's assignment is to talk about a favorite book. The back corner of my mind spent the better part of 24 hours considering one book after another. I thought of Little Women - my first favorite book. The quintessential tale of a strong woman, my first experience real or otherwise with someone who shared my name, and the first book I stayed up all night to read (in third grade.) My first favorite series was Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. I thought of my favorite read alouds On My Honor and House on Hackman's Hill. But nothing seemed to fit. Nothing that is until tonight.

After a long day starting with a 5:45 am spin class I returned home at 9:00pm.It had started snowing about 6:00 and a few inches at least had already fallen. My husband had swept the driveway a couple times but, it was now time for shoveling.  I had a quick snack and then set about clearing the driveway and the deck. It was so peaceful. There were no cars, no people, just the occasional sound of the shovel scraping asphalt. The snow fell silently glistening with the twinkle of Christmas lights buried under snow.

Then I had it, my favorite book to share and/or teach. Okay, technically it is a poem, but a dear friend had given me the book one year as a special gift. The absolute perfect book is Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Long a favorite of mine Frost captures for me so eloquently the beauty of a snowfall - a big snowfall. The kind of snowfall we are getting tonight.

So at 11:30 pm, after shoveling twice, I messaged a friend to join me for a walk on a snowy evening. Save for a few shovelers and snowplows, we saw no one else. Yet the Christmas lights still up kept us company. Our boots crunched on the snow unable to tell if we were on sidewalks or grassy lawns. After a few miles, I dropped her off at her house and continued home. My footsteps from when I started out nearly covered up as the last line of Frost's poem whispered in my ears...And miles to go before I sleep.

In school I read this to the students (ideally on a snowy day.) There are also some good videos with wonderful pictures on YouTube. Or, you could scan your students' art and create your own video. Afterwards the students draw pictures with white pencils on black paper of a snowy evening. They then write their own poems of a snowy day or evening.

Snow Day

Today was our third snow storm of the year. 6 - 8 inches of snow used to be consider a storm. However, after last year's record snowfall and major storms of 12 - 14 inches plus, 6 - 8 inches now seems like a dusting.
Today's dusting came last evening and didn't end until the wee hours of the morning. This lead to school closings and delays for may in our area.
After shoveling the front walks, (DH had wonderfully done the driveway and cars before work!) I took a walk over to the local sledding hill with the dogs. I let them play while I took some pictures of the sledders.
I really like this picture of Addie and Ahna having so much fun in the snow. They love the snow and enjoy wrestling each other. To the unknown observer their growls and snarls sound like a fight to the death. But I know that one yip of pain and the games stop on a dime.
I now have two exhausted dogs passed out dreaming of their snow day.

4-21-10

Many of my posts in January and February this year were of snow pictures. Snow falling, snow blowing, snow being plowed, etc. Since we had the snowiest winter - EVER - this made sense. But now it is April and I am still thinking snow. After all, it snowed in Denver this past week and I saw a Tweet from Budtheteacher about bringing his sleds out. My husband and friends already think I am slightly crazy for how much I enjoy the snow. This snow in April thinking will only serve to convince them further of that. When I walked out to my car today and saw the pile of cherry blossom petals mounding under the cherry tree, I couldn't help myself, I thought of snow. Enjoy the seasons, I do!

Between the Storm and the Storm

I haven't been able to get around to the south side of my house for weeks now because of the high mounds of snow. After a few warm (in the 40s) days. Enough snow had finally melted so that I could make my way with calf high books to the back. Previously I would have needed waders of some kind.
I was dismayed to see my beautiful crepe myrtle broken and battered. About a third of the tree is down, presumably due to the weight of the snow. While I know that we are a little north for a crepe myrtle, I had thought that it was sheltered enough in the corner between the shed and the house. In a normal Pennsylvania winter, this was sufficient protection. This winter however is far from normal. This evening's weathercast said that we have received almost 80 inches of snow so far this winter!! This is by far a new record. In addition, the amount of snow in February would rank 5th for the snowiest season!
Many people are feeling desperate with talk of another possible snow storm next week. I can't say this too loudly, but I have to admit that I am gleefully hoping for one or two more big storms before spring.

Pennsylvania Turnpike

After a day with a stomach virus I left home to head north to Hershey for PETE&C 2010. While driving along the PA Turnpike I spotted many deer grazing along the side of the road. It was interesting how blase` they seemed with 18 wheel trucks rumbling by. I pulled off at a safe spot and grabbed my camera. Luckily I usually keep it handy anymore. I was able to notice that the deer's coats seemed unusually full and bushy. With all the snow we have had this year, I am not surprised.

THE way to get Around Today!

This time all the weather prognosticators and seers were correct. We got walloped! Snow started falling last night about 9:00. It fell lightly at first. We awoke to a snow covered world. I love the description of a friend, "It feels like I am inside a snow globe."

We leashed up the dogs, I grabbed my camera, and we headed for town. Most roads had been plowed at least once, and we saw quite a few plows on our walk. Not many cars were out at all. Although we saw people walking, a few four-wheelers, and one man enjoying a rare chance to use his cross-country skis on our town's Main Street. The world seemed to be fast asleep and truly exhibited the sound of silent. Everything was clean and pristine.

I know that not everyone enjoys the snow as I do. I have to say that the news of another possible snow storm this week made me shout, "Yes!" Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

ANOTHER Snowy Morning

It has been an unusual winter so far. Where we would normally get two, maybe three storms of a few inches, this year we have gotten three or four nuisance storms already. A few of them have come in the very early morning hours which leads to delayed school openings and tricky driving.

The benefit of these storms is the beauty. In the early morning grey light, everything looks so peaceful and serene. It is almost as if Mother Nature has applied on of those special camera filters to the world. It is quiet and hushed and everything looks clean.
Forecast says more snow Friday night into Saturday. I am looking forward to it!

Thursday January 28

Freak snow squall this morning paralyzed traffic for hours. This morning an unanticipated, unannounced and unplanned for snow "storm" dumped 1-2 inches of the slippery white stuff on local roads. Normally, we have accu-weather and Doppler Dan warning us days ahead of any and all possible snow events. The road crews are out to brine the roads and at the sighting of the first flake flitting to the ground, plows are dispensed.

Apparently all these advance preparations have left us completely unable to handle a surprise snow - even of two inches! Traffic was snarled, accidents were all over the place , and many people were late for work. What would we do without the news to keep us informed and tell us how to react! Geez!