Snow Obsession

Lots more snow in the last 48 hours!

This photo of the back of our house may give you some impression of the amount of snow we now have. What a difference a week makes! Last Friday there was scarcely any snow at all, but two storms have now dumped maybe 20 inches here--though it's hard to gauge due to drifting, and it's still snowing a bit.

I'm thrilled. Even most Minnesotans don't get as excited about snow as I do, and I don't think I can even explain why it cheers me so. I'm not much into winter sports (or any sports), though I've certainly done some sledding, cross-country skiing, and ice skating over the years, and we'll probably do some snowshoeing this weekend. It helps that I have a short commute--little over two miles--so I don't usually need to drive very far.

I just like snow. I like the look of it falling--or blowing. I like the way it utterly transforms the landscape. I like the wind-sculpted shape of snow drifts, and the way sticky snow can cling to trees. On clear days, I like the blue shadows, and the way snow sparkles in the sunlight.

Of course, snow can be inconvenient and even dangerous. But snowstorms are certainly among the gentlest of natural disasters, and in all but the most extreme cases, they are not much of a threat if you can stay inside.

Posted: Fri - March 2, 2007 at 07:55 PM by email

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Snow Obsession

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