I spent the weekend away in the far away land called Chetek where Schmidts of all ages and sizes and alternate last names converge for the annual ritual of Winter Party. Winter Party is in its' seventh year, I believe, and instead of flying 1000 miles to attend, G and I now can drive less than 300 miles and be at the front door of my parents' property out in the wilds of Barron County. Indeed, at this time of the year, the yard does look barren with near zero (or subzero) temperatures and just a dusting of snow.
Even way up north, the snow was scarce. Usually, we send the kiddies outside to barrel down the snow covered hill on sleds and tubes. But there was a change of plans this year considering the yard was a frozen slip n' slide instead of a soft cushy bounty of snow. Only the older kids were allowed to sled (much to the dismay of my own kid) out of fear of injury due to out of control speeds. My dad put down some large amounts of hay to keep the kids from careening into the woods and crashing into a tree.
The day after the Winter Party we allowed G to join her cousins on the ice slick, and I must say I was most impressed by the control she had over her sled. She had no intention of testing top speeds and instead came to a controlled stop well before the hay bales.
Were there injuries? Yes. Two. To the same person on different days. One injury landed the poor lad in a hospital, but don't worry! He was discharged with a sore back and nothing more serious.
We woke up to subzero temperatures Sunday and Monday, but still: not a snowflake to be seen.
The long drive home offered little change in landscape... until we were close to our house. Imagine our delight when we pulled back into our own driveway Monday afternoon. Snow! Snow everywhere! And not some phooey pooey sprinkle. Dave had to break out the snowblower!
I have lamented this season thus far as being dreary and dead. Dormant trees, grass, bushes, half frozen lake... boooooooo. If it's going to be this cold out, gimme something pretty to look at.
And I got it.
I'm okay with it! Sometimes one regrets what one wishes for, but not this time, baby. No, I'm not frolicking in it, and with incoming snow storms I'm not going to click my heels in jubilation for the opportunity to run the snowblower. But as I run errands, as I shovel, as I walk G to the bus stop, I will pause and thank the Good Guy upstairs for the white wonder all around. I'm cold, but cozy. My nose is red, but my heart is full. These are the kind of winters I missed when I was in Colorado. Last year was one of those winters, and thankfully this one finally arrived.
I only hope it lasts.
Even way up north, the snow was scarce. Usually, we send the kiddies outside to barrel down the snow covered hill on sleds and tubes. But there was a change of plans this year considering the yard was a frozen slip n' slide instead of a soft cushy bounty of snow. Only the older kids were allowed to sled (much to the dismay of my own kid) out of fear of injury due to out of control speeds. My dad put down some large amounts of hay to keep the kids from careening into the woods and crashing into a tree.
The day after the Winter Party we allowed G to join her cousins on the ice slick, and I must say I was most impressed by the control she had over her sled. She had no intention of testing top speeds and instead came to a controlled stop well before the hay bales.
Were there injuries? Yes. Two. To the same person on different days. One injury landed the poor lad in a hospital, but don't worry! He was discharged with a sore back and nothing more serious.
We woke up to subzero temperatures Sunday and Monday, but still: not a snowflake to be seen.
The long drive home offered little change in landscape... until we were close to our house. Imagine our delight when we pulled back into our own driveway Monday afternoon. Snow! Snow everywhere! And not some phooey pooey sprinkle. Dave had to break out the snowblower!
I have lamented this season thus far as being dreary and dead. Dormant trees, grass, bushes, half frozen lake... boooooooo. If it's going to be this cold out, gimme something pretty to look at.
And I got it.
I'm okay with it! Sometimes one regrets what one wishes for, but not this time, baby. No, I'm not frolicking in it, and with incoming snow storms I'm not going to click my heels in jubilation for the opportunity to run the snowblower. But as I run errands, as I shovel, as I walk G to the bus stop, I will pause and thank the Good Guy upstairs for the white wonder all around. I'm cold, but cozy. My nose is red, but my heart is full. These are the kind of winters I missed when I was in Colorado. Last year was one of those winters, and thankfully this one finally arrived.
I only hope it lasts.
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