Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-
folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-
fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
and then I smile.
Yes! I build a fire. I make soup and bread and cookies and hot chocolate and I smile. Because I AM the snow lady.
If you’ve hung out with me for any period of time, you know how much I LOVE winter weather and snow. And, usually, after I make that particular proclamation someone will casually ask me, “Now how many winters have you spent with snow?” And I stammer and say, “Many… but they have all been inside my head.”
You see, outside of my head, in reality, that number is zero.
UNTIL…
This year.
It has taken me nearly 50 years to get to this winter. For the first 30, I wasn’t really trying. The next 10 I spent dreaming, but not believing. The last 10, I was dreaming and believing in earnest.
And here I am. At last. Living in a place where it snows in the wintertime. Not a lot. And not often. But snow is snow. In my book, flurries count.
And so I spend my winter days waiting in joyful hope.
That this hat and this corn cob pipe will be put to good use.
When I hear the first murmurings of a possible snow headed out way, my mind and heart both race. Do I have everything we need? Milk, eggs, bread? And more importantly: cat food, dog food, horse food, coffee, and toilet paper.
When the snowflakes begin to fall down from the sky, I can be found outside. In complete wonder. Soft, quiet, fluffy flakes of happiness. My favorite place is in our front meadow. I walk beside the mountain stream. I lay down in the snow. (If someone comes by I pretend I am making a snow angel. I am really just lying there.)
Here are some tidbits I’ve learned this winter about the fluffy white stuff I’ve dreamed of for so long.
out my bedroom window
~It is gray when it is snowing.
~And then it brightens up when the sun comes out. Snow is no longer gray, it is white and bright. Dig out your sunglasses.
~It’s not the snow that’s so cold.
It’s the wind. When I lay in the snow, as I did every single day there was some snow on the ground, I didn’t freeze.
~Left outside, things freeze. Like this lead rope.
~BUT, it takes forever for water to freeze solid. Forever. I kinda pictured us ice-skating on a pond outside somewhere this winter. But, this is a deep puddle in our pasture. When I stepped on it, it cracked. Seconds after I took this photo, the ice gave way and I was standing in water.
~Make a path and stick to it.
The first day this drove me crazy. Do I make new prints and paths every time I walk in the snow?
Or do I revere the snow and tread the same path over and over?
I loved the look of fresh snow and hated to disturb it.
By the second day I knew the answer: stick to the same path. It keeps the snow prettier AND it was easier to walk or roll things on.
My wheelbarrow path from the barn to the manure pile.
~Cover the firewood BEFORE the snow arrives. Ta-da!
~Snow is silent. I found myself silent-er too as I got to know my new friend, snow. I enjoyed being alone and walking through the meadow, beside the mountain stream.
~Freezing temps make it easier to clean out the barn. The manure is frozen! Scoops right up. Who knew?
~Horses do okay in this weather. I never would have believed that I could be responsible for animals that are standing out in a snow storm. And here I am. My two horses have access to a barn, but they’d be out in the weather, enjoying the snow fall. Check out Jessi’s mane and the back of his ears. Snow!
And his back!
~Horses love snow. Yep, that is what I decided. They love it.
~Your pants are going to get soaked from the knees down. Just do your thing and then come in and put them in the dryer. Gotta.
And a related tidbit:
~Buy some jeans that are lined with fleece or flannel. I love these ugly carpenter pants in the photo above. LOVE. Warm, warm, warm. And those snuggly wool socks were a gift from my mother-in-law who knows I always have COLD feet!
~Note that hot flashes are a huge benefit in the winter.
~Perhaps it has something to do with the previous tidbit, but 7 degrees isn’t really that cold. There’s not much difference between 27 degrees and 7 degrees. Nope, if you are wrapped up, 7 degrees is fine. I used to shiver at 32 degrees, so I was surprised to discover that I can take this cold weather. (I can say this because I don’t have to work out in it all day. I can come in front of the fire and cozy up long any time I want to.)
~When snow starts to melt, you’ll see animals you don’t usually see.
~Dogs LOVE the snow!
~and if your dog has longish fur, this happens.
~City Cowboys love the snow. (This I already knew…)
~My neighbor’s red barn loves the snow.
(How do I know? I just do!)
And me……
I LOVE THE SNOW!
read it.
Until next time, Friends, savor the flavor of life!
Lots of love, The City Farmgirl, Rebekah
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Farm!
So happy you get to enjoy the JOY of snow. I too was a snow baby when a much younger person and living on the farm. Just seemed right to go out to tend the animals and a few snow angels were totally called for. And ahhhh the crackling fire, hot chocolate and warm slice of bread was LOVE. But now at my advanced age and health conditions, I look out the window and REMEMBER, SMILE and go sit by the fire with a hot cup-a something good. Thanks for sharing your JOY. God Bless
Dear Rebekah,
You definitely have a gift with words. I love your posts and this one in particular is lovely.
I’m a city farmgirl still in the city. Happy Valentine’s day to you and your whole family, including the animals of course. Mercedes
Something else I learned about snow as a child in New Jersey and other places as an adult: sun may shine, wind may blow, rain may patter on the roof but snow whispers. You must turn your ears from other sounds of nature and humanity to hear it, but it is a sweet enticing whisper that beckons you to join the concerto silently to appreciate it when snow falls.
I feel the same way you do about snow. I love to get out and walk in the fresh, falling snow. The flurries tickle your nose. It is so peacful and so quiet. God is cleaning the earth. It is like fresh linen. So crisp and smells wonderful. Then it turns to dirty, messy slush. But, that is later. After we have walked in it, felt the tickle, enjoyed in the wonder of it all. Ah, snow.
SNOW is a favorite of mine too! Watching the snow fall softly, quietly, sooooo beautifully covering our everyday somewhat hum-drum world is relaxing and magical to me. In Dallas we get snow maybe once or twice each winter. This year we got snow on Christmas after lunch (we were ecstatic for the 3 inches especially to have a white Christmas!) and again one January evening a dusting, but maybe we will get a bonus snow yet!
I am so glad you, family, and the animals are getting to enjoy your lovely farm in the snow! Hugs, Mary Beth
I loved your post and I especially loved the photo of your long furred dog with the snowy legs!I grew up riding horses in the snow and ice. You’d be amazed at how great and peaceful it is to ride in the snow and horses don’t think twice about it… Have fun always!
Thank you for this post and all the beautiful pictures. i am from a small town not too far from Houston TX. Sometimes we will get a little smattering of snow. When we do, i get so excited. My camera comes out. i feel like a child again. i do not know what i would do if we ever got snow like yours. i think i would lie down in it too. Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. God sure blessed you this winter, Snow Lady!
So funny to read because I grew up in the country in Northern Wisconsin and I hate the snow and the cold. I had more than my share growing up. I have now lived in the South for nearly 20 years and would never go back to snow and cold. My blood has thinned!
Your enthusiasm is fun to read though!
I am in love with the view from your bedroom! Unbelievable! Not like looking out on houses and a street, eh? Hey, Rebekkah, I wanted to advise you to get some leg gaiters to save your pants from getting so wet. Try REI online if you can’t get any locally. Also you will love flannel lined jeans or maybe snowpants. Here in Utah we are really having a great snow season in the valley, and I too love to go out in it, but being dressed to stay warm and dry will keep you happier and out longer, I promise. Enjoy!
Winter has always been my favorite season…as my family rolls their eyes. I grew up in Spokane and loved all four seasons but winter best….especially the really snowy winters. Now adays, I snowshoe and hike in the snow and don’t pay attention to the snow pile in the front yard that is less than white…….
I was a California Girl for 50 years before I got dropped off somewhere in the middle of Montana! I too look forward to the snowfall every year. I will often get up in the middle of the night in the winter just to look out my window to see if it is snowing yet. When it is I am more excited that a 4 year old on Christmas morning. I never tire of it. Enjoy your snow days- may they be many!
Hey Rebekah….or should I say "snow lady"! Your farm is beautiful without the snow, but it is magical when it is frosted in white. I would love to sit by the mountain stream during a snowfall, when everything is so quiet. I am imagining it like you used to imagine having snow. 🙂 Horses do love the snow….do you think that they have hot flashes too? Enjoy the beautiful season, and thanks for your great blog!
I love the snow too and we have only had 1 decent snow, but I would like one that came in on Friday and left on Sunday. I love walking in the snow and it doesn’t feel as cold as the temperature says it is. Cats love the snow too. You have a beautiful place.
Besides all the above, one reason I too love the snow is how when you go to bed at night in a ho hum looking neighborhood and wake up to snow, your neighborhood magically looks BEAUTIFUL!
Love your pictures and your enchanted farmhouse and land. Thank you for sharing it all with us!
Oh Rebekah, you didn’t say, but have you experienced nighttime, a full moon, no wind and snowflakes drifting down on your face? For me it is a magical experience. The stillness, the peace, the feeling of being surrounded by gentle loving "snow kisses"…ahhh, nothing like it!
Beautiful capture of winter. I could hear the silence and feel the crunch under your boots. Lucky you! We’ve only gotten a few flurries SO FAR! Here’s hoping!
Get a pair of long johns, carhart bibs the winter ones, and boots that go to your knees. And layer your clothes. Than enjoy the winter, oh also get hand warmers and socks with the warmers in them! And good earmuffs so you can wear your cowboy hat!
One of my favorite things is shoveling snow at night, everything is so quiet, you dont hear hardly anything. Wonderful!!!!
Too funny, I have a picture of my boots in the snow on the way to the hen house on last Fridays blog post. I kinda thought I was looking at a picture of my own boots on Facebook and then looked again, nope not my picture. Lovely pictures, love the mountain stream! Glad you are enjoying your snow, I on the other hand may not be even able to think of one year in my life that there was none. Maybe as a child in Indiana, maybe one.
Beautiful description of my favorite season. I have lived in Michigan all my life and could not imagine life without the four seasons.
Rebekah- I wish there was not most of a continent between us because we are kindred spirits. Thank you for your kind words on my facebook post about the passing of my grandmother. They touched my whole family. Hugs!
Rebekah, have you ever run a metal detector over the grounds around your property? My hubs does this. You would probably find all sorts of things from that old house, and the families who lived there, for so long. I think you would be amazed. Imagine finding a fork that was eaten from 150 years ago. Or, a brooch from so long ago. Now, that speaks from the soul of your house.
Also, have you search the old documents for your property? That would tell so many stories, when it was built, by who, how much property was with the original purchase. And, those old documents like so great framed in an old, old house.