How long has it been since you built a snowman? Even if it’s been years, don’t you still go out and check out every snowfall and automatically rate the snow as good for building snowmen, having a snowball fight, or sledding? We had our first measurable snow of this winter Monday. When I went to bed a little snow had fallen. In the morning everything was white. Not a deep snow. Maybe a couple of inches. But the temperature has stayed cold and so, the snow is hanging around. We always say that means it’s waiting for more snow to join it. Maybe this time it’s just an early Christmas frosting.
Anyway, when I went out early Monday to sweep off my front deck, I found the snow so perfect for making a snow something, that I couldn’t resist the same as I couldn’t resist a few years ago when I made the snowperson and snow dog in the top picture. That year I really got into sculpting and even made a hat for the snowman from ice that I must have gotten out of the dog’s outside drinking pan.
This week’s snow sculpture wasn’t quite as detailed. I started out thinking about making a cat to keep my front yard cat, Mama Mia, company. Not that she wants to be out in the snow. She’s hanging out on a warming pad in the shed. By the time I got the snow gathered in a mound and fashioned a head, it was looking more like a chubby little dog. After I posted a picture of my snow art on my FB author page, a FB friend said it looked like Winnie the Pooh. And I think she’s right. More a bear or pig than a cat or dog.
Oh well, I don’t claim to be an expert snow sculpture artist. Besides by the time I’d finished with this whatever it was, my hands were freezing. I guess I might want to be a kid at heart, but I’m too old to ignore freezing hands. Somehow kids manage to do that and play outside in the snow way longer than this old grandma wanted to.
I remember one winter when my oldest son was about ten. We had this snow that lasted for weeks. He was out on his sled every day and enjoying the snow for hours. None of his fingers turned blue and fell off, but I sometimes wondered why not.
Years ago, we had an early December snow like this, and I wrote in one of my first blog posts about helping one of my granddaughters build a snowman when she was two. Might have been her first. She was very excited to be out in the snow that had passed beyond the good snowman building time. We did get a little round ball gathered and then had to sculpt the snowman by scraping up more handfuls of snow to plaster on our snowman. My granddaughter had fun poking in sticks for arms, something for eyes, and weeds or grass to make hair. We kept adding snow and various addons until the snowman’s head had a rather odd shape. A head that fell off several times as she added more snow and accessories, but we just picked it up and stuck it back atop its body.
She had fun and so did I watching her even though it took an hour for my fingers to thaw back out after I convinced her (by picking her up and carrying her) to go inside. She wasn’t all that cold because she looked like a little blue snowman herself in her snow pants and jacket.
I’ve built several snowmen since I left childhood days behind. Usually like that day with a kid or a grandkid. But once when it snowed in March and then turned sunshiny and rather balmy, I went out and played in the snow by myself. I made a snowman and snow woman and their dog. The snow was just too perfect for snowman building to waste that day. I guess I felt the same Monday when I made my cat/dog/bear or whatever on the deck Monday.
Here are a few snowman quotes.
- Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.
- When it snows you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels.
- The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.
Hope you found a way to enjoy the snow if it fell where you are and that you didn’t have to drive anywhere if the roads were slippery. A little snow always makes Christmas seem closer. Time to get busy with the shopping and wrapping and baking and all the things to get ready for the kids coming home for Christmas in a few weeks. Somehow a fresh snow has a way of waking up some Christmas Spirit. That makes getting all the other things done more fun.
When was the last time you made a snowman or threw a snowball or whizzed down a hill on a sled?
Comments 16
Many years ago, my college roommate and I enjoyed using lunch trays as sleds, sliding down hills from a 17 inch snow we had that year! It was great fun!!
Author
I’ve heard of other college kids who tried that trick, Lauren. One story had to do with one of the basketball players who pulled that trick and hurt his leg. He wasn’t a favorite of the coach after then. Sounds as if you just had fun and no injury issues. You were using what you had.
I can’t remember when I done all those things, but it was probably when my son was growing up and I would be out in the snow with him.
Author
Sounds as if you had fun with your son in the snow, Connie. I probably was out in the snow less when my kids were young, but I played in it plenty with various grandkids when they, snow, and I were in the same place.
I Love the snow but I don’t get out much anymore because of my Breathing problems I have But snow is so pretty Have a Blessed Day
Author
Sometimes the best way to enjoy snow is through a window, Sarah. And it always makes more birds come to my feeders outside my window. The pesky squirrel is back and has figured out the barrier I put up that kept him befuddled for a while. Oh well. He is a handsome fellow.
I’m a native Floridian and have never seen snow!! My friends in TX have had white Christmases, except for the two years I went to visit!! lol!! We thought I’d see snow both times I was there, but not such luck!
Author
I guess it would really be neat to see a good snow making everything white and beautiful if you never had actually experienced snow, Trudy. Maybe some of these days you will be where the snow is falling. It is always fun to see toddlers when their parents take them out into their first snows. Dogs can show a little surprise too. Frankie loves snow, but Marley says bring back the sunshine.
I spent Monday at the UK Hospital with my sweet hubby who had a heart attack on Saturday. I love to look out the window at the beauty the snow offers, but, I have no desire to be out in it. That was not the case when I was young and adventurous. I am not so adventurous at 81.
Author
So very sorry your husband had a heart attack. I hope he’s better and getting good treatment, Sharon. Snow is sometimes best admired through a window, but I still like to take walks in the snow.
I’m not into making a snowman, but I sure like making chocolate snow cream! The last snowman my late husband and I made was sometime in the 1980’s. We had gotten about 18 inches of snow, which is rare in NC.
Author
Well, with 18 inches of snow in NC, you had to do something fun, Susan. That, as you say, doesn’t happen often. My mother used to make snow cream, but I never have.
I love the snow but the cold makes my arthritis worse so I haven’t played in the snow for a couple of years. I always liked making snow angels and when my mama lived with us I would go make them to make her laugh. So it’s been three years since I made one. I sure miss my parents.
Author
That’s so fun that you made snow angels to make your mother laugh, Lucy. I have to admit that I prefer the snowman building to making the snow angels. I always got snow down my collar. Guess that’s what I got for not liking to wear hooded coats.
I agree. We are never too old to enjoy a good snow. Just last year our driveway froze over and my husband pulled out my old wooden sled. I enjoyed a few trips down the hill on a fast sled. I don’t think I’ll ever get too old for a good sled ride! Oh and some tasty snow cream! I enjoyed your post.
Author
Shows how young you are, Carol. Last time I tried sledding with one of my grandkids, I decided my bones were too old for the bouncing. My daughter and I tried to go once and the snow just wasn’t right for it. We didn’t get the sled moving.