Snow – Page 3 – Valerie's Voice

Cross-Country Skiing

We were able to get out cross-country skiing at the Carleton Arboretum a couple of times this past week. It is one positive for all the snow that has fallen this winter.

The white, pristine snow blankets the ground and frosts the brown tree trunks. Water flows through open spaces in the river, the trail recently groomed for skiing, and the temperatures reasonable, even nice, to be able to be outside and enjoy this tough Minnesota winter.

Open water on the river that runs through the arboretum.

Yesterday gentle snowflakes fell during our time on the trail. Quiet beauty surrounded us. It was peaceful. It is always peaceful at the arb. It is sometimes hard to remember downtown is within a mile or two. We are fortunate to have this beautiful, wooded arboretum so near and accessible.

Several years ago I wrote a poem while skiing at the arb and I thought of it again this week.

Cross-Country Skiing
 
Arms swinging
Poles digging
Jacket swishing
Legs trekking
Skis gliding
 
River Flowing
Snow falling
Birds singing
Peace ringing
Prayer bringing

The contrast of dark and light, white snow…brown tree trunks…gray water, is striking, but there can be color in winter. We saw this sunset the night before our last snow fall.

The sun setting over snow covered fields one evening while driving out of town.

A Winter Morning

After the deep freeze last week, the temperatures climbed on Saturday and we were able to get outside to play.

The temperatures were just right for cross-country skiing in the morning at Riverbend Nature Center in Faribault, until late morning when the temperatures started rising and the snow was becoming sticky.

A beautiful morning for some cross-country skiing.

When we got home from skiing we thought would be a good time to build a snowman with the grandchildren. We were already in our winter gear, so we bundled up the grandkids and brought them outside to play in the snow, and to build a snowman…finally. They have been waiting and waiting for the “right” kind of snow to build one.

Building a snowman…grandkids with “grandma-papa.”

We brought out the scarf we had bought in anticipation of building a snowman, and used a carrot for his nose, rocks for his eyes, and branches for his arms and his smile.

Finally, a snowman…and we used the scarf we bought.

The kids were very excited to play in the snow, and we were very excited to play with them, and also cross-country ski.

It was a wonderful, winter morning.

Snow and Cold

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'” -Lewis Carroll

A quilt of snow fell Sunday night and we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland.

However, the weather forecasters predict we will experience our coldest temperatures in 20 years this week, with 25-30 degrees below zero temperatures. Brrr…We will need to bundle up with our own warm quilts, inside.

Snow Angels

When our grandchildren moved to the Minnesota from Mozambique, Africa last month there was snow on the ground, thankfully. They were so excited to see snow. With our unusually warm January temperatures and no more snow fall since they arrived, I’m glad they had the chance to experience snow, even for a day. They made their first snow angels. I wrote the poem below, after our outing.

Snow angels
All bundled up
Almost unrecognizable
Skipping down the lane
Stopping to taste and see it is good
Noticing squirrels
And planes and dogs
Screaming with outdoor voices
Running, then stopping to fall in the snow
Beautiful snow angels
Disguised as grandchildren.

We are waiting for snow to make more snow angels, and a snowman! We have bought a scarf for the snowman. It is hanging on the coat tree…in anticipation. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

For Zoey

Zoey, our 4-year-old granddaughter, is moving from Africa to the USA soon, with her family. Her mom says she is excited to see snow in Minnesota. Here are a few photos from our recent snowstorm…for Zoey… and Ezra, her 2 1/2-year-old brother. We cannot wait to see you!

I’m always taking pictures of the cardinals in our yard.

The red cardinal on a fresh layer of snow.

The snow covered trees in our front yard.

Snow-covered evergreen boughs out on our deck.

Looking out at the snow from our kitchen window, through a green-glass star.

I have a fun story about an African snowman. Our daughter-in-love is a native of Mozambique, and we knew she had never experienced snow but was curious about snow. Before we left Minnesota, on one visit to Mozambique, I dug through my Christmas boxes and found a packet of “Real Fake Snow” (when water is added to this white powder an instant reaction is a white-snow like mixture). I tucked the packet into my suitcase. One evening, after a very hot day in Mozambique, we opened the packet and mixed up the “real fake snow”. It was fun to watch a snowman being built, in Africa!

Our son looking on with joy as his wife makes her first snowman.

Squirrels

We are experiencing some wonderful sunshine and warmth after many days of grey and cloudy skies…and one day of snow.

The first snow… on October 14… which melted quickly, thankfully.

I have a flower blooming on our back deck. I noticed it a couple days ago, and it’s one I have not noticed blooming this time of year before. It’s a clematis, climbing up our pergola. It’s beautiful amidst the falling leaves that are carpeting our backyard.

The squirrels are busy. I decorated our front porch with some gourds a friend gave me, and had fun making a display I liked. I found out the squirrels discovered it, and liked it too. After they quickly ate half a squash and started on another, I decided I needed to stop them somehow.

At some point I must have heard of using pepper as a deterrent because that came to mind right away. So I tried it. I outlined the display with dashes of pepper and lightly sprinkled the gourdes and pumpkins and it worked! The squirrels have stopped coming and are no longer nibbling on the natural buffet they thought I was providing for them our front porch.

Squirrels are fun little creatures to watch, but there are certain places I do not want them. One is eating my porch display and the other is at our bird feeders. We fill the bird feeder we have hanging near our trees with safflower seeds because squirrels do not like them, but a lot of birds do: cardinals, chickadees, finches…

I put black sunflower seeds in another feeder suctioned to our window because the squirrels cannot get at the seeds. I love seeing our resident cardinals up close, eating at the window feeder.

We do have a large squirrel’s nest in one of our trees in the backyard. I guess they can live here, as long as they behave.

Historic Blizzard

They are calling this a Historic Blizzard – Saturday, April 14, 2018.

We have been out of town for three weeks and when we drove into our driveway at the end of last week it was disappointing to still have snow in our yard.

Our back deck, photo taken Sunday morning.

And then we heard the forecast…a winter storm warning. And this time they were right. 12-15″ of snow and strong winds were predicted, and it came. Lots of snow and sleet, and very strong winds swirling the snow around into drifts and corners and clinging to windows. They are calling this the Historic Blizzard because this is the middle of April.

Blowing snow covered our living room windows, photo take 4/14.

We had several birds at our feeder during the storm.

We tucked ourselves in, sat near the fireplace, and waited out the storm. (Although we did go for a walk in the snow last evening…we couldn’t resist being out in it.)

We walked by Pond One…there was open water and a duck swimming.

This morning Gary plowed out our driveway and there is whiteness everywhere.

Thankful for a snowblower (and an operator!)

We are so ready for spring.

A Week in Winter Wonderland

Last week it snowed one day, and then another, and then another and for some reason the snow mostly stayed on the tree branches making the world around us a winter wonderland. For me it was breath-taking. Everywhere you looked the trees were frosted. I tried to capture a few photos.

The first snow – ice crystals clinging to tree branches and glistening in the sun.

The second snow – Evergreens along County Road 9.

Second snowfall – we went snow-shoeing on French Lake.

Overlooking fresh fallen snow on an open field.

The third snow – walking in vehicle tracks on Crystal Lake.

Chunks of ice carved out of Crystal Lake, preparing a hole for a polar plunge (which we did not stay to watch.)

Continuing to walk all the way across Crystal Lake.

Into the woods on the other side of Crystal Lake.

A lone pine cone hanging on to a snowy branch.

Stunning beauty all along the Highway 3. I can only imagine what it would look like with blue skies.

Every branch (and every tree) is covered with snow.

Impromptu Hike

The sun was shining, the snow was glistening and the woods were calling. Fortunately, we had no where we needed to be so we headed out to Big Woods State Park to hike in the winter wonderland.

Over a bridge and through the woods. Clean, white, fresh snow.

Ending our time with a walk through the campground.

First Snow

We woke up to snow on the ground this morning. It reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2002.

There is a place inside me that needs white –

Seeing the first snowfall draws a quick breath of contentment.

There is a place inside me that needs brown –

Smelling the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

There is a place inside me that needs golden yellow –

Feeling the warmth of a fire on this cool morning.

There is a place inside me that needs evergreen –

The beauty of an evergreen tree standing tall.

There is a place inside me that needs God –

To bring all things together in peace.

There is a place inside me that needs movement-

Rocking in a rocking chair moving closer to God in prayer.