March Snows

We're coming down to the wire with Winter being officially over in 17 days. You can always count on it going out with a bang though. This year we thought it would pass quietly having been a very mild one. As we have had very few days of really bitter cold compared to past years. March 1st. decided to be the sacrificial day of snow for us. Predicted by the weather watchers to arrive with some accumulation, 1-4 inches. It arrived a little early in the day and with a force not to be missed. I love snow, probably because we rarely ever have it, unlike those of the north who are generally tired of it by now. In the South it is a rare treat to be seem in our own back yards. Ice we can get, but fluffy snow is only seen in the movies. What a treat we received that day.

I wish I had my camera with me as I came out of worship services at church. Everything was covered with a 3 inch cover, that made backing out of parking spaces adventurous to say the least. The force of the snowfall could be seen from the windows while inside the sanctuary, blowing sideways. I am sure more than one person had trouble keeping their minds centered during that hour. With each passing moment if became heavier and most of the children had difficulty sitting still. With visions of "no school tomorrow" dancing in their heads. Slip sliding home on quickly freezing roads I was surprised by the winter wonderland that greeted me here.

The pictures do not show the snow falling which is a shame. Big flakes floated down in a continuous rain of frozen fluff. BEAUTIFUL!! A chill invaded the house that can only be found with the breath of snow, an Arctic scent that smells of a place far away. The weight of the snow had the huge azaleas out front kissing the ground from their heavy load

Even the 16 foot camellia was leaning out away from the house with candy cane stripped blossoms peaking out from the blanket of white.

It was hard to pull myself away from the view in order to take my "Sunday" nap. It was so pretty and it has been such a long time since we have had a pretty snow like this. I was afraid it would be gone all to soon and I would miss it charm. Seeing it made me wonder how it would look falling scattered over the rolling fields of our future farm. I am sure the chicken were wondering what had happened to their world. As I did not let them out of the coop that day. Sure enough by 4 pm the winds had picked up enough speed to begin blowing the frosting off the trees. The snowflakes changed from quarter-half dollar size flakes to pea size. Later on I went out to gather eggs and put a warm wrap around the nursery pen of baby chicks. The signs of melting snow could be seen dripping off the roof and in little puddles gathering in the yard. The magic show was over, but sweet are the memories while it was here.

Such a statement on the first day of March makes one wonder what the rest of the month has in store for us.

Deborah