Winter Wonderland – Valerie's Voice

Snow, and more snow

I’d be remiss not to post anything about our recent snowstorm, producing over twelve inches* of heavy, white snow…potentially dangerous to the trees, but so far our trees have survived.

Looking out our front door, across the street

Since we are retired and don’t have to drive in the snow, or work outside in it, or even leave the comfort of our warm home, it’s easier to say it’s beautiful!

When we planted trees years ago, I envisioned the branches filling this window space.

It was a heavy snow that continues to stay on the branches.

Gary does get out to plow our own driveway and the public sidewalk that goes along the side of our house (sometimes I go out with a shovel to help).

I asked him if he wants to move to somewhere where it doesn’t snow, and he said only when he’s shoveling! ha

This snow clings to the branches, and everything, making an incredible winter wonderland for sure…the beauty can’t be denied.

Earlier in the week we tried “kicksledding” in fresh fallen snow…it was challenging but fun.

Then we settled into our house and let it snow, and snow some more.

*Weather.gov

Before the Cold Sets In…

Last week the snow started falling…sometimes it felt like we were living in a snow globe. It was, and still is, beautiful outside.

Out our front door…at dawn’s early light.

Looking out our patio door, early morning.

It has continued to snow off and on, and the “frosting” has stayed on the trees, and everything else for that matter. Wherever you look, it is stunning. A true winter wonderland!

We went on a cross-country ski outing at Riverbend Nature Center in Faribault before the freezing temperatures moved in. It was breathtaking…and hard to ski because I wanted to capture it on camera.

Other skiers enjoying the fresh fallen snow.

Recently, while in North Carolina, I read the chapter book “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, to my grandchildren.

In the book, the white witch keeps winter in Narnia all year long. The white snow-covered wonderland is gorgeous, but I wouldn’t want to live in it forever.

Now the freezing temperatures are moving in.

“And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap…”

It’s time to settle into the cozy house by the warm fire. I’m so grateful we can do that, knowing full well that’s not the case for everyone.

Leaves hanging on trees, some individually covered in snow!

This scene in Riverbend reminded me of the cotton fields we saw in South Carolina last month.

A Winter Wonderland

As we were driving south towards Rice Lake State Park and the surrounding area the trees kept getting frostier…is that a word?

I believe it was ice crystals from the fog. It was not freshly fallen snow (it has not snowed for several days now), that covered and clung to every – single – branch.

The images were breathtaking and, of course, hard to capture on a camera, especially those from a moving car. We stopped to hike, and as I stepped out of the car I felt I stepped into Narnia.

Here are a few photos from that day.

Another from the car window…apparently blue tinted. 😉

We stopped along the road for these photos.

The weeping willow was my favorite…

The weeping willow, dripping like icicles.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. Psalm 147:16