Snow Love/Hate

These pictures are several months old, but when I see the snow, I think of these scenes. Our winter isn't as wet and cold so far this year--last year the snow kept piling up without much of a thaw. We had a constant blanket about 18" deep covering our yard, and the piles from shoveling were 4' high. We loved it, and hated it. Mostly, we hated it because we had just gotten rid of our snow blower (since we rarely used it in the two previous years). Our backs were perpetually aching, and we were tired from getting up early to clear the paths. David's car bumper cracked when he high-ended on the ice at the bottom of the driveway one morning and had to dig him out (of ice). It was not fun.

That said, as this winter's snow season reaches halfway, I find myself wishing we would get last year's snow amount again. Our backs are stronger now, and we are ready with "ice-melt" for the sidewalks. We even bought a couple more shovels for the up-and-coming kid power we have to help us. What I miss most was the fabulous sledding run we scooped out in the front yard--it was the wonder of the neighborhood, and since Santa brought snow tubes that year, we had plenty and to spare for the neighbor kids. The run started at the top of the inclined driveway . . . and at the peak of the snow pile. It raced down the drop of our front yard and met the sidewalk. The sidewalk had been cleared for the first several snow storms, but later on we let the snow stay and become slick . From there, it scooped and turned to the right, following the sidewalk down to the end of the cul-de-sac, a good 50 yards--we would exit the run at the neighbors' driveway two houses down at the end of the cul-de-sac. (The icy sidewalk only worked because the next-door neighbors were gone for the winter, and no one really used that sidewalk) It felt much like a bobsled run, with the high walls of snow on either side of the sidewalk. What a rush!

This year, we tried to recreate it with only minimal success so far. We get TO the sidewalk just fine, but the rest of the ride is a series of tummy crunching hops . . . um that won't work for long. My abs are aching a week later. So, with all seriousness I must say that we NEED more snow. Forget the high-elevation snow pack, the resevoir levels, the need to end the drought . . . all of those reasons are also valid for wanting snow, however, we have true need right here in our yard.