It’s been said that New Englanders are a tough breed. This idea is partly attributed to the violent storms with gale winds that are a part of our winter weather. December through March can be a mix of ice, sleet, snow and this year on winter’s eve, a blizzard. According to a local weather guru it was "one of the biggest historical events since we’ve been keeping records." We were left with over twenty inches of wind blown snow that piled up in drifts and made plowing difficult. Holiday shopping came to a standstill, airports and schools were closed, and parties were postponed.After a very mild November (I was picking raspberries, swiss chard and spinach into early December), we weren’t ready for the drastic change to mid-winter with its icy biting winds, slippery sidewalks and hazardous driving.
There is another side of snow that brings joy to the young and young-at-heart. Snow sports such as sledding, snowboarding and cross country skiing get people outdoors in frigid weather. Kids that find it difficult to help with shoveling can be outside all day in freezing conditions having snowball fights or skiing.
When my children were young and it snowed they would almost always build forts on either side of the driveway where the snow was piled up, and get their ammunition
ready for a cold battle. There were never enough dry mittens on such a day. There was always a snowman with a carrot nose, sticks for arms and a funny hat standing in the yard after a good storm. Snow angels were also a part of the celebration.There is beauty in newly fallen snow. It covers the ground and makes everything clean and new. Some of the patterns in the drifts of wind-driven snow are the finest natural art. When I opened the back gate there were swirled circular patterns at the top of the high drifts that took my breath away. The two birdbaths in the backyard wore hats and the picnic table held a snow white feast. Even the ordinary everyday sights become beautiful with a cover of white.
Small animals venture out looking for food a few days after a great storm. Tracks of rabbits and squirrels crisscross the yard along with other unidentifiable tracks. One year the twigs of a hedge along the back fence were snipped off as if they had been cut by scissors. I thought is must have been a deer that a neighbor has sighted in his yard, as well as a coyote.
Last winter we decided the shoveling was getting to be too much for us so we hired a man with the heavy duty equipment and manpower to do the job. This December storm began at night and it was still blowing and drifting throughout the next day. We went out in the afternoon to clear off the cars then kept hoping our new snow man would appear before dark. He still hadn’t come by bedtime so we had visions of clearing off the front steps and sidewalk for the mail carrier the next morning.
What a surprise to wake up to a sunny morning with all the snow removed in the driveway, on the sidewalk and front steps and a space cleared on the street for the car. It was magical and made our day. Suddenly the storm wasn’t so bad after all. He had come, like St. Nick, while we slept.
