Up until the middle of this week, I was working on a post about how little snow we’ve gotten on Long Island this winter. It is therefore possible that Thursday’s massive Thunder-snow-bomb-aggedon was my fault.
The thing is, I like snow. Even more than that, I like snow days, when the whole world seems to be at home watching the same news shows, and not a word of politics is spoken. Theoretically. I love zipping up my tall boots and taking the dogs out for picture time. I love watching Cricket hop through the snow searching for treasures (a leaf!!!!!). And I even like trying to console Butterfly about the weird texture of the ground under her paws.
“I see something!!!!!!!”
“Now I see it over there!”
“Mommy, why can’t I feel my toes?”
We were having all of the negatives of winter: the severe cold, the biting wind, the gloomy lighting, and every kind of cold and flu imaginable, without the benefit of snowball fights and hot cocoa to lighten the load. Even Cricket and Butterfly had to suffer through the short daylight hours, and even shorter walks, and the plinking rain on their heads, with no reward.
We had one day, recently, when the air was full of snowflakes that blurred the world, but added up to almost nothing on the ground. I had to drive carefully, and wear a warm jacket, scarf, and gloves, but I still had to go to work. I felt cheated.
Summer will come along too soon, and it will be relentlessly hot and humid and full of smog and sweat and swarms of bugs. I just wanted a few snow days in my memory bank, to shore me up for those long months of heat, when I would barely be able to go outside and would have to sit with my head right up against the air conditioner just to be able to think.
It’s not that I’m thrilled with having to shovel my car out of the deep snow. I would actually like to have a magical shovel that removes the snow without any help from me. And I could do without the black ice on the roads, and the slippery walkways, and the bad headache that inevitably comes with extreme changes in air pressure. But the snowstorm was a relief just the same. I could turn on the TV and watch weather for as long as I wanted to, with only short breaks to hear about the national political dramas. Every local newsperson was out in the snow, wearing silly hats, and asking random snow-covered strangers some very silly questions. My local government officials were all too busy keeping people safe, and making sure the snow was getting removed from the roads, to cause trouble. One mayor was even driving the snow plow himself, with a reporter along for the ride to make sure the event was recorded for posterity.
I need days like that. I need a few days each year when all of the pain and disorder are muted under Mother Nature’s snowy blanket. Now if only we could convince her to lift up the blanket of snow again once we’ve rested, and not leave it to me to remove pounds of wet snow with my non-magical shovel, then I wouldn’t need three days in bed to recover from my beautiful snow day.
“We’re going back inside now, Cricket.”
“I can’t go inside yet, Butterfly. There’s still a leaf under here. I’m sure of it!”
rachelmankowitz 
Cricket and Butterfly seem to like it- up to a point! We had about 8 inches and no school- I love snow days too!
Cricket thinks she could spend hours out there, but I’m pretty sure she’d hit her limit once the snow balls covered her entire body.
I understand. Just one deep, magical snow fall a year does the heart and body good. We can enjoy feeling like a child again, skipping work (no one is expected to drive in snow here in southern TN) and making snow angels and watching and hearing the children’s joy while sliding down my front yard, often on flattened cardboard boxes. Even the dogs are transformed into puppies again for a brief time.
The temptation to get into a full blown snow ball fight with Cricket is HUGE!
I have only seen snow once but it was cool. 😀
It is very, very cool!
The photos of Cricket and Butterfly are so darn cute! Yikes! I saw picture of the snow in NY; we are such babies here in sunny FL. We are complaining because we just had the hottest January on record. I was outside today in short sleeves readying my front yard (just the front yard!) for spring. Even thought I thank God for the low gas bill, I am still waiting for a darn cold front to come through.
The day before the big snow, it was 60 degrees here. The world has gone crazy.
Yes, one snow day a year. I would totally vote for that 🙂
I’m with Cricket. The world needs to be protected from a killer leaf.
Sooo cute!
So cute. I think they are just curious as to what that white stuff is.
I spent about a third of my life in three to four year stints in New England and the Mid-Alantic region, Snow days, digging the car out, taking the dog on a walk in the snow and trying not to fall on your behind- AND the hot, humid summers, I’ve been to see relatives in both extremes of the year. All great memories! I still have family living in a couple Boroughs of New York. I enjoy reading your blog.
Peace.
Thank you so much!
Oh I would love a snow day – really. This last week the temperature has hardly been below 42c and then overnight it crashed as a cool change swept in and the temperature is 21c. Summer with its extremes of heat – can’t take the dog out because the ground would be too hot for his paws, and not during the day anyway because there are flies everywhere, thanks to the wet spring. I think Bernji would love a snow day – just as much as I would.
I wonder how the Wa Wa would manage in the snow. Maybe that’s the missing ingredient that could change everything!
Yes, that’s interesting. I never thought about the WaWa in the snow LOL
I’ll take a crate of that snow off your hands!! down here in Australia we have been having a heatwave across New South Wales and other states with towns and cities hitting 47Celsius. A bath tub with some iced water would be nice to be soaking in too.
How have we not figured out how to transport snow to the deprived yet?
LOL, your fault 😉 Anyhow, so happy the three of you got to enjoy the white, fluffy, cold snow.
Thank you!
I like snow days too. Don’t get them often in Australia. Glad the three of you could enjoy yours.
Thank you! I wish you snow, if at all possible!
So true, when it’s so cold outside you really need snow too as a consolation prize. The doggies seem to love it 🙂
They really do!
We’ve only had a flurry or two, but the rain and sleet is hitting us 24/7 just now.
Love the Leaf hunt!
Sleet is just not a good trade for snow. Cricket gives me the most awful looks when we get sleet, as if i made it happen all by myself.
I’m jealous, and so is my labrador!
Cricket’s ideal would be to have about a foot of snow per day.
She’s brave. I once knew a pug in Minnesota whose owner had to shovel out an area and spread straw for him so that he would go outside!
Oh no!
I’m with you Rachel. I was born and raised and live in Canada and snow is a huge part of that heritage. Now I live along the shores of Lake Ontario near Toronto, and the lake has a warming effect on our weather, so we have not had a lot of snow for the past few years…and I really miss it. Our dog Sailor loves romping in it and I love skiing and hiking in it. But above all, as a librarian in an elementary school, I LIVE for snow days and school closures. This year we had NONE. I feel it is my right as a Canadian educator to have at least one snow day when life slows down, things close, and we cozy up at home. LOL.
There is a very special place in my heart for elementary school librarians. Every book that was recommended to me in that little library was golden!
You are so cute, both of you. But your comment about it being your fault it snowed made me smile and yes lol for real. Thanks!!! 🙂
Thank you!
We all need snow days. And leaves.
Yes!
Now that I live in an area that gets a bit of snow – quite a bit so far this year and apparently some of it is yours- I can totally relate. The world seems to slow down and take a breath when it’s covered in white. Hope we both get a few more days of snow before Spring.
It sounds like you are being a snow glutton and you need to share some more of that snow.
Ha. Ok will do my best to send some 3000 miles to the east. 🙂
Thank you!
I miss snow. It does snow where I live every….10 years…but I wish it would snow more often and that there would be more of it. You’re right, we need more snow days.
You might have to import it.
Great phrase Rachel, “when all of the pain and disorder are muted under Mother Nature’s snowy blanket”. Winter has been mild this side of the state.
Thank you!
A few snow days are a must. Glad you got one this week. I think Cricket looks like a bunny rabbit in the last picture….a big bunny. 😉
She does look like a bunny!
Our dog has mixed feelings about the snow. She will bark to go out, then give me the most accusatory glare when she sees how deep (we got 16″) it is. Finally she will go out and stomp around. She is hilarious when she comes in since she is black. She resembles the abominable snowman!
That’s awesome!!!!!!! Even Cricket would be intimidated by that much snow.
We’re snowed in today. We can get out of the house but not out of the neighbourhood. Keep cozy!
Isn’t it nice when the whole world becomes tiny, just for a little while?
While you and yours were dealing with snow, we Sydneysiders (Australia) were sweltering in record heat…
Not good. I’m so sorry! I wish we could send you some of our extra bitter winds to help you out.
Beautiful thinking, Rachel ! Complete with the pictures of your fluffy mini- version of Rasmussen leaving paw prints in the snow – cute beyond cute !! ❤
Thank you!
I wish it would snow here one day. Mum says that would mean the World is coming to an end though, so perhaps it’s best if it doesn’t 😉
Ooops! Not ready for the world to end quite yet.
Cute snow pictures!!
Thank you!
I know. Watch what you wish for. Seeing as you brought on the snow all by yourself, I hope you enjoy the rest of the white winter wonderland. It does look pretty, but I’ll admit, 50 years in Chicago, now living in McKinney, TX, I really don’t miss it. I’ll live vicariously through your eyes and pictures.
I think fifty years in Chicago probably built up your memory bank of snow days to the point of saturation. You should be good now.
I too like the cold better. Snow is great, however, we live in the ice belt. Today we have high winds and sun.
High winds are not fun. We’re having a blast of that today and each time we go outside I worry that Butterfly is going to be lifted off her feet!
She could learn to fly.
I marvel at people that live where it snows. I could not do it. I visit once for two weeks, that as enough. It confirmed what I believed all along . . . I am not a snow person. I am happy to see that Butterfly is!
Golden Brodie here, Cricket. You are so lucky to have so much snow…we have none 😦 it’s been a very strange winter.
Cricket would like it if the snow could stay soft and fluffy and not get all crunchy under her feet.
I love seeing pictures of Cricket and Butterfly in the snow. My little Jess is just a bit larger, but we’re California girls and she has never seen the white stuff. I wonder what she’d do?!!
Has she been in the ocean?
She loves snuffling in the sand, but does not like the water.
Not many snow days in Australia, but I loved sharing yours.
Thank you!
Takes Kemo Sabe back to the old Michigan days! We get snow very rarely here! Pip
Love the pictures of your furbabies! This has been a weird winter for us here in Western , NY . We have been getting rain and snow and sometimes all in a days time. I must say my pups like it when it snows they go into puppy mode. I now have 4 dogs and all of them make me smile and laugh.
Four snow dogs! How do yours feel about the rain though?
My very old girl has learned to just go what she has to and come back in. The youngest is the same ( They are German Shepard’s)The Boxer/pit mixes have to be forced to go do what they have to. They spend double the time in the rain trying to avoid it lol Then they do their business and get inside.
I used to love snow days up in D.C., but on my trip up there earlier in the week, I saw no snow at all. And there really is no hope for a snow day here in FL 😎
No snow in DC? I wonder how that happened!
I love the idea of a real snow day but since our son got out of snow plowing I know we’d be stuck in the driveway until April. Cricket and my Remy would get along so well. He loves the snow and lays in it every chance he gets. I sometimes wonder if he caught hot flashes from me! Henry, on the other hand, thinks snow is great if he’s looking at it through a window near the fireplace.
I love the image of puppies sitting by the fire and looking at the snow out of the window. Miss Butterfly would appreciate that, especially if there were some snacks involved.
Around here there are always snacks involved. Mr. Comfortable is quite sure the boys will starve to death between meals if they don’t get an adequate amount of snacks. Henry now has to lie on his side and squeeze himself under the bed.
Ha! I love his problem solving skills!
We got an unexpected week of snow here in Portland this year, unusual for our West Coast climate. Everyone was complaining, so I kept my joy about it to myself 😉
Ha!
Love that snowy blanket, wish I had one right now.
Funny to read Eurobrat’s comment since I’m in Seattle and even we were quite surprised with the snow the Portlandia’s got. We only got the slushy stuff – could be all the grungy passive aggressive’s that caused it to melt… lol. I too wished it would have been at least a blanket and agree, it would have taken our talks off the stupid politics.
Thanks for sharing your fun with the cute photos too!
LOVE snow!!! Look how deep it is. So jealous 🙂
A nice thick blanket of snow sure does make for beautiful photos. We are in Minnesota, our snowfall has been mediocre this year. Lots of odd rain storms, when it should be below zero. I am glad your soul got it’s chance to sing and hopefully there were enough snow memories to last you all through the summer. It sounds like that happened for Butterfly. 😊
I can’t believe you’re getting mediocre snowfall in Minnesota!
I LOVE the snow, not that I ever see much of it.
I live in Southport, north west of England and I think the last time we had real thick snow was about 6/7 years ago!
When I was living in Spain, I couldn’t wait to move back home with my dogs and see their reaction to snow. Weirdly, a year after moving home, snow hit Murcia’s (Spain) capital centre for the first time in 34years! So I should have stayed there so the dogs could see it! Ha!
Oh no!
In my world the magical snow shovel is called “The neighbor with a snow blower.”
We are expecting snow tomorrow and I am not happy about it.
Now, that’s what you call proper snow… My part of the world hasn’t seen such snow this year. I’m jealous!