The bottle tree in my herb garden. It's not full yet -- I need 5 or 6 more bottles to make it complete.
We awoke this morning to a little surprise from Mother Nature. We had been told that we might get some flurries last night, but accumulation of any amount was not expected. We got 3″ at most, which is just enough to slow things down but not enough to seriously foul up transportation around town.
When I woke up at 6:00, school was delayed by two hours. I checked again a little over an hour later and school was closed. Canadians and Wisconsin folks, don’t mock us too loudly. We understand that this is not a real snow. It’s more of an appetizer, an amuse-bouche, a nibble of snow.
Right now, at mid-morning, it’s 18F, but feels like 8. Again, Canadians and Midwestern folks, I know you are colder and windier where you are. Remember, I live in the South — the place where we regularly experience 95-100 (or more) degree temps for weeks on end in the summer and then bundle up in layers once the thermometer dips into the 50s. While we may have four defined seasons here and occasional snowmaggedon, snow is not a daily part of our winter lives and we are a bit kerfuffled by any that we get. (And definitely not the dense glacier-like snow that results from three major snowfalls of 2′ each over the course of two months and that leads to earthquake-like calving.)
Days like today are a lovely pause in our normal schedules. Oh sure, having to shuffle the deck of cards that is any person’s day can be inconvenient, but I look at this as a gift. An opportunity to slow down and spend the day in with my girls. Yes, I’ll work too, but since my work is freelance and at home, I have the flexibility to adapt to days like today. I plan to bundle up and go for a walk later on.
Pete also had to bundle up for his commute to work — instead of biking or driving, he walked to the bus stop and took public transportation. Those of you who doubt me when I say that he wears shorts regardless of the season, here’s proof of my truthiness. His concessions to the cold are the fleece-lined earflap cap, the ski jacket, and the SmartWool socks. Otherwise, his is an all-season wardrobe.
We might get more snow later today and more is predicted for tomorrow. I hope we do.
What do you do on days like today?
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We’re having a spot of rain today and I have a library book to finish.
Well, I live in Wisconsin and earlier this winter school was cancelled on account of a predicted snowstorm that never came (it just rained). So, we can not mock for delayed school.
Enjoy your snow! You have more than we do right now.
When we lived in MA, I never had snow days. I took care of home-bound elderly. No matter how deep the snow was, I would put on my boots and go check on my clients. That usually involved shoveling their sidewalk and going grocery shopping or taking them to a doctor appointment.
If the thermometer said below freezing, I would sit at my dining room table and cry.
Then I moved to Florida. The End.
I sometimes think that I might like to live where it snows…then I throw on a down jacket to walk to a car that the Hubs has already warmed up for me, including turning on the seat heater…it was a chilly 50F here this morning. I think I just want a snow day.
I love the bottle tree and plan on making myself one.
We got an inch of snow (ONE INCH) and my kids went sledding. Laugh at THAT, Canada and Wisconsin.
Also, true to form, everyone in this area drove stupidly. My husband was rear-ended on the way to work because people don’t understand that slick roads means you need more following distance, regardless of whether or not your car is 4WD.
Alright, I’ll try not to mock too much
Actually, having lived for several years in South Carolina, I well remember how everything shut down with the threat of snow, and how poorly prepared everyone was because they hardly ever got snow. I used to think that those people drove badly in the snow, but I think the people up here in the north drive worse –especially if they have an SUV and think they’re more important than anyone else.
We have had almost NO snow this winter. I’m getting definite cabin-fever from the cold, but I think a good snow storm might liven things up a bit. Plus we desperately need the liquid.
Snow days are wonderful just because it feels like a time-out from life
We would go skating outside, preferably on the Rideau Canal, but any outdoor rink would do in a pinch.
I always love snow ont he first day it falls! We never get it here, though; although we are getting one heckuva downfall of rain today.
Your bottle tree looks wonderful!
Well, I’ll try not to mock you since I’ve experienced Virginia in the “snow” but I had to laugh when I saw people grumping on facebook today about school being cancelled there. It was -20 when I took the kids to school today.
Burrrrrr
What a gift! I hope you get out to enjoy it a bit. Your little garden looks so sweet covered in snow. And I can attest to the fact that shoveling is fantastic exercise.
It’s supposed to be near 50 here today! Unfortunately I would much rather have the snow. We’re in a major drought. Snow today means campfires this summer. : ) We’ve only had one day of school cancelled due to snow…and they waited until after all the kids had arrived to cancel it. (It didn’t start snowing until about 7:45. School was called off at 8:45, closing at 10. This is a PITA on some levels, but means we don’t have to make it up either. And they closed Rushmore at about 11 anyway so I had no reason to not go home and enjoy the snow day with the kids.)
I have a “sun” who wears shorts everywhere…even in the snow-he’s organically hot ;D
And I have another “sun” who wears flip-flops to work…seriously. He has to change his shoes when he gets there, but he wears those flimsy things everywhere.
I love your bottle tree (I’m having a serious case of envy here) and the fact that you used the word truthiness.
I remember snow days and late-starts when living in semi-rural VA — there was good reason to have them. We haven’t had a single one this year, even though our residential roads and parking lots are basically frozen slush right now. Fun times.
Amuse-bouche – that’s perfect and made me giggle!
On gift days I do just what you did. A little something but a lot of nothing.
I love the fence behind the bottle tree! Fences generally look too “country” or something to me but this one, with its straight, parallel lines, is lovely.