Day 25 Snow Days

 

1/25/2026 

"Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow."  

Robert Frost

Stopping by the Woods on A Snowy Evening 

 

As a child I loved snowy days, especially when we were able to get out of school early, or better yet, when school was cancelled. Of course there was always the chore of shoveling snow, but not until after we'd had our fun. I loved going to my grandparent's home, because they had a hill we could slide down and go a good long way. The woods were great to hike in, or I could sit on the big rock and watch the snow fall. Mama would make snow cream. Back then the air wasn't polluted, and as long as the snow was high enough so animals wouldn't walk on it, or worse, it was such a delight. When I was real young, my uncles and aunts were still young enough to enjoy sledding at night, but I wasn't old enough to go with them.  Still, I had my own fun. My grandparents saw to that.

I still get excited when it snows, just as long as I don't have to get out in it to travel. Too many people don't know how to drive safely, and of course, the accident in December when a truck ran my son off the road and into a ravine still makes me a bit cautious. I'm sure I'll get over that scare one day, as he is safe, even if the car is no longer with us. At least we're safe at home right now without a vehicle. For a little while longer at least, until we're able to get out and shop for one. 

We just had fresh powder followed by sleet, so I'm working on axing my way through the top layer of ice so I can shovel the snow. I've never minded shoveling snow. It's good quiet time, even when it's nippy, just as long as I bundle up and cover my nose. In New Mexico the wind was so bad and air so cold that I'd get an upper respiratory infection unless I covered my nose with a good thick scarf. It doesn't snow that much here, or it didn't use to, for many years. Since I've been back, it seems to snow a little more often. We may even get another snow fall next weekend, I am told. 

I love to watch the older movies when kids were taken on sleigh rides pulled by horses. It seemed like so much fun. I'm sure when my parents were younger, they went on rides, but I don't remember any stories growing up. And stories were big in my family. My papa had so many, and on Sunday afternoons as the kids would gather around, he'd spin some fantastic yarns. Many a time my grammy would accuse him of fibbing, but he'd say it was true. They were funny that way. 

How I miss those days growing up when fun was clean, and we spent much time in the great outdoors enjoying the beauty of God's great creation. Now days kids are shut up in the house with their devices keeping them company. No one gets to be creative on their own or learn to appreciate God's good earth. I don't think anyone really puts much thought into it. Like reading a good book. I guess those days are long gone, along with wholesomeness and creativity and laughter. I'm not even sure it is permitted to laugh any more.

Time will tell how the story of this life ends, but as for me, I'll still dream of days in the woods on a snowy day or at least enjoying the poetry of Robert Frost reminding me of sleigh rides and evening stops to enjoy the simple things of life. Perhaps with a cup of steaming hot chocolate with marshmallows and cookies. Yummy! Enjoy the snow and bundle up!