Isn’t the United States postal system amazing? As I pined jealously over the many reports of snow out there in blog land over the past few days, many of you generously offered to send me some of yours. I am happy to report that your packages have arrived and I couldn’t be more pleased!
I awoke Thursday morn to find that the National Weather Service was predicting a 100% chance of snow. Needless to say, I was pretty happy. Early into my work day it began, and it kept up throughout the day and well into my drive home.
I took these pictures out my office window of the theatre next to us. It is an old-timey theatre and I enjoyed the way the snow looked on the marquee letters.
I have always loved this building because of the way the green and red looks together. I’m so glad I took my camera to work with me this morning.
This afternoon’s arrival at home found me outside taking a few shots of my coveted snow before I had to rush off to my Thursday evening job.
As you can tell, we got a nice amount of snowfall.
It was hilarious to watch Charlie react to his first snow. He wasn’t too keen on being out there, but once he got out in the back yard he hopped and pranced throughout the yard, kicking up piles of snow in front of his face and then trying to bite the snow as it fell back to the ground. It was fun to watch.
“I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.â€Â
~Henry David Thoreau
With my newfound love of walking and being outdoors in all kinds of weather, I really take this quote to heart. I couldn’t wait to get home and take Charlie for a night walk, despite the cool temperatures. There was absolutely no breeze and it felt wonderful outside. I decided to take a few night pictures of the snow and lights. Eventhough I could not achieve a good focus at night with the flash off, I love the psychedelic nature of the pictures I took.
Isn’t it wonderous how snow, especially the first snowfall of the season, can make you revert back to your childhood sense of wonder and awe? As I sat in line for food tonight I saw a little kid in the parking lot rolling snowballs. I could tell he was just aching to heave one at any of the inviting automotive choices that he had before him. His mom was close by, redirecting his shots in a harmelss direction. I could practically feel the kid’s desire…I’ve been there, we all have. I wish he would’ve thrown it at a car, even at mine. I probably would have cheered. What is it about snow that makes kids, young and old, want to start a snowball fight?
That awe continued tonight as I walked Charlie through the neighborhood. I have always been entranced by the sky when it turns that uniform gray/white color and the whole world is lit up despite the fact that it is night time. The whole world was a shade of white. And the way snow makes everything so quiet is incredible! The neighborhood sounds were all muffled under a blanket of snow. It was such a joy to experience that tonight. To be out savoring the snow knowing that we may not get much this season.
“There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig, is clad with radiance.â€Â
~William Sharp
Indeed! Again I want to thank you all for the gift of snow, it is one of the nicest things you could ever have sent me!
Have a wonderful Friday and wonderful weekend everyone!!!
I am thoroughly envious even though envy is not an admirable quality. Both cities I called home in my home country have more than generous helpings of snow right now and if I were there it would feel like I was gearing up for Christmas. I’d be getting the butterflies of excitement that every kid, no matter their age, can’t help but give in to in December.
But ever since I moved to New Zealand three years ago, December is depressing. I can’t get used to barefoot beach Christmases in sunny heat waves. All my friends back home (Canada) envy me but I secretly wish, just for two weeks every year, that I could trade. I love it here, I love New Zealand madly all the rest of the year… but in December I get wistful.
Please, if you would be so kind, even though we’re yet strangers and I haven’t commented here before, would you throw a snowball in my honor? I’d be so grateful!!
Will do Gabrielle, as long as you will take a breath of fresh air there in Middle-earth for me being that I am a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan. I can certainly see why your friends envy you, but like you I prefer my Christmas to be what I am used to, lots of snow. I’ll throw one for you first thing in the morning when I head out to work! 🙂
Count me among the envious too 🙂 We never get snow like that here
Ahhh.. so glad you got the snow you wanted Carl!! I do remember 13 yrs in florida and 10 in CA where there was no snow and christmas just isn’t christmas without snow..or at least really cold! But.. that’s the ONLY time it’s nice! lol I’m with Gabrielle, just two weeks of it a year is Perfect!
Welcome to the Snow Club! Those pics are beautiful.
I’m so glad it arrived! And thanks for sharing the beautiful photos! Wish you’d have captured one of Charlie playing in it…I just love watching doggies in the snow! Anyway, I hope it sticks around for a while!
Beautiful pictures! I am a big fan of snow and am so happy that we already have had some too. I took a great picture of the tree in front of my house when the leaves were still on it, then again a few days later when it was covered in snow. I didn’t post them on my book blog, but if you are interested in seeing them (no pressure), take a peek at my craft blog http://www.mesocrafty.wordpress.com
Thanks for the link Stephanie! You have a beautiful house. Love the snow, of course. That tree in your front yard is amazing! I also got a kick out of the Alice Cooper ornament.
Debi, I actually took some video footage of Charlie romping with my camera but then I did something wrong and deleted it. Maybe next time.
I love snow. somehow it makes everything better–in December.
Yesterday was such a great day because of the snow. It was like
the joy of Christmas suddenly entered everyone’s heart, and filled
the day with joy.
Ugh….snow! Ok. I do love the first snowfall of the year. It’s pretty and magical. Then it’s just cold and wet!! We were supposed to get about 4 inches yesterday. I don’t think we got quite that much, but enough to make the roads really slippery.
But I’m glad you are happy with it!
I really like that last picture, Carl…it’s trippy! The blue one, too, it reminds me of a monster from Spirited Away 🙂
We’re supposed to get more snow tonight! I’ll throw a snowball at a car in your honor 🙂
I don’t mind the cold that comes with snow. I don’t like it when it all melts and the yard is muddy and I have to deal with muddy doggie prints all over everything.
I am indeed happy!!!
Janet: It does sort of look like a Spirited Away monster, doesn’t it? I look forward to hearing how your snowball vs. car adventure goes!
I’m so jealous! I need to move to a place with snow!
Don’t you just love snow! We got a big pile two days ago (in Chicago), but we didn’t have the sun that you seem to have accompanying it. Lots of people here get discouraged with cold, icy gray, but I adore it. It’s so very peaceful, so “Narnian”. A cold snowy day seems to give me permission to be inside, whereas a hot one seems to pester me to be out. I love all the parts of winter: cold, fires, hot chocolate, ice formations on the trees, shadows…it’s my favorite season. Thanks for sharing your marvelous pictures!
Like the pictures,Carl-the one with the crock bowl on the railing is neat!! We to got lots of snow also. Dad was the good neighbor and cleaned our driveway, Hedrick’s and Arter’s -What a guy!!!
Dad is indeed a good guy…but he also likes to play with his toys! He probably had a great time running that thing. What I want to know is why he didn’t come do mine! 😉
Bellezza: I totally agree with you. I love going out in the snow, stepping out on the deck for a minute, etc. and then popping back in where it is warm and cozy. I’m so excited about having a relaxing, snow filled weekend.
Thanks heaps, Carl! It’s shaping up to be a very sunny day here in Middle-earth and I’m about to head off to work (I’m a stage manager at a Wellington theatre) so I’ll not only take a deep breath of fresh air for you, but I’ll say hi to the Rohirrim rider who is currently the director I’m working for. *grin*
I love your site. And I LOVE the pictures you took off all that glorious snow.
Oh, by the way, Pelennor Fields really is as lovely as it looks onscreen. The only things missing are the armies and Minas Tirith. Otherwise it really is a vast stretch of wild grassland with nary a glimpse of power lines or civilization to mar the effect.
living in the tropics where if by some strange quirk in the weather allowed a snowflake to occur it would melt before it even its the ground – I have to say I loved you sharing these chilly snowy scenes
You’re making me so green with envy, Gabrielle that I look like Kermit the Frog!!! Anyone who has read this site for awhile knows how big a Lord of the Rings geek I am. I have watched all the extras on the Ext. Edition DVD’s twice through this year already, a regular occurence for me. If your director friend is on there I’ve probably seen him dozens of times. Certainly pass on my ‘hellos’ to him. Sounds like you have a very cool job.
Sally: Yep, snow would certainly be an anomaly there! I love all kinds of weather and I’d certainly not be thrilled to live somewhere without seasons. I need my winter snow!
You’re lucky! It’s 73 degrees here. No snow coming my way anytime soon 🙁
Carl, I understand completely. I too am a huge LOTR fan. Or was when I came here. It dies down a bit after life in Middle-earth become a reality but I still love the films and the books. Any questions you have I’ll be glad to answer. Hehe.
Incidentally, I live about a fifteen minutes walk from where the hobbits “get off the road” when the Nazgul approaches and the path does that swirly leafy effect.
But I’m still envious of your snow. It’s true what they say – the grass is always greener. Or the face, as the case may be! 🙂
“The night was clear and frosty, all ebony of shadow and silver of snowy slope; big stars were shining over the silent fields; here and there the dark pointed firs stood up with snow powdering their branches and the wind whistling through them.” ~L.M. Montgomery
I haven’t visited your blog in awhile – kind of fitting that I would find this part as I’m rereading Anne Shirley! Somehow it doesn’t surprise me though. Charlie looks adorable; I see a lot of “Carlness” in him! Enjoy the snow!
Hey!!! You’re rereading Anne…that is so perfect for this time of year. Absolutely love the quote. Not sure if the Charlie/Carl reference has anything to do with my nose or not. 🙂
He is quite adorable and alot of fun. We were tearing around in the snow just this afternoon and loving every flake of it.
Gabrielle, I think I should just mail myself over there for a couple of weeks for the grand tour. Wonder what the book rate for a trip to New Zealand is….
Yes, I’m rereading her a bit. It provides so much “scope for the imagination” you know! I’m actually surprised you haven’t done a post on her books, but maybe you did and I missed it! You are really impressive in the amount of material you cover! I’m lucky if I get in a few good books in a year. Actually, with Charlie it was the eyes (that’s a compliment). He looks like he has the same inquisitive nature you do.
We’re getting drizzle and fog here and then sleet on Monday, so nothing as windswept and interesting as snowy walks and moongazing down here; is it any wonder I’m turning to books for some magic? I like the idea of taking the camera on nightime strolls though; I think I will steal that idea!
Catherine, my favorite Anne Shirley quote was always the one about how her and Diana walked along in “companionable silence”. Am I recalling that right? There was something lovely about that. I also adored ‘Rainbow Valley’. Anne’s children were exactly what you’d expect from offspring of Anne Shirley!
Carl, come on over! It’s not cheap to fly but once you’re here your dollar will buy a lot. 🙂
I’m so extremely jealous! We’re enjoying the last of the autumn leaves but there’s no snow in sight. I’ll just enjoy your photos instead. It must’ve been very cute watching Charlie romping around in the snow!
Those pics with the snow on the letters are really cool.
Can you believe we actually broke a record yesterday – it was 84!! No wonder I still think Christmas is many weeks away.
84! Yikes, that is certainly anti-Christmas all the way!!! 😉
lovely photos!
and yeah, why is it that we become childlike at the first snowfall?
i never saw snow before i came to england 5 years ago, and so i’ve my excitement (i assume) is down to it being such a novelty for me! every year i still very excited – theres just such a wonder about snow for me!
Wow, I cannot imagine what it would be like to experience snow for the first time as an adult. That would be very interesting.
Speaking of weather, the freezing rain has just started. Now I LOVE snow, but i HATE freezing rain!
I too am one of those people who has been experiencing snow for the first time (really) as an adult, what with moving from Texas to Canada and all. Why, I barely even own any long-sleeved shirts! (I am a bundle of layers in the winter, hence the sweater-buying campaign this year. Maybe I’ll look a LITTLE less…boxy with less layers on!)
Dogs in snow are awesome though. And Christmas lights are among my favorite things… 🙂
yeah – freezing rain is not nice 🙁 i especially hate the way that it gets under your clothes!
i turned into a five-year old the first time i saw the snow. i wasn’t expecting it ’cause snow in the south of england is erratic and some years there can be none at all.
when it happened it was very light and soft the first time and my eyes were filled with wonder. it was like seeing a unicorn and suddenly realising that all those long-lost dreams can come true.
the first time it snowed properly i went mental and ran and bought a disposable camera and was jaunting about taking photos like a kid lamb, gambolling all over the place! 😀
I love hearing people’s stories about snow, thank you all so much for sharing!
RB: Texas to Canada would certainly be a culture shock, weather-wise!
Aw, that’s great that Charlie had fun in the snow. It started snowing here about 11am, while I was at work, and I knew my cat was outside. When I got home, was she ever mad! She gets so upset when her territory is all covered with cold, wet stuff.
I can’t imagine a cat loving snow at all. Especially if they are left outside in it.
We’ve had some lovely snow, but last night the freezing rain arrived. What an ordeal this morning, as I tried to get into my car. I finally had to crawl through the back hatch and turn the car (and defroster) on, as I couldn’t open either side door. Went back inside to gather up my work items, came out only to discover the car had locked me out!! This has never happened in all the years I’ve started the car and left it to warm up. Thank goodness my husband was still home and (finally) able to de-activate the locks and let me back in (via the hatch, once again!). Needless to say, we weren’t terribly busy at Barnes & Noble, and I probably could’ve stayed home. Sigh. 😉
We’ve had the same thing over the last 2 or 3 days here, Les. Nothing but rain and/or freezing rain. I took a bunch of pictures earlier this afternoon to post later. The trees look pretty, but I hate ice.