Snow Fun

I like snow. It is so pretty. Ransom and I got to take a walk Monday morning before the roads had been "cleared." It was so still and quiet. The only sounds were from a few brave souls up early to shovel their driveways. I loved it.

The pups, however, loves snow more than I ever could. He is constantly whining to go outside and play. And he could stay out there for hours. Unfortunately, due to his past Houdini-like escapes, I don't trust him without supervision [from inside the warm house], so he only gets 5-10 minutes at a time. He did get an extended play time with his best bud, Bo, at their house.

Today, I finally captured some of his moments. This pretty well encapsulates his favorite activities: running back and forth with the ball, tossing the ball in the snow and pouncing on it, and, of course, eating the snow.

No matter how cold it is, he just doesn't care. He plops down in the snow and thinks we are crazy for bundling up.

When it is time to come in, I call. And if he comes in immediately, he gets a treat. I think he's getting the hang of this.

Being a Kid

I truly don't remember having this much snow since living in New York. There we would have this much snow day in and day out for 6 months. I don't ever remember seeing the grass after the first snowfall until spring.

So, Hubs and I went out to play in the deep, soft snow. We had a blast.

First, I made a snow angel.

Ransom could play in the snow for hours. He tunnels and leaps and bounds through all the drifts.

When we get stuck, or when Ransom thinks we get stuck, he comes over and digs us a path to get out of the snow.

More digging.

The drifts were really high. This one was taller than me so I thought it would be cool to take a picture with only my hands sticking out. There is some logistical issues with the snow that is in between your legs that won't let you sink down all the way. Oh well, you get the picture.

This one was taller than Hubs, although you can't tell.

Now we leave to go back south where there isn't as much snow and it should probably melt by the end of the week. Maybe we'll get some more snow-fun in before leaving!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Just like the ones I used to know...

And, I got it!

Ransom and I trudged out in the storm at 5:30am this morning looking for the perfect spot to do number two. Of course, the perfect spot was 3 blocks away, but we had fun jumping over the 3-foot + snow drifts!

It is supposed to stay cold and snowy all day, stay warm inside.

Merry Christmas from Hubs and Feather!

Snow Storm In Nebraska

Let me tell you about snow storms in Nebraska.

Yesterday, the grocery stores, gas stations, and department stores were completely packed as locals stocked up on necessities in case we would be stuck in our homes for days.

This morning, before even a flake of snow fell, local schools cancelled classes in anticipation of the forecasted snow.

And 3 days ago, when we first heard that snow was iminent, the road crews sprayed solution over the major streets in hopes that they would not have to get out to start plowing as soon as snow started falling. They prefer to wait until the snow has stopped and 200 people have had accidents, to actually try and remove the snow.

No doubt, the busiest businesses tonight will be those restaurants that deliver or have take-out.

And you can't blame us for wanting to stay in, cozied up in a blanket next to a warm fire with some hot chocolate and popcorn. But, just as we mocked those down south who experienced ice and snow a few weeks ago and couldn't function, I am sure states like Minnesota, North Dakota, Alaska, and the entire country of Canada laugh at our "hunker-down until it's over" approach. I mean, people do have to live, work, commute, and function with winter weather.

We are supposed to get 4-6 inches of snow today. I'm excited. We may actually have enough snow to cover all the ugly grass!

There is a really good advantage to this snow storm. We have plans to go out to eat tonight at a popular restaurant in town. I was worried about wait, but I don't think we'll have any problems tonight!

A White Christmas

Christmas Day was not white in Kansas.

Christmas on January 9th was white.

We celebrated Christmas last night with Hubs' side of the family. We drove through big, fluffy, white snowflakes. It was beautiful and I got my wish.

Maybe Christmas should be moved to January.

Christmas isn't Christmas without...

Everyone has things they must do, eat, see, play during the Christmas season for it to feel right. For me, Christmas isn't Christmas without...


The Carpenter's Christmas CD
To me, it is the sound of Christmas.

The smell of a real Christmas tree
I actually haven't had a real tree in 4 years! It is a must that the Christmas Tree is cut down by us at a farm. I have been improvising with a candle.

An advent calendar
See this post.

Carolling on Christmas Eve
See this post.

The Christmas Story
Read by a member of the family each year on Christmas Day PRIOR to opening presents.

A new ornament
Each year, my mom bought us a new ornament commemorating something special that happened that year. Now, I buy an ornament for us each year for the same reason (this year, a palm tree for our Hawaii trip). Hubs's family also does a new ornament each year so this tradition will be easy to carry on.

Treats
The tastes of Christmas: Almond bark covered pretzels, sugar cookies, green cookies, peppermint lattes, & candy canes.

And Christmas is not Christmas unless there is snow!
This actually hasn't happened for us in many years and it always makes me a little sad. I wish I could get myself to New York just for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

These are the main ones. So tell me, what makes Christmas Christmas for you?

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

Hubs laughs, but it smells like Christmas outside. It's cold and windy - typical for November in Nebraska. I wouldn't mind the cold, however, if there was some snow! You all think I am crazy, but I love snow until about mid-January. Then I, like the rest of the normal people out there, am ready for it to go away.


I talked to my Gram last week and she said that Findley Lake already has snow (see picture above). Memories of my birthday as a kid came back. Without fail, we trick-or-treated in blizzard conditions. And then, the grass did not re-appear until April. I would trampse through feet - not inches - of snow to wait for the bus (school was rarely cancelled).

I am not crazy enough to wish for 6 full months of snow, but I am wishing for a white Christmas. I would just love to wake up on Christmas day and see the ground completely white. Soft snowflakes gently falling. And then, when stepping out into the wintery weather, it is just quiet. The only thing heard is the crush of the snow beneath my feet. That, I do miss.

What do you think? Snow, or no snow?