02.19.19

“It seems like a broken record with continued chances for snow.  Expect day-time highs to be 10 to 15 degrees below normal.”  NOAA forecast for today.

After a week-end of snow, we did have splendid sunshine yesterday, on a day that started out at -11 degrees.  We even had a view of the supermoon as it was setting on the other side of the lake.  There was blinding bright light beaming into the house at cocktail hour, and the outdoor Christmas trees looked ridiculous when the timer turned on the white fairy lights.  The kitties have turned into baby bear cubs, with their winter weight, as they spend their days on the porch, staring into snow.

If you are trying to stay committed to winter, you couldn’t have had a better houseguest than we did this week-end–John Miller.  He’s the only person I know who says that winter is his favorite season, by a landslide.  Having him and his family here with us helped keep me in season for, at least, the long week-end.  While they went skiing, I went snowshoeing in the woods–for the first time this year–and wondered why I haven’t done this sooner.  The snow was knee-deep as I trudged along deer tracks, and it was exhilarating to be in such silence, with only the sound of eagles overhead.  Truly, tears-in-your-eyes beautiful.  It’s lightly snowing in this morning’s sky, with blue light coming on so much earlier, now that we’re past the mid-point of this short month.  The forecasters have said there could be a lake-effect intense band of snow hitting the east shore this afternoon, which would give me an excuse to cease all household chores, and lie on the sofa with my book, to watch it fall out the windows.

I confess, I did take a peek at the long-range forecast this morning, and discovered that the first day predicted to be above 32 degrees is not until March 3rd.  Lovely photographs of snowdrops and daffodils are popping up on many of the blogs I follow.  But, sigh, winter lingers on, a broken record, here in the north country, so it’s best to just stay the course, enjoy the view, and don’t worry.

“Don’t worry,” answered Snufkin, “we shall have wonderful dreams, and when we wake up it’ll be spring.”
― Tove Jansson, Finn Family Moomintroll