We don't get snow here very often and, truth be told, it doesn't stick around either, but when it comes we are so grateful to see it.
I was awakened this morning by a phone call. It was a recorded message from the school district letting me know that school was canceled because of the snow. Stop giggling. This is Austin, we do not have the resources to deal with even this amount of snow. I'm not saying this as a criticism. We don't get snow very often, so why would the city have a team of trucks to spread salt? Actually, being the environmentally-friendly town we are, we spread sand instead. It's completely useless, but we feel really good about it.
Anyway, as I staggered over to the phone, I glanced out the window.
Like I predicted in Wednesday's post, the town has shut down including the mighty University of Texas which is officially closed today. What that yields is a lot of people in their homes, but not necessarily in their cars and that means the streets are wonderfully silent. Even better, all of us snow novices including the neighborhood children for whom this might be their first encounter with snow are out and about and marveling at the beauty of it all.
Today's high temperature is predicted to be 36 degrees, so it will probably all be gone by this afternoon. No matter. It's fleeting nature only makes me appreciate it all the more.
Now...don't you love snow too?
19 comments:
I do love snow even though we get months and months of it. You better run out an collect some of that snow for a snow dye session before it melts!
I lived sown in San Antonio a while and I'd take these blizzards and cold winters any day over that blistering steamy heat. Snow is fantastic and beautiful isn't it? There is a trick to driving on snowy icy streets. One important thing is all-weather tires which I recall they don't really use in your part of the country.
I can appreciate your post, Malka. It was refreshing not to hear some grumbling, actually! I'd enjoy the snow in that context anyday, and really... it's just a great attitude no matter where you live! I love the seasons we get in Montana, even when it's tiring... it's all good!
I'm here in Austin with you, and we are excited! My seven year old boy is outside right now learning all about the properties of snow and ice just like I did growing up in Milwaukee. Finally! My work cancelled work today too (state) so I am one happy puppy.
I love snow too -- even though we have lots of it this winter in NY, where I live. I am glad the children of Austin get to have some and I only hope there is enough for a snowman and snow angels.
Can you guess I don't have to do any shoveling or driving? All I have to do is enjoy it. And I do. Glad you and yours can, too.
Oh Malka, I'm sitting here giggling. I'm a Yankee, through and through, but here in CT we've had over 5 feet of snow in the last month. I love snow, but we've run out of places to put it! Enjoy your snow--the northeast was glad to share. I'm sure we could send more your way if you'd like? For me, I've had enough for the year!!
I just love winter here in Western New York where we get the lake effect snow. I love long evenings in the cozy house, hand sewing, movie marathons, baking and playing board games. I don't get it when I read that people are pining away for the hot sticky summer where days last until 10 p.m. and you have to be outside or feel weird.
Yay,yes, I loved our last one we got..........in fact, I was sort of sad that it came during the night so that I couldn't watch it come down (or across, as I think must have been the case judging by every crack and crevice being filled by it !)
Southerners need a little snow too !
I've never lived in a place that get's snow, but since moving to SC from CA we now get snow that sticks most years, just once or twice in the season. I agree - it's a lovely treat when it's not an everyday challenge. Enjoy!
I live in the DFW area and we have had SO much snow. UTA has been closed since Tuesday! The whole metroplex has pretty much shut down, but it's so fun to have some real snow since it's usually just sleet that we pretend is snow :) I noticed someone in an earlier comment mentioned a snow dye session... when I was younger my mom would fill bottles with water and food coloring and we would paint murals in the snow. It's so fun!
Yup, love, love, LOVE it. The eerie blue morning light, the silent blanket and then, later, the giggles of kids building snowmen, or sliding down the road in the icy tire tracks. We haven't even had enough here in Vancouver this winter to use our new tobaggon. It's just been rain, rain, rain. Luckily we can get onto the local mountains in 10 minutes and get our fix!
Enjoy it!
Living in Arizona, I would love a bit of snow. Enjoy your snow day!
We have been pummeled in NH and since my boyfriend and I were involved in a head on collision the first snow fall from a woman speeding and jumping a median into our side of traffic...I like to think my grumbling is warrented. Especially since he has a broken knee cap...and sine my injuries were a little less severe... I've had to shovel out mine AND my boyfriends car...at least twice a week since then... So last night when I was knee deep in 25 inches of snow from the two day snowpocolypse moving his car... I was cursing snow from here to California. You can come take some of ours if you want!!! Infact, people farther north have been spray painting "FREE SNOW" in snowbanks because we have nowhere else to put it!! I'm glad some people are enjoying the snow but we can't even see around the snowbanks in my town making every venture outside a risk for your life. So I know we all grumble and moan....but how you feel about your heat? We feel about our winter. Especially this year. Usually I love the snow but this year we can not catch a break!!!
I love the snow in the beginning of winter and at the end, when it is clearly not long for this world. In between I can get a little tired of the stuff. :) That said, a band-new fluffy snowfall is always beautiful.
I had to laugh out loud as I read through your post - my daughter teaches in Killeen and got that all-important, though seldom received, call. My grandson called to tell me about the snow..and he was VERY excited. He's 4. He'll get over it some day.
I'm not giggling about the school closure -- my BIL lives in Austin and actually had to abandon his car on the way to work and walk back home. He said the ice under the snow and his hilly neighborhood were not a good combo.
Enjoy the fluffy stuff!
From New England, and a hard winter so far, I can't quite bring myself to say I love snow -- but your post reminded me to try harder to appreciate the parts of it that I find magic, instead of just grumbling about the inconvenience.
I love snow. In college I moved to Utah and was so excited at every mention of snow in the forecast. About two years ago we moved to California and on one December day I was feeling sort of sorry for myself having moved away from my family and missing "winter" and cozy weather. I had to drive up over the Santa Cruz mountains to San Jose to pick something up and Lo and Behold there was snow on the ground and along the highway. I started to cry a little and it just made me so happy. Funny how a touch of something new is so exciting.
Enjoy every little flake and if you should be desiring a bit more just pop by my way... we have 22 inches on the ground and it probably won't melt till May.
Susan
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