“It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.” — John Burroughs
I’ve known some Januarys where snow has been off somewhere to the north, where you could only find ice in the freezer, and winter coats were hardly necessary. But then this year, we have winter! In its full glory with snow and freezing rain and sleet and then more snow followed by artic cold.
While I might just as soon artic cold stayed in the artic, there are some pluses to the cold. Minuses too, of course, like the snow and ice staying past its welcome. Like poor road workers and utility repairmen working long hours out in the cold while those of us fortunate enough to still have power are snuggled down in our warm houses with plenty to eat after we cleaned out the grocery stores last week before the storm.
But the good is that when it’s very cold, snow isn’t as slick to drive or walk on. When it starts melting, that’s when you best watch your step and how you put on the brakes. The ice stays nice and hard to let you walk on top of it. Since everything, or a lot of things, are closed down, you don’t really need to go anywhere. You can check on your loved ones with those handy cell phones. As long as you have power to keep them charged up. And the ice glitters in the sunlight.
This morning while Frankie and I were walking in the near zero temperature (really, it isn’t all that bad as long as you have mittens), I started thinking about which of my books had winter scenes. It seems that most of my stories take place in warm weather, but there are a few with snow and cold.
Love Comes Home has a great snow scene where Lorena and Kate and Jay build snowmen. Then The Song of Sourwood Mountain opens on the first Sunday in January with snow falling and cold air blowing. Mira comes to Sourwood with snow on the ground. Ada June is building a snow dog in her first scene in the book. Mira gets off the trail and lost when snow starts falling. Christmas at Harmony Hill is all about snow and ice, both the scenes at Harmony Hill and those in Tennessee during the last major Civil War battle. Oh, and The Believer has a snow scene.
Along a Storied Trail starts with Tansy delivering books in such frigid weather that her boots freeze to the stirrup. That came right out of my research about those intrepid bookwomen who didn’t let anything stop them going on their book routes. Another thing straight from research was the woman walking out several miles through the snow to meet Tansy to get books to carry back to her neighbors.
Here’s the boots frozen in the stirrups scene when Tansy gets to her first house to deliver books.
“Put your horse out in the barn whilst you’re here, Tansy,” Ma Vesta said. “Poor critter has icicles hanging off his tail. He can take a bit of rest while you warm up inside. The children are pining to hear more of that story you’ve been reading to them. Might cheer up Jenny Sue too. She can’t shake off the black wearies this week.”
“Thank you, Ma Vesta. Shadrach will be happy to have some drying out time. We got more than a little wet down yonder at the creek.” Tansy tried to pull her feet free to dismount, but her boots were frozen to the stirrups.
“Appears you’re froze up.” Ma Vesta didn’t hide her smile. “Want me to give your foot a whack with the broom?”
“No need. I can knock my foot loose on the post here.” Tansy moved Shadrach closer to the edge of the porch and banged the stirrup against the wooden post. That boot broke free and she flipped her leg over to kick her other foot free.
“I’ve heard tell of folks froze in the saddle, but I was thinkin’ they meant cause they was feared of a snake or a bear.” Ma Vesta shook her head.
Tansy had to laugh as she slid off Shadrach. “I’ll have a story to tell.”
“That you will. Take your horse on out to the barn and I’ll warm up some ginger tea. Might keep you from catching your death of pneumonia.”
I’ve been promising a book giveaway here on One Writer’s Journal, and I think these books with snow and ice might be perfect for a winter giveaway. To enter just leave a comment on my posts in the next couple of weeks. Maybe I can share winter scenes for the next 4 posts here. That will make the deadline for entries midnight EST, February 10, 2026. Winners will be notified by email and announced on my post on February 11th. You have to be at least 18 years old to enter. Each time you leave a comment on a new post before the deadline, you get another entry. I love when you join the conversation here. Any comment will do, but to help you think of something to say, I’ll post a new question each time. So, here’s the first one.
What do you like about snow?
The prize will be a choice of one of my books with winter weather playing a part. I’ll pick two winners by random. Each comment will get a number and then I’ll use a random number generator to choose the winning numbers.
The Winner of my January Newsletter Giveaway:
Picked my newsletter winner today and it is Trixi O. She won a reader’s blanket and her choice of one of my books. I sent her a message but haven’t heard from her yet. If I don’t hear from her before next Wednesday, I’ll pick a different winner. So, Trixi, if you see this, check your email box.
Comments 25
I love everything about snow, the more the better! It covers up the ground (including mud if it was warmer), my horses like to play and roll in it, its beautiful to look at, especially on the pinetrees. This year in Ohio we’ve been lucky- snow cover since early Jan!!
Author
Sounds as if you’re getting perfect weather to make you happy, Kris. Snow can be better than mud around barns and stock. I’m imagining your horses rolling in the snow. Sounds like a pretty picture.
I like seeing the snow when it is covering the tree branches. It’s pretty. I also like it when it melts.
Author
Around here after two weeks of snow cover, Una, we are all going to like it when it melts. But it can be beautiful when everything is outlined in white.
I’ve lived in the southwest my whole life. Snow is very pretty compared to the usual browns and grays.
Author
We can be kind of gray in January too, Marti, but this January, white is ruling. We’ll see what February brings starting tomorrow.
I like reading winter books and where I live we don’t get snow (in southern California near the coast).
Author
Living in the sunshine, Diana. I’m imagining a beautiful day for you while we are shivering in below zero windchills and seeing white everywhere. Hope you will give one of my winter books a try. If you read or have read Along a Storied Trail you can be right in the middle of a snowstorm with Tansy on horseback.
Hi Ann! I saw your email yesterday & responded. Hopefully you saw it 🙂
I’m so excited to be your winner. Thank you so much!!! God bless you 🙂
Author
I did see your email. I sent the blanket part of your prize. Eventually I’ll get to the post office to send a copy of the book you chose, The Song of Sourwood Mountain. Right now the roads are still terrible and I probably couldn’t get my car out of the garage. In fact, the mail deliverer hasn’t come down my road all week. Good thing most of my bills are digital these days.
Snow is pretty to look at, coating everything that you can see. I did enjoy it when I was a kid, but now I like warm weather much better.
Author
I like one good snow a winter, Connie, but I’m not fond of frigid temperatures keeping it hanging around way past its welcome. I do like to walk in the snow though. It’s fun seeing all the tracks of little animals and big ones too that are left of the snow. With this snow, because of the temperatures, the tracks have stayed from the first day. Some places it looks like herds of little animals have stomped around under the bushes. But I’m ready for some melting temperatures.
Congratulations Trixi O.
Fresh snow is like the ocean for me. So grounding. It brings peace to me. My husband is sick with pancreatic cancer, so this storm wasn’t so fun. I had to hire a man to plow and young men to shovel. No time for peace! Maybe next storm will be better now that I’m organized.
Author
I’m so sorry your husband is ill, Evelyn. My father had pancreatic cancer. Not a good thing. And the storm is surely making everything even worse for both of you. Prayers that things will get easier. Perhaps the next snow you experience will be more like the peaceful ocean you like when you see a fresh snowfall.
I’ve never seen snow!! The closest I’ve gotten is slush, and that was YEARS ago!! Florida’s only had flurries before, and we might actually get flurries this weekend. Where I live on the Space Coast, we’re to get down to 26 for Sunday morning.
Author
Well, Trudy, some of us are seeing more snow than we want to this January. I think the east coast is doing that today. Hoping things don’t get too cold for everyone in Florida. Makes for a rough time for the farms and orchards. And for all of us who enjoy buying Florida’s products.
Snow has a calming and peaceful effect watching it gently fall to the ground.
Author
I love the snow when it is falling fat flakes and not much wind is blowing, Mary. Like you say, it does look so peaceful. Not as found of the blizzardy snows.
I like reading winter books, but I sure don’t like to have cold winters! I just can’t seem to warm up this winter.
Author
Do you ever get chilly reading snow scenes, Susan? I have sometimes done that writing a bad weather scene. This has been a cold stretch here. I’m ready for the snow to melt.
I love the snow but not the ice. Thankfully we didn’t lose power this time.
Author
I’m with you, Dana. Just keep the ice up at the North Pole and let Santa enjoy it. 🙂 We were fortunate to not lose power either. We have in the past and it’s funny how everything you think about doing needs power. Except reading as long as you have a lantern or candles. So, a great time to catch up on some reading.
I like that I still feel a kid like excitement about watching snow fall.
I like that kids get off from school, because I still remember how fun that was .
Author
I’m guessing, and it’s not much of a guess, that you still have a lot of fun watching your grandkids play in the snow, Lisa. I wouldn’t be surprised to know you are out there throwing snowballs with them or helping them find the perfect hat or carrot nose for a snowman.
Being out of school was fun for a few days. Then I was always ready to go back and for my kids to go back. We did have 3 years where the kids were out of school for most of January. I’m remembering we had fun those years.