Monday, February 8, 2010

Snow, Glorious Snowwww......

by Jeanne Adams

Okay, apologies to Charles Dickens and the rip off of "Food, Glorious Food" from the musical Oliver, but it fits for snow so well and the tune is SO catchy! Grins.

I've been longing for a good whalloping snow for a while now. I do believe that I have desired a blizzard right into existance, so I'm thinking I need to apologize to the other 2-million-plus residents of the DC Metro area for this weekend's storm. (I'm thinking I had help though, since 900,000+ school kids are rockin' this snow storm too)

Either way, I'll say "Sorry!" (But I'm not sure I'll really MEAN it....)

You see, we've had snow this winter already, so I was already grinning and happy with the Snow Gods. We've had more this year than we've had in a decade, which has pleased me no end. I'm a snow lover. It makes me smile, it makes me happy, and I get a lot of exercise out there shoveling, making snow creatures, snow angels, and snow forts. The snowball wars...well, they're even more fun.

Some people are tropical people. They love the beach. They love the heat, they love the day they can actually don shorts without freezing their patooties off; they think summer is da bomb.

Then there are the odd ones, like me, who just adore autumn and winter. I look forward to the day it's cool enough to wear a turtleneck, sweatshirt and jeans. I mourn when it gets too hot to wear them. I love football. I think crisp autumn days and snow filled nights are a glory beyond words.

In the last decade, we've had nice fall weather, and to my disgust in the dead of winter we've had 60 degree days. Total bummer for us snow lovers. Since I've managed to have two kids and get published in the last ten years, I've not had much opportunity to leave all-too-warm-DC to go skiing. Another total bummer. Sigh. On the bright side, my kids are finally old enough that we're going to get to go do the ski thing next year. Whooooppeeeee!

Imagine my delight, then, when this year, we got SNOWWWW! In January, we got enough to go sledding on the neighbor's hill for three days straight. Everyone in the neighborhood gathered for an impromptu potluck. Then someone planned another one for the next night and spent the day making a snow track for the kids. What a riot!

Then it all melted. Bummer. But hey, I was thrilled. We'd FINALLY gotten some snow! I resigned myself to that snow being the great "hurrah" for the winter.

No to knock it, we made some wonderful memories. The kids talked for at least two more weeks about getting together, hanging out with the neighborhood, and playing in the snow.

Then, about 10 days ago, they started talking about "A Storm."

The closer it got, the more they refused to say how much snow we would get.

A sure sign this could be a whopper of a storm.

And it was. It measures 30" in some places in my yard. Neigboring counties in Maryland and Virginia got 43" of snow.

Guess what?

It's supposed to snow again tomorrow night. Yipeeeeeeee!

As you can tell, I'm gleeful. My husband? Not so much. You see, he's one of those shorts-loving-give-me-the-beach kinds. We're so compatible in other ways, that we tolerate this gaping rift in our enjoyment of the seasons.

He's also not enjoying this as much as I am because he's a CFO. This is first quarter - AKA Panic Time for anyone with fiduciary responsibility in an organization.

The night of the storm, it was glorious. Big fat flakes, alternating with granular, hard pelting snow that piled up and up and up. It was so silent too. No cars, no horns, no traffic or sound, just white silence. Peaceful, and yet eerie in some ways too.

Yesterday and today, we're all playing in it. One of the good things about this snow business is that, unlike summer's intermnible heat, it's ephemeral. Even today, some melted. Not much, but it dropped of the branches in great lumps, freeing the trees from their pendulous burdens. The sky was bright, bright blue, which meant everyone was out assessing the "damage."

We have company because one of our friends has no power so she and her daughter were guests of Chez Adams last night and probably tonight too. We watched the SUPER BOWL!!! complete with Who Dat! and The Who. Then Julie and Julia as a nightcap. Fab movie but after all the shoveling we were all drooping with fatigue from all the fun exercise.

This exercise element is one of the great things about winter. If I need to lose weight, I wait till winter. So much more pleasant, you see to get lots of exercise - akin to running a marathon yesterday! - without sweating like the proverbial pig.

Yep. Now you know. The truth is out. It's why I love winter. I hate to sweat. Ugh.

So, I say, bring on the SNOW!!!!

What's your favorite snow sport? Skiing? Sledding? Tobagganing? Sitting inside looking out?

What's your favorite summer sport? Our Aussie pals are in the depths of a heat wave, complete with (double ugh!) high humidity. Like to swim? Boat? Play baseball, Suz? Grins.

If you were snowed in with your hunk-o-man for four days would you go shovel or do other things? Grins. Now, that's kind of a no-brainer, isn't it?

What's the record snowfall for your area?

Are you ready for the Winter Olympics!!??

114 comments:

mariska said...

yay !

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Mariska!

Jeanne, what a cute post! And I love the sound of you and your family having such a wonderful time in all that snow. Actually you brought up something about snow that I'd forgotten - how quiet everything gets after a heavy fall of snow. It's so atmospheric. I haven't seen snow since 1986 when I lived in England. Actually that's not true - I saw some snow at the top of Mount Wellington behind Hobart a few days before Christmas (midsummer here) which was just too odd to be believed! I like cold weather too. I'm currently suffering through a really sticky summer here so I'd love to pop on a plane and visit. But of course, the airports are probably closed!

PinkPeony said...

Hi Jeanne!

Man, you guys are getting walloped out there! Snow is great as long as I don't have to shovel it. After three winters in NJ, I'm glad to be back in CA...record snowfall...1 inch every ten years.

Winter Olympics? I'm ready. The actor who will be the announcer for the ice skating venue in Vancouver recorded an "Olympic theme" outgoing message for my answering machine..complete with the Olympic theme song. Heh.

Clive is the man. After four days, there shouldn't be any dust on the baseboards.

gigi said...

I am glad someone loves the white stuff.
I live in the Deep South and the last time we had any snow that stuck was about 20 years ago.
I love the heat and I love to sweat, it clears the pores.

When I was a kid I loved snow when we did luck up and get snow. i used to dream of snow. Now that I am older I see the bad side of snow. Ice on the roads, that kind of thing.
If I was snow in with my sweetie I would be doing indoor activities with him I wouldn't be outside freezin my patootie off.

Yes, I am so ready for the winter Olympics. I enjoy them so much more than the summer games.

Unknown said...

Cute post! No I don't like the snow, I am so ready for spring. We have had more snow this year and have some on the ground right now with more on the way Tues night and into Wed. with some freezing rain in the forcast too. I loved the snow when I was a child but I don't like the cold now, so I don't get out unless I have too. Last weekend I was out shoveling the driveway out to get to the car, in snickers by the way because I don't have boots. We usually don't get that much snow anymore.

Laurie Logan said...

I have trouble with winters and the only part of them I do like is snow - as long as I don't have to go anywhere! If I can stay home, it's all good. I'm a homebody at heart. If I could hybernate through winter, I'd be a happy camper. Our husky, Elvis, agrees with you that snow is so cool!

I live in north central Maryland, right on the PA line, so we got slammed too. All our neighbors came out on Friday night and were sledding down the street. Saturday was social day with beer and shovels. We watched Julia and Julie too but on Saturday night! Loved it!

Today, my back ached and I was fed up with shoveling. I was suppose to pick up my mom at the airport but BWI was closed so she's stranded in San Diego (where it's warm!).

Okay, the questions:

Favorite winter sport - walking the dog in the snow or sitting by the fire

Favorite summer sport - swimming or wiffleball

Other things, about 24 inches, and I prefer the Summer Olympics ;)

Tawny said...

Brrrrrrrrrrrr

That's it... just brrrrrrrrrrr!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Jeanne!!! I envy you your snow! I really do. We had a morning of snow in December. Big far fluffy flakes of snow. It covered the cars, the ground the roads and at 0700 when I was on my way home, not hardly a car on the road, I was amazed at how wondeful it was.

It was gone by noon.

I miss the days of snow, watching the clouds empty the snow onto the baretrees and blanketing the bushes. Putting little ones in snow suits and boots, hats, gloves, scarves and helping them make snowmen and snow angels.

Alas, my husband is one of those heat is best people, and therefore we live in Texas.

Favorite sports...football, with baseball a close second. Some men,er sports are sooooooooooo enjoyable, huh, Jeanne? hehehe

Helen said...

Congrats Mariska have fun with him

Jeanne

I so wish I was there with you I love autumn and winter as well although we don't get snow here in Sydney, I was 18 before I even saw snow for the first time and I loved it but I never had to shovel it, I have been toboggining and have had some skiing lessons (cross country and downhill) but a skiier I am not. As a teenager I did a lot of ice skating (it is where I met my Hubby) but of course haven't done that for years. I am soo looking forward to autumn and winter this year it has been so hot here and it has rained for the last week and the humidity has been awful and I too hate to sweat YUK. So for me roll on winter.
I love staying inside and reading on cold days and keeping warm I love footy and watch games all weekend. I do love swiming in summer but don't have a pool so don't do that much either unless I am at my sisters and I do love watching the cricket which is a summer sport but the air con is used a lot here at my place.

Enjoy the snow

Have Fun
Helen

mariska said...

Since i haven't seen snow yet in Indonesia , so i'm gonna adore all the pictures about snow :P

sometimes i feel like i want snow in Indonesia..and sometimes i think it's better to have a warm, cozy, Sun :)

seems so cold !

Anna Sugden said...

Great post, Jeanne. I love snow! I like seasons and that they're all different. I want seasons to be correct too - hot in the summer and snow in the winter. I don't like grey, wet and miserable in any season.

I love winter sports - and not just hockey (Yay Saints! Yay Man Utd! Yay England Rugby!) though we all know where my heart lies *g*. I've always loved ice skating. Never skied, which was a mistake. I wish we'd taken time when we were in the US - as Skiing in Europe is soooo expensive!

And, I'm a beach baby, so love lying on a beach with a good book and a frothy cool cocktail - and a hunk next to me *g*.

Bring on the Winter Olympics - bring on the hockey! Can't wait! Just wish we could be in lovely Vancouver to see it in person.

Caren Crane said...

Congrats, Mariska!

Jeanne, I love the cold too and I adore snow! I grew up in the heat and (very high) humidity, so that holds no appeal to me. The first cool day in autumn puts a spring (no pun intended) in my step!

We, too, have gotten actual snow this winter for the first time in a decade. That one was on par with yours - 22 inches! I'm not sure I'll ever see that much again, but I would enjoy every minute of it!

When snowed in with my DH (and family) we tend to sort of hibernate. We'll get out and play for a while, but then it's all food and movies and games. *g* My favorite winter sport is luge, though I've never tried it. Sledding down a long, treacherous hill is the next best thing. I love the speed!

Joan said...

Ok, ok...I'll admit our last spit of snowfall this past Saturday DID make the trees pretty...it seemed to fall and stick on only one side of branches and has STAYED.

Now tomorrow morning when I have to drive to work in it...meh.

I'm good with being indoors with it...maybe taking one tracking walk around my yard. MAYBE shoveling the drive...but I'd rather make chocolate chip cookies and lure teenagers in to take care of that task.

Our record here in KY was 19 inches in 1978. I was stuck downtown at my nursing dormitory and got SO homesick!

Virginia? How about you and I go looking for crocus'?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Heeeeeeey, Mariska! You gonna get snowed in with the bird? Grins.

Congrats!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Anna! Alas, you're right, two of the country's major airports ARE closed. Both Dulles and Reagan-National in DC are closed. Should get 'em going again today though.

I can't imagine not having snow for THAT long. But I guess it doesn't do the snow thing in Aus that much? Ever? (Other than on the peak!)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Whoa, Pink! Which Clive? Who? Grins. Recorded and outgoing message eh? Like: Pink and I can't come to the phone right now we're...*sulty pause* dusting baseboards....

Is that what they're calling it these days?

Snork.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Gigi, you crack me up. Clears the pores, right. That's what a sauna after a good ski run is for.

Grins.

I'm with you on the Winter Olympics. SO much more interesting!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oooh, Virginia, brrrr on the shoveling.

I know it is hard on people who aren't hot natured like me. This is heaven to not have to worry about sweat stains. (Sorry, TMI!)

This would be why I usually am wishing that RWA would do it's conference in the spring or fall rather than the dead of summer. I frequently get to teach and there I am, up at the front of the room, dying of the heat.

Such a pretty sight...

Anna Sugden said...

Just want to say that we have a few pathetic flakes swirling around pretending to be a snowstorm - no-one's impressed here in Cambridge!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Laurie said:
Other things, about 24 inches, and I prefer the Summer Olympics ;)


Snork. Laurie, I read this and I'd forgotten the question. Gasped out loud, then had to LOL because I have SUCH a gutter brain.

Snork.

*waving Northward toward PA* Have fun up there!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Tawny! I know, isn't it great? You're obviously a tropical flower, from that response.

Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Suz said: Favorite sports...football, with baseball a close second. Some men,er sports are sooooooooooo enjoyable, huh, Jeanne? hehehe

Snork. *swoony sigh* You bet, Suz. Esp. the coffee drinkers...

Bwah-ha-ha!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Helen! My snow loving sister! Yeah! A Snowbee! Grins. You should get those ice skates out and teach the grands. It's great fun and great exercise too. And its so nice and ccccoooolllld in the rink!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey again, Mariska! I'm guessing that in Indonesia, unless it's some high mountain place, no snow, ever. :> Truly, the snow is lush. I'm thinking I could only visit Indonesia in your winter. The heat setting over there is just toooooo high for me. I'd spontaneously combust.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Anna S said: Bring on the Winter Olympics - bring on the hockey! Can't wait! Just wish we could be in lovely Vancouver to see it in person.

Yippeee! I knew you were likely to be a fellow snow-Bandita, thanks to the hockey. Grins.

See, I don't mind the beach in the fall and early summer, when I don't feel like a grilling flounder. Good book, great drink, very few clothes. It's the going-to-work-in-90+-degrees stuff that kills me.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Caren said: The first cool day in autumn puts a spring (no pun intended) in my step!

Ohh, another snowbee-Bandita! Yeah! I'm so with you on that spring in the step, Caren.

Luge? Really? "I feel the need, the need for speed!" Grins.

Caren "the luge queen" Crane. Snork. The speed would be awesome, wouldn't it? Wheeeeeee!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Joanie T, you can bake me cookies and I'll come shovel your driveway. I'd drive to KY for those cookies, they're awesome! Grins.

I know what you mean about driving to work in it, and I'm sure that for you, at the hospital, it's a pain.

Marnee Bailey said...

We got hammered by snow this weekend too. I live outside of Philadelphia, in South New Jersey, and our area has had record snow fall this year as well. I think we're somewhere around 50 inches? And they're calling for another foot tomorrow night. Ugh.

I don't mind one or two snowstorms a year, but I grew up in Western PA, where we got a LOT of snow. I personally feel I've hit my snow quota for live. This is all just insult to injury.

My hubby is beyond enthused though. That's good, cause he's doing all the shoveling. :)

Jane said...

It's freezing here, Anna. I love hockey. As for the Winter Olympics, I looking forward to speed skating, long and short track. It's amazing to watch. I watched curling during the last Olympics and it's pretty interesting, but didn't understand the scoring.

Gannon Carr said...

Jeanne, y'all have really had some kind of snow this winter. Us too! Usually I love snow, but I must say I wish we had a little more time between snowfalls.

We had a big storm mid-Dec. which dumped almost 2 ft.--it stayed forever!! We currently have almost 8 inches on the ground and it's going to start again tonight! I guess the problem here lately is that we get sleet in between the snow, which creates a mess. My boys shovel our back deck--so the dogs can get to the back yard--but our driveway is about 100 yds. long, so we have to wait for our plow guy to come liberate us. Depending on how busy he is, that can take 2 or 3 days!

Fall is most definitely my favorite season. :)

Hellie Sinclair said...

I love snow so long as I don't have to drive in it. (Spring, though, is my favorite season.) I prefer to be cold than hot--because my reasoning is I can always put on more clothes to keep warm, but I can only be so naked and still have sweat pouring off me. (I too hate sweating.)

I'm not an outdoorsy on pretty much any day...but I do like sledding and used to spend a ton of time as a kid sledding. In the summer, I prefer swimming--or staying in the AC and not sweating at all.

I agree: I love the sound of snow. Everything is muted and Robert Frost like.

Joan said...

Oh, forgot to add that I'm looking forward to Ice Dancing at the Olympics!

Any and all of the skating but Ice Dancing has jazzier music!

Louisa Cornell said...

Again, Mariska? Good heavens people are talking!

Funny post, Duchesse! You are definitely getting snowed under in the DC area! My CP is in Oklahoma and they are expecting more snow this afternoon. BRRRRR

Here in Bama it is just plain cold. Yuck!

I've lived in several Winter Wonderland countries so snow doesn't bother me too much. In fact Salzburg in winter is glorious.

I'm partial to snow sledding, skiing and sitting in the ski lodge in front of a monstrous fire.

In the summer I prefer lounging on a boat deck or by the pool, but not for long periods of time. I prefer the comfort of my AC, thank you very much. Is sitting at the mall watching the people walk by while eating frozen yogurt a summer sport?

I'm not sure about the record for my area, but I do know that in 1993 we had a snowstorm in March that dumped over three feet of snow on us. Snow was predicted, but not that much. I worked late and didn't stop at the grocery store. Thought I'd have time the next day when I was off. Woke up to three feet of snow, more falling and no food in the house! I couldn't get my truck up the hill of my driveway. I happened to look out at my pasture and saw my 20 year old horse, Taz, dancing around in the snow. You guessed it. Saddled him up, rode him the 8 miles to town, tied him to the newspaper box in front of Food World and bought my groceries. When I came out there was a policeman waiting on me. I said "Is there a problem, officer?" He said "No, ma'am. I just wanted to know who rode the horse to town."

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Joanie said Our record here in KY was 19 inches in 1978. I was stuck downtown at my nursing dormitory and got SO homesick!

That blizzard I was snowed in at nursing school, too. Many of the nurses couldn't make it to work, so the hospital commendered the students to fill in...not passing meds of course, but everything else. And those of us stuck in the dorms away from home? P-A-R-T-Y!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Jeanne said: Snork. *swoony sigh* You bet, Suz. Esp. the coffee drinkers... .
A well placed coffee cup can inspire such warm feelings in winter, can't it?

Unknown said...

Jeanne said:

The night of the storm, it was glorious. Big fat flakes, alternating with granular, hard pelting snow that piled up and up and up. It was so silent too. No cars, no horns, no traffic or sound, just white silence.

THIS...this is my favorite thing about snow. Your lyrical description is so spot-on. And clearly, snow brings out the poet in you.

And yes, I love snow. I've ALWAYS loved snow. Confession, I'm a warm weather person--I like the heat too--but I also love snow. I need seasons, and it's not winter, really, if there's no snow.

And this year, for the first time in five, I'm getting to actually enjoy it. In my last job, when it snowed, I was strung tight as a violin string because I had to drive on it for my work, and STOP on it for my work. I can drive on snow just fine, but stopping on snow and ice, six hundred times in about five hours? Turned me into a big ball of stress.

So last week before the snow hit y'all, it hit us for a good 4-5 inches, and I did NOT have to drive on it cuz I don't have that job any more, and IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!!! And beautiful and for the first time in years I got to love snow again, and that made me SO happy!!!

That dog is the cutest thing ever, and he's even cuter with snow all over him.

Unknown said...

Virginia said:

Last weekend I was out shoveling the driveway out to get to the car, in snickers by the way because I don't have boots. We usually don't get that much snow anymore.

Virginia, isn't that just the truth? When I was a kid, we could count on a couple of decent snows every year--good enough to build a full-size snowman. Usually one before Christmas, sometime in mid-December, and then one, at least, in January or February.

But in recent years, we haven't had enough to build more than a snow midget, if that. I think a couple of years we had none down here.

I'm actually glad to see it this year, though because of our recent mild winters, I had no boots. When the forecasters started yelling that it was coming for certain this time, everybody raided the shoe stores. By the time I got there (mid-snow), nary a boot in sight in my size.

I want some of those cute fuzzy ones with pom poms. (pout)

Unknown said...

Oh...I've never been skiing. I love to sled downhill on snow, but I haven't done that for a long time either.

Unknown said...

Jeanne said:

I know it is hard on people who aren't hot natured like me. This is heaven to not have to worry about sweat stains. (Sorry, TMI!)



See...I sweat just as much or MORE in the winter when I'm outside doing stuff, because if you don't have exactly the right gear--vented outerwear and all that--you dress for the outside temps, then you expercise and get all heated up and I SWEAT!

With nowhere for it to go bundled up in all those coats and sweaters and fleece and such....

Just sayin..

jo robertson said...

Great homage to winter and the snow gods, Jeanne! I lived in Virginia from the age of 10 through college and I never saw snow like that! Beautiful.

I don't like winter sports. Except for snowman-making (which I don't believe is an official winter sport), they require a certain amount of coordination, which I totally lack!

I love the beach and fine white sand and the sun beating down on me! We have very little humidity here so summer is a great time to be in the sun with very little sweating LOL.

Nancy said...

Mariska, congrats on the rooster!

Jeanne, I also love snow. I love its beauty and the tranquility that follows, as Anna Campbell notes.

I like walking with friends in the snow, especially at night, when it's so beautiful coming past the streetlights. In the little town where I grew up, nights were darker, which made the snow even more magical. And no one drove, all those southerners being fully aware that they did not know how to drive in snow.

Now we have more people, like the dh, from other regions where driving in snow is normal. Which makes walking on the street not so great an idea. And we also have people who think an SUV or 4WD vehicle handles just the same in the snow as it does on a dry street.

NOT!

So we have to watch out for them. Really watch!

Deb said...

Hi, Jeanne. I loved your post today. We are having a snowstorm right now and schools are being dismissed early with the hopes, um, I mean, chances of school being cancelled tomorrow.
I love to watch the snow fall, especially at night with the moon casting its white glow over the ground cover. My 9-year-old said that sparkles are like snow diamonds.
I am looking forward to the Winter Olympics, especially the skating.

Nancy said...

We had about an inch of mostly ice from the last storm. This past weekend was just rain. When the snow was on the ground, though, Herself loved it.

She was frolicking in the cold, icy stuff, tossing her head around, bounding over the yard. Labs have a more pronounced "up and over" movement when they bound than goldens do, and it's infectiously joyous.

Watching the goldens was always a delight, too. Hannah used to lie down and wallow in the snow, kicking her legs and growling. She also liked to retrieve snowballs and was sometimes mystified when they disappeared into the ground cover. And she always wanted to play chase in the snow.

The last big snow of her life was a couple of days before the boy was born. I was, as the saying goes, "great with child" and none too certain of my balance on the slick surface. I remember letting her out and stepping out to watch her. Several times she did that lunge and stop and grin/wag routine dogs do when they want to play, but I just didn't dare. I have this vivid memory of Hannah in the whiteness of the yard, with ice-sheathed daffodils in the flowerbed beside her. I wish I'd been able to chase her as she wanted.

Even Hudson, our Edwardian gentleman golden, became a little frisky when it snowed. And Maggie, our golden/Irish setter mix loved it. The two of them together in the snow were a hoot.

Nancy said...

PinkPeony wrote: Clive is the man. After four days, there shouldn't be any dust on the baseboards.

Clive? Are we talking Clive Owen? Did I miss something?

My favorite winter Olympics event is figure skating, but I also like to watch the ski jumping. It comes so close to flight, y'know?

Nancy said...

Cassondra, I think we used to get more snow, too. Now it's rare that we get enough to build anything major (the dh's favorite snow pastime--he has built an Easter Island man, Stonehenge, a dragon, and a yin/yang symbol in the snow--not to scale, though).

I used to live a bit farther north of here, and I noticed significant differences in snowfall between here and there last time.

But I remember when the boy was in first grade, it snowed every Wednesday in March, and school closed several times. I was driving home one day when big, fat flakes started hitting sticking on the ground, and I thought, "I'd better check the school." And sure enough, they were sending kids home.

Nancy said...

Jo, I don't have the coordination for winter sports, either. Or the ankle strength. I could never manage to water ski, so I doubt I'd do better on snow!

p226 said...

My favorite snow-sport is ... well ... I'm not sure I have one. My favorite summer sport is motorcycle road-racing.

And I presume I get to substitute "hottie-girl" for "hunk-o-man" in your question about what to do while snowed in, right? Because, that would result in two very, VERY different answers.

Donna MacMeans said...

Jeanne - Great pictures! We got snow here as you know - but nothing to reach your totals. As long as the roads are cleared quickly, I'm happy with the snow. When the kids were little, we did a lot of ice skating, sledding, and the obligatory snowman building. Now that they're adults, I'm more inclined to stay in with the hot chocolate & watch the snow fall.

Now I'm off to do the shopping because the snow is supposed to start again tomorrow.

Unknown said...

P226 said:

And I presume I get to substitute "hottie-girl" for "hunk-o-man" in your question about what to do while snowed in, right? Because, that would result in two very, VERY different answers.


Well....I'd be interested in both answers actually. Inquiring minds wanna know.

PG-13 of course. (grin)

Suzanna said...

I'm more a fall person. I adore everything about fall. I will, however, take winter any day over summer. I hate getting hot and sweaty.

I do have to say your pictures are stunning! I saved the first one and am using it as my desktop background right now. :) I'm in Toronto, Canada, and we're breaking records here for the least amount of snowfall ever. It's so bizarre to have nothing, while people all around us are getting whalloped!

Unknown said...

Suzanna, I'm surprised youall aren't getting your normal amount.

The weather patterns have been weird this year.

I'm hoping the storm headed for us now does more snow and not ICE!!

Ice is so much harder to deal with.

Unknown said...

Deb said:

I love to watch the snow fall, especially at night with the moon casting its white glow over the ground cover. My 9-year-old said that sparkles are like snow diamonds.


What a lovely image! And a couple of weeks ago on the night when the snow was deepest here, the moon was full. I hadn't seen that in many years--so bright outside you could easily have read by the ambient light.

That Christmas poem....The moon on the crest of the newfallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below... not sure I have it exactly correct, but I thought of it then. I soaked in the tub with a glass of wine and opened the shutters (we have a full-length window in the bathroom) so I could stare out at it. Normally I burn a candle and turn off the lights, but I didn't have to have a candle that night because the light streaming in the windows was so bright!

Anna Campbell said...

Jeanne, it does actually snow quite regularly down south in the Snowy Mountains (duh!) and the Australian Alps. We even have a ski season. But I'm up in the subtropical part of the country - we're getting monsoonal rain at the moment!

Cassondra said...

Has anybody heard from Jeanne in the last little bit? Do you suppose she's lost power? I know she was worried about that.

p226 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
p226 said...

PG-13 of course. (grin)

Well, that just completely disqualifies my response to question three part A.

So, if snowed in with a hunk-o-man, I'd put his hunky rear to work cleaning my rifles or shoveling snow. I'd lob a bolt covered in carbon at him with an AP brush and a half gallon of solvent. "Scrub."

Question three part B's answer is censored by the MPAA. Because it is not PG-13.

But our record snowfall is around 33 inches in a single day.

And my favorite winter sport to watch on TV is four-person bobsled.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

GREAT pictures, Duchesse! But BRRRR! Glad I'm not there!

My favorite winter snow-related sport: sitting in the ski lodge wrapped around a hot toddy.

My favorite summer sport: sitting on the lanai in front of a fan sipping a frozen margarita.

As for record snow in our area, we actually HAD SOME SNOW this year! Only the 3rd time in 30+ years. But very nearby is the Donner Pass, named for the ill-fated Donner party. Record snowfall there is 12 to 15 FEET! 'Nuff said.

AC

Nancy said...

Suzanna, I noticed that they're trucking snow in--and, I heard, flying it in by helicopter--to the Olympic sites in Vancouver. Apparently it's in the 50s there this week?

I would assume Toronto got a lot of snow, just 'cause it's pretty far north.

Nancy said...

Laurie, I hope your streets will start clearing soon. I have to qualify my earlier statement by agreeing with you and--I like snow as long as I don't have to go anywhere.

It's the whole driving thing. :-)

Nancy said...

Cassondra: I soaked in the tub with a glass of wine and opened the shutters (we have a full-length window in the bathroom) so I could stare out at it. Normally I burn a candle and turn off the lights, but I didn't have to have a candle that night because the light streaming in the windows was so bright!

That sounds so beautiful. The dh's brother and his wife have a hot tub about five feet from their basement door. They've been known to scamper out there with wine when there's snow on the ground. They have a view of mountaintops from their hot tub. With the snow, I think that would be gorgeous.

Nancy said...

Just talked to Jeanne. She has power, but her internet is out. She'll join us again if it comes back, and she wanted me to tell everyone.

Minna said...

Winter: I sit inside and look out or walk outside. I hate skiing. If the sports lessons in the elementary school+the school's skiing competitions you are forced to participate don't make you hate skiing, nothing will.
Summer: I swim and ride by bicycle.
Oh, I'm ready for the Winter Olympics. I might watch some figure skating and ice hockey. And I'm looking forward to seeing the ceremonies.

I got rid of 5 books and I'll get some tea and peanut butter candies for them! Woohoo! Only about hundred books to go... Since I can't seem to find anyone around here who whould would also read books in English, Swedish or German, I'll have to send them around the world, few books at a time. Maybe I'll finally have some space here -for more books.

Queen - A winter's tale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzD_y5ibbRM

Tomas Ledin - Sommaren är kort
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVdGOz_ptDg

Sunshine Reggae
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hOCH_QxDg

Pave Maijanen - Lähtisitkö
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLlNe6vyokI

Nik Kershaw - I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez7HSIi423Q&feature=related

Paul Gross ("Due South" Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINmbqb4Z18

Due South - The Mountie Song Revisited
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQkql4dHniE&feature=related

Nancy said...

Minna, I hear you on making space for books. It's the story of our lives. And I've recently realized (in a "doh! what took you so long" way) that the boy does not love the same books we do. Which means he will not want any of these books--well, maybe a few--which means we will, at some point, need to start getting rid of them. Which will be painful.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

I like winter but I am not a sports person, my idea of a lovely snow is to pull the curtains open and watch it fall...LOL

Unknown said...

Nancy said:

They have a view of mountaintops from their hot tub. With the snow, I think that would be gorgeous.

OH, that would be fabulous. We have friends who used to have a hot tub(but have since moved to another house and don't have one)and our favorite time to use it was winter. They had a deck out back with a gazebo, and the hot tub was under there. We'd shovel a narrow path to the gazebo and sit out there with something to drink when it was freezing outside. Cold is the best time for that.

I have never had much desire for a pool as I'm not much of a swimmer, but when we build onto our house, we're doing a hot tub out back. I've already got the designs drawn out for how I want it. French doors out my big master bathroom with a hot tub on a screened porch right outside. OH yeah....

Unknown said...

P226 said:

But our record snowfall is around 33 inches in a single day.


JEEEEEZ-O-FLIP that's a lot of snow! Is that normal for you guys?

I want to learn to cross country ski. I've never been on skis at all. I don't have much interest in downhill, but I'd like to learn x-country because you can tour around--like hiking, but I think it's even better exercise. Of course, I would promptly pass out after I went 50 feet I'm certain, as it looks like a lot of work.

I bet your part of the country would be great for x-country ski stuff.

Cassondra said...

P226 also said:

And my favorite winter sport to watch on TV is four-person bobsled.

I used to really like the bobsled competitions on tv. I don't really get to see tv now (we just use ours for movies)but that was fun. I also liked downhill skiing and the thing where you had to ski and shoot...ah, heck. I'm sick and on drugs and can't remember the name of it.

Minna said...

Nancy, I have all these books that are keepers -probably too many of them, too, but I've become really picky about which books I keep. Which is a good thing, considering that I really don't have very much space for a huge amount of books. But getting rid of books that are not written/translated in Finnish seems to be a bit of a problem. And because the postage is what it is -too expensive- I send away few books a month and only as many books as I can fit inside an envelope. If anyone wants to help me to get rid of my books, they can contact me through any of the swapping sites I've listed on my blog. For months I tried to find someone close to home who might want my books, but that didn't seem to work.

http://teabooksandchocolate.blogspot.com/

Suzanna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Suzanna said...

By Canadian standards, Torontonians are wimps. We're situated in such a way that we usually get snow, but not nearly as much as other areas. *Usually* the major snowfalls skirt around the city (I live in midtown Toronto.)

About ten years ago we had a snow storm on the scale Jeanne and others are experiencing right now. We had to call in the army to help dig us out. The city was completely paralyzed. And yes, the rest of Canada laughed at us. Having lived through an unusual snowfall, I can sympathize with the headaches others are experiencing right now. Playing in it is fine ... commuting in it, though, is an entirely different thing.

(I wish we could edit our replies if we find typos after hitting "publish".)

Minna said...

I'm guessing they are hoping for a bit of blizzard in Vancouver right about now. I heard they don't have too much snow where the athletes are supposed to ski and such and they actually have to bring snow to those places by trucks.

limecello said...

lol Jeanne, I'm glad you're enjoying the snow, but I wish you would have kept it all yourself! We've got about 2 feet on the ground now. Parts of places aren't roads, they're all ice and snow. Danger!

Slush builds up behind and in front my tires... Blech.
As for record snowfall... I think 45" in one month? Luckily that hasn't happened in 33 years? So... *angelface* I've never experienced it. But last January, we did get something like 42" or 43" of snow.
My favorite activity? Sitting inside and watching it :D
You need to move closer to a great lake -you'd change your mind about snow then!

p226 said...


I bet your part of the country would be great for x-country ski stuff.


Not really, no. This winter's been unusually snowy for us. Though, you could do some serious cross-country skiing this year. I actually saw some folks out doing exactly that - skiing trails in one of the state forests.

...and the thing where you had to ski and shoot...ah, heck. I'm sick and on drugs and can't remember the name of it.

That's the biathalon. That has to be one of the most difficult shooting disciplines out there. Skiing is hard enough. And true precision rifle shooting is hard enough. Precision rifle shooting can take a lifetime to master. And if you've ever run wind-sprints and then tried to shoot, you know exactly how much the game changes. With your pulse hammering and your lungs screaming for oxygen, that front sight post moves around like a rowboat in a hurricane. So few shooters, even experienced shooters, know what that feels like. So very few know how hard it is to shoot accurately when your body is in that state.

I know how hard it is. It's something you can't explain. You just have to try to do it to understand.

Nancy said...

Cassondra wrote: when we build onto our house, we're doing a hot tub out back. I've already got the designs drawn out for how I want it.

Oh, that'd be so great! A real advantage to rural living.

My first experience of the hot tub at the dh's brother's house was after RWA in Denver. I stayed over an extra night with them and saved about $200 on airfare. We sat out in the hot tub with wine. Since they live on top of a cliff, our view was of dark mountaintops across the way against a starry sky. It was fabulous!

Even when lightning started over the mountains, it was still fabulous for a while. The whole lightning/water thing makes me more nervous than it does them. I came home wanting a hot tub, but y'know, we live in the city. Our view would be the neighbors' back yard, which is waaay less romantic.

Nancy said...

Cassondra and p226 have been discussing biathlon. I'm wondering--is there an event that involves shooting and equestrian competition?

Nancy said...

Suzanna, I frequently find typos after hitting "Publish," so don't feel badly about that around here.

We had the National Guard here after Hurricane Hugo, and I have to say that knowing those guardsmen were standing around with their weapons and patrolling in their helicopters when night fell and we had no streetlights or other power-related lighting was comforting.

Nancy said...

Dianna, when you sit and watch the snow fall, are you having hot tea or cocoa? Maybe a cookie or two? I like something warm when the snow is coming down.

Nancy said...

Limecello, I'm sorry your roads are so bad. That just sounds horrible!

Nancy said...

Minna, I try to be pickier about keepers, choosing them by actually choosing them rather than letting inertia take over, but it isn't helping much so far.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Cassondra and p226 have been discussing biathlon. I'm wondering--is there an event that involves shooting and equestrian competition?... yes Nancy, they call that calvary. hehehe

p226 said...

Cassondra and p226 have been discussing biathlon. I'm wondering--is there an event that involves shooting and equestrian competition?

Not in the olympics, no. But the SASS has such competitions.

http://www.sassnet.com/

On the menu on the left, click mounted shooting.

Nancy said...

Suz, the cavalry is duly noted. Does the cavalry appear in Rocky Mountain Romance?

Nancy said...

p226, thank you. Will go look at that.

Kate Carlisle said...

Great post, Jeanne! And you know, I'm right there with you on the whole "sweat" issue. But honey, it's freaking cold out there!!!

I kinda like to split the difference with blue skies and a brisk sea breeze. Maybe mid to high 60's. That's cold enough. LOL

And it's kinda weird that they're shipping snow into Vancouver for the Olympics, isn't it? Who knew? They should've held it in your neck of the woods!

Cheers, Mariska!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Everyone! My internet's back on! Yippeeeeee!

I was worried that it wouldn't come back. :>

Guess what? Now we've got another storm bearing down on us with another 10-20" expected. Wheeeee!

Good thing I have a well-stocked pantry.

Nancy said...

Kate, I like low 70s, myself! With low humidity, of course.

Nancy said...

Jeanne, I'm glad your pantry is stocked. I'm guessing the usual run on grocery stores won't happen for this next storm because no one can GET to the grocery store.

Good luck! Glad your internet is back.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Suz, the cavalry is duly noted. Does the cavalry appear in Rocky Mountain Romance?...

OH, thanks for the plug, Nancy. Alas, no calvary, but a very hunky hero and his best buddy. And snow in the beginning and snow in the end!

www.rockymountainromance.blogspot.com

Louisa Cornell said...

My dear Duchesse, while I appreciate your many gifts I really wish you would keep the snow to yourself! They are predicting snow accumulations for us this weekend. In Alabama! Demolition Derby anyone? My kingdom for a horse!

Cassondra said...

Nancy said:

I'm wondering--is there an event that involves shooting and equestrian competition?

There are sports/events like that, but not in the Olympics as far as I know. Of course, the Olympics have changed over the years, and I have not been watching, so could be....

catslady said...

We got 26 inches and still aren't shoveled out yet and expected to get 10 more tomorrow :( It's why people move to Florida!!! I am looking forward to the olympics - I love most of the winter sports (watching that is) and could do with no more snow for a long time!

Cassondra said...

Nancy said:

came home wanting a hot tub, but y'know, we live in the city. Our view would be the neighbors' back yard, which is waaay less romantic.

We won't really have a pretty view for ours either--not on that side of the house, and there's not a lot pretty about Kentucky in the winter if it isn't snowing. It's dull and gray and dreary. So I'll set it up so we can have views of the stars...for both summer and winter viewing.

Cassondra said...

catslady said:

We got 26 inches and still aren't shoveled out yet and expected to get 10 more tomorrow :( It's why people move to Florida!!!)

Wooohooo! No kidding! I can't remember where you're located, Catslady. Are you anywhere near Jeanne?

Cassondra said...

Nancy said:

Dianna, when you sit and watch the snow fall, are you having hot tea or cocoa? Maybe a cookie or two? I like something warm when the snow is coming down.

Ooooo...Cocoa...yummmm.

Joan said...

Good thing I have a well-stocked pantry.

Jeanne...I was going to mail you choc chip cookies today but they said it wouldn't arrive till the spring thaw...which in Maryland they're estimaiting, will occur around July 4th

:-)

Joan said...

6"!! 6"!!! They're predicting 6 " here in KY!! Run for the hills!!



Ouch!

Man, who would have thought you DC area girls could THROW a snowball that far!!!

Cassondra said...

Joanie said:

6"!! 6"!!! They're predicting 6 " here in KY!! Run for the hills!!


We're supposed to get less down here. 2-4 maybe. I don't mind. I just don't want ice.

Cassondra said...

Louisa said:

They are predicting snow accumulations for us this weekend. In Alabama! Demolition Derby anyone?

OMGOSH. I bet you do have a time when it snows down there. Y'all are not set up for that.

Cassondra said...

Nancy, they have some cowboy gunning competitions which involve riding and shooting--cowboy specific models of rifles and pistols though--I'd like to see one of these sometime. I've never seen one in person.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

P226, Cassondra, I have one word for both of you....SNORK!!!!

Minna, cool links.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

joanie said: Man, who would have thought you DC area girls could THROW a snowball that far!!!

Hey, it's a big snowball and a fer piece to throw it, so I borrowed a catapult from the Lair. Grins. Glad it made it there.

Cassondra said...

Jeanne, you're back!

Yay!

Nancy said...

Jeanne wrote: Hey, it's a big snowball and a fer piece to throw it, so I borrowed a catapult from the Lair.

A catapult? We have a catapult? Nobody told me. Hey, Demetrius, where've you been hiding that thing?

Nancy said...

Cassondra, those cowboy competitions sound like fun. I'd like to see one, too. I have a buddy here whose son rides rodeo, but I don't think he does anything like that.

Nancy said...

Snow at the beginning and at the end, huh, Suz? And two hunky guys.

Hmm. Would the heroine qualify as a hottie-girl, as requested for the blog question by p226?

A hunky hero, his best friend and fabulous heroine. And snow.

Interesting . . .

Nancy said...

Joanie, when there's 6" on the ground, is it time to have sangria?

Around here, it'd be time to get out of school.

Nancy said...

Catslady, I hope your pantry is also well stocked and your power lines are protected. Good luck with that snow!

Gannon Carr said...

I just saw that they are predicting blizzard conditions here in the mountains on Wednesday. Yikes!

Nancy said...

Gannon, I hope you don't get snowed in.

Pat Cochran said...

We have had occasional snow flakes
flutter past if it got cold enough.
In the early 1950s, Houston had a
snowfall that allowed us to make
small snowmen in the yard. Another
time, we had a storm that had the trees and bushes coated inches deep in ice. Granddaughter Ashley is attending college in Indiana. She is experiencing weather the like of which she has never before seen! It makes our recent snowfall
seem quite small in comparison!

Pat Cochran

Cassondra said...

Pat said:

Granddaughter Ashley is attending college in Indiana. She is experiencing weather the like of which she has never before seen! It makes our recent snowfall
seem quite small in comparison!


Wow Pat, I bet she was blown away by all of that. Is she liking the weather, or does she hate it?

Nancy said...

Pat, the boy is looking at colleges north of here. His father went to college in New Hampshire and so knows what serious winter is like. The boy has never experienced it, and I'm wondering how he'll like it.

Of course, he doesn't get cold the way I do, so he'll probably be fine with that. But he really isn't used to all that snow!

Pat Cochran said...

Hi, Cassondra,

Ashley is really enjoying the snowy
weather. She was out Saturday and
was trying to build a snowman. The
cold & her wet gloves finally sent
her back into her dorm. We have
gotten lots of pictures from her. The flakes start flying and we get
another batch from her! Grandma
is the one who is being a worry- wart about Ash not being used to
that weather!

Pat C.

Lexi said...

Jeanne, my daughter's eighth grade class from sunny Montgomery, Alabama is in Washington right now in the midst of all that SNOW! These kids have never seen REAL snow and don't know how to act! Today they are snowed-in at their hotel. God bless their teachers, who have to deal with 90 bored, energetic thirteen and fourteen-year-olds.

We might even get snow here in Montgomery tomorrow night! It will be a disaster. I am thinking seriously of staying home. No one in Alabama knows how to drive in the snow.