Winter Has Officially Begun

 Winter has officially begun and to think I thought it had already started.  Why? Well -- perhaps subzero temperatures and four feet of snow may have had something to do with that idea as did the recurring phrase "Persistent Snow Band" complete with impressive maps on repetitive weather reports.  I even purchased a handy-dandy battery operated snow shovel (a Christmas present from me to me) that can blow snow twenty feet in any direction -- some of it even blows backward into your face if you are working against the wind.  Perhaps that is why protective googles are included in the purchase.  Perhaps I should have worn them. Anyway -- I had no doubt that it would be a White Christmas here.  Then... the weather took a bit of a turn.

There is still snow, but... Christmas without fresh snow?  Bummer.  The only snow around here really are the rather impressive remains of snow banks at the top of my driveway and a few inches of ground cover.  Drat.  I mean -- who doesn't enjoy waking up Christmas morning to find a lovely, white, fluffy covering of new snow to freshen things up a bit?

Every year I wonder what Christmas must be like for those who do not live in snow country.  I sort of feel bad for them. Then again that is not what Christmas is about.

Either way. Snow or no snow -- Merry Christmas to all!  

Memes of the Week

 Memes sometimes just make my day.  I wish I were one of those people who thought of them and knew how to "make" them.  May have to do some research on that process. I did run across a free Meme Generator once. Will have to go back to that - if I can find it. Plus -- wish I knew how the term Meme even came to be. Guess I will look for that as well.

To get closer to today's topic -- there are two memes that are in competition for the best that I encountered this past week.  This first is

                    Dear Winter... 

                        Stop it.   (from @anxiousandy!)

The second is a photo of a smiling Lawrence Welk with his conducting baton in hand. (I have no idea who created this meme, but it is great!) The words superimposed at the top -- "If you were forced to watch this as a child, you may be entitled to compensation."  I so remember sitting on the floor in front of my Grandma Bessie's TV watching The Lawrence Welk Show on her little TV that could receive two channels on a good day,  and ... cannot forget the Ed Sullivan Show while I am at it. They are not my most painful of childhood memories for sure ... but -- they are on the list. Anyway -- back to the topic -- The Welk meme dropped in and all I could hear in my head was "and a one and a two..."  

Have to mention though that although I was never a Welk fan, I always wished I knew how to dance the polka.  Still do. Am I alone in this? I do think I am now a bit past the point of donning a full skirt with high heels, and certainly should not attempt the swirling even in my bare feet.  I missed the opportunity on that one.  I will deal with it.  I do know how to square dance though - or at least I used to.  That was taught in fifth grade at my elementary school. It was mandatory and I was totally freaked about it. I recall that was the first time I had to dance with a boy ...  back in the days when I thought all boys had cooties.  His name was Harold Eddy. He did not have cooties.  Odd that I can remember that and not where I put my phone.  Is there a meme brewing in all of this? Perhaps....

A lovely couple...

I guess I missed winter this year.  I only remember about three snows of any significance.  Odd.  I don't trust it.  It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. "In like a lion, out like a lamb" - only the other way around. Anyone who lives around here gets that.  No one in this corner of snow country trusts a light winter. We have seen snowflakes in June.

Here's the thing.  Mr. and Mrs. Goose have returned to my neighbor's pond... a sure sign of Spring.  I have been watching this lovely couple since 2018. They fly in sometime at the end of February or beginning of March, gently land, and stay about a week before heading north.  I like to think that they are resting up before flying over Lake Erie on their way to their summer home in Canada.  They spend a week here floating around and flying back and forth between what I call my horse pond on the east side of my pasture and the neighbor's pond right next to my driveway on the west side.  They are peaceful, gentle and absolutely beautiful creatures. They are the only two geese I have ever seen land on either pond and then hang around. They just rest, float, and relax. They ignore me. I am not offended by this even though I speak to them every day.

There is, however, a new concern now that there are bald eagles nearby (a nest just down the road), I hold my breath that the geese will have a safe and uneventful trip north.  The bald eagles are majestic and wonderful creatures as well, but not nearly as kind as geese. It is survival of the fittest... sort of like my whole yard, pasture, garden and the current status of my few remaining house plants.  And so it goes.... 

Western Clipper Winters

Ran across an old friend of sorts the other day and spent some time reminiscing about long past winter adventures.  I had gone down the steps to my basement to find something (I forget what now) and there stood my friend leaning against a far wall as if it were waiting... and the memories came flooding back.

There it was -- my Western Clipper, the perfect wooden sled with metal runners. It is now definitely a "little" worse for the wear -- not much red paint left on the frame and runners, and the steering rope is long gone. I usually give my "vehicles" names (my current Wrangler's is Earl), but if I named this old friend, I have forgotten. I am sorry that I don't remember. A good friend deserves better.

Anyway -- for some reason, I have a strong sense that some of you probably have (or had) this same sled and remember how you waited for the perfect sledding day - for packed or just enough crusty snow that could handle those metal runners - snow that would enable them to slide perfectly all the way to the bottom of the hill. You could steer with your hands if lying on your belly, or if sitting, your feet or the steering rope worked just as well. You needed a good running start or a strong skootch or two either way. A good ride was worth the trudge back up the hill to make the "run" even better.  Ah winter -- it meant different things in those days. No easy-to-slide plastic snow saucers back then. 

That same evening ...  after dark, I walked through the snow to close a pasture gate that the wind had set banging and thought to myself -- this would be the perfect crusty snow to handle that Clipper for sure. It would fly smoothly along its way ... crust on top of a solid base - a little more powder on top would help, but not totally necessary.  (If you live in snow country or ever have, you know what that means.) Anyway -- after getting that pesky gate latched(had to break some ice to do it), I walked back to the comfort of my home and sat in front of the fire. It was lovely. 

Sometimes reminiscing is the way to go. 

Where is Winter?

 

Probably by the time I am about to post this blog, things will have changed, but for now I have to say I am still waiting for winter. All my boots are mud, if not dust, covered. If you live in NW PA, and it is snowing when you read this, please pretend that it hasn’t started yet and think back a couple of days. Normally my least favorite month as it seems to me like the longest month of the year, February is different this year.  Now almost the middle of February, it is 54º, “… And the green grass grows all around all around / And the green grass grows all around…”. I even saw some sun today.  Strange. A few days ago, I heard geese as they were flying North. Just yesterday I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Goose have made their annual stop at the pond next door -- a full month early!

We have had snow in bursts this season, but nothing that lasts very long. The skiers and snowboarders are thankful that it has been cold enough to make snow at nearby ski resorts.  I am okay with dry roads and the lack of ice, but the lack of snow is unnerving somehow.  When you grow up in Northwest Pennsylvania and live here for decades, this mild weather is like waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it just seems to go on an on.  There is a certain unease about a non-winter.  People in these parts know that somehow we will pay for this in the long run.  We believe deep down that nothing will let us off the hook. We have become accustomed to dealing with at least 150" of snow and to have so little is unsettling. I remember that his has happened before off and on since that one February when I was in grade school, when I walked to school with no coat. I know. But... it is always odd.

Anyway … snow and bitter cold are a part of who we are. This year we have missed the snow but not all the bitter cold. Usually the two go together. The thing is – many of us would rather have a good ground cover of snow than the recurring mud of this year’s so-called winter. Snow cover, after all, makes everything look clean and makes the world quieter and more peaceful somehow.  Those aspects of winter are nice. We are ready for snow here. We have special gear for snow and every third pickup in these parts has a plow on the front. Almost all personal vehicles are all-wheel or 4-wheel drive. Thank goodness for all pickup plows and vehicles that will get you out of your driveway and along the roadways even if the big plows haven't rumbled through very often as of yet. We handle snow well. Plus.. we know how to shovel.

I realize that, if we get a blizzard now after writing all this, that it will serve me right. Sorry. It’s like the Weather in these parts has ears and likes to seek revenge. That’s why we whisper things like “This has been a really easy winter.” In fact - I am whispering in my head as I write this. We know we will pay for the good days. Case in point -- I have seen snow in the air in June. 

Sometimes I wonder why people live here.  In the summer, one can count the consecutive number of sunny days on one hand. Personally I live here because I like the cold and don’t mind cloudy summer days. I also like socks and sweatshirts. (It goes without saying that I like the people who live here.)  Guess every part of the country has it’s good and not so good weather points.  At least mold doesn’t survive well in these climes and no one has to worry about termites. They cannot survive temperatures below 25º. (I know this because I looked it up a long time ago. Don't know why, but I did.)  So ..there is that. One less thing to worry about.

Northwest Pennsylvanians are a Hearty bunch. We expect winter to be winter.  Maybe not as wintery as Buffalo NY, but still winter.    Let it snow... or not. We are ready....