The First Snowy Day
September 30, 2009
I was awoke this morning by the sound of rain drumming on the tin roof and wood smoke in the air. Ahh... perfect!
As a child I dreamed of having a home with a tin roof and snuggling with my man in front of a fireplace on rainy nights. As I stretched and wondered what time it was, this dream came vividly to mind. As my husband reached to hug me, I had to laugh at how wonderful life can be. Okay, so the smoke was coming from the controlled burns in the mountains and our roof is so insulated it dulls the romanticness of the rain, but who am I to complain?
As I fixed breakfast the rain let up and I began making plans for the day. Outdoor building projects would be the priority of the day. Maybe, just maybe, I could even get most of them done! With that in mind, I got the boys going on their chores and hurried to do mine. That is when the announcement came.
"Mom! It's snowing!!! Come see! There are flakes -- look at them!" Wesley exclaimed as he came in taking out the trash.
All of the boys crowded around the nearest window, then flew down the stairs and out the front door. Their bare feet danced on the lawn while catching snowflakes with their tongues. Watching them, I realized my plans for the day were going to change. Mentally re-planning the day as I fixed my husbands lunch, I realized with delight, this was the first snow storm of the season! That meant it was time to plan for the first snow day of the season.
My Snowy Day Menu
Soup:
- Home-made french onion or creamy mushroom soup, served with toasted bread and parmesan cheese.
Entree:
- Venison roast with a garlic and black pepper rub.
- Baked beans, made on the wood stove.
- Baked butternut squash, served with butter, salt and pepper.
- Green beans, stir-fried in bacon grease.
- Brown rice.
Dessert:
- All the goodies made that day and more hot cocoa!
My Favorite Goodies
- Ginger Snaps
- Big Chunk Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cheese Cake
- Banana Bread
- Shortbread Cookies
- Home-made Hot Cocoa
I aim to make three or four of these recipes.
This year I'd like to try Mince-meat. To me, it has an old-fashioned cozy sound.
The First Snowy Day
The first snowy day of each season is something I have been celebrated with my boys for the last three years now.
It is a day when we push aside the cares of life and focus on fun. We make cookies and hot coco. We build snowmen, working together to roll large balls. We cuddle in front of the fire and read stories. We did through our boxes of winter clothing, trying things on and deciding who will use what and who needs something new. We pack away the summer things and put flannel sheets on our beds. We make our favorite comfort food for supper and look forward to the season ahead.
The first snowy day is not a date on the calendar -- it changes from year to year. We celebrate it the first day we wake up to a blanket of snow on the ground and more in the air. We watch for it with expectancy. We know that this first snow is unlikely to last, so we make the most of it.
Finishing up fall chores, with a 5 foot tall snowman in the yard is fun. The children are eager to help and there is an urgency in the air. Get those last bulbs in the ground. Put the carrots in the cellar. Wrap the trees, so they don't get broken. Hang the Christmas lights. Sit back, and enjoy the crisp air with another glass of hot apple cider... the leave will not be red forever nor will the days stay this long. Winter is coming.
Ivorwen, 2009.
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Comments
AUTHORA couple of my neighbors headed south this winter. I do envy them at times, especially when it has been dark for days, but I would miss the snow too. I have never lived in a snowless place, though I have lived places where the snow only blew across the ground and three inches could take down power lines. Piles in the mountains are much preferred!
Now I'm jealous, from Iowa originally and had been living back there the last two years... last winter especially we spent buried under almost record snowfall, which does tend to get old after awhile, but it makes you appreciate the spring all the more. Then end of this summer we moved back to Arizona... not 100% by choice... again with the inlaws... don't expect to be seeing snow again anytime soon, lol.
- AUTHOR
Oh, enjoy your snowy day, Germaine! We have had snow on the ground for a couple of weeks now and I definitely feel like hibernating. :)
I like your approach to the first snowy day. We had ours here in Dublin last night. It makes me feel inclined to hibernate for a bit and do some baking. Winter and baking go so well together.
Thank you Ivorwen - how sweet of you to notice and mention it.
- AUTHOR
Thank you Duchess, and congrats for making it into the 2009 hubber of the year list.
The first real "snow day" of the season is always special. Nicely done. I like the comfort food idea. I'll have to incorporate that in our house.
I love the first day of snow! I used to live in the mountains of Colorado and always loved snowy days, sitting by the fire and watching the weather like I was in a reversible snowglobe.
Now in Hawaii, I'm still addicted to snow...I make pathetic little paper snowflakes and imagine that the rain is sort of like snow. :)
- AUTHOR
MFB III - enjoy fall while it lasts! My boys love to store snow balls for a summer time snowball fight, though we have never included the dog.
always love the crisp air, and the glint of ten trillion diamonds in the white snow glistening in the sun. And each year since I was a boy I have always made a snowball and then froze it till the middle of June. Then I play fetch with it with my welsh corgi's who actually love to hold them in their mouth..Great write...still waiting for my area to flake out.~~~MFB III
- AUTHOR
Home grown, roast chicken does sound wonderful! I am glad you had a chance to enjoy your snowy day. Good luck with the grand children, tent and cinnamon rolls -- those sound good too.
Ivorwen,
Aah! We had our first really snowy day only yesterday, October 10, a little early for as much as we had, but it brought an excitement to me too. I was disappointed that we weren't ready to use our woodstove--there is still a birdnest in it that must be cleaned out, and our supply of cut wood is dismally small. However, that fact was not able to extinguish the joy I felt in knowing that I would be able to stay home and maybe, just maybe, catch up on some things! (I had planned to go to a wedding, but didn't think our little car would plow its way to the end of the drive, let alone through the twelve miles between here and town.)
Sooo, I put a chicken, raised this summer, in the roaster to cook, and got busy on those magazines that were piled clear to the top of the shelf in the living room.
I look forward to more snowy days, and perhaps some of the grandchildren will be here to share them. Tents in the living room, chili and cinnamon rolls, a movie of exceptional quality. Sounds good to me.
- AUTHOR
I so agree Art. Three years ago I flipped my vehicle when I hit black ice on a snowy day -- on my birthday, none the less! I was so grateful that no one was hurt, as all of my children were with me.
Now, I don't drive in the snow unless I absolutely have to, and only with snow tires on.
thanx dear..
- AUTHOR
Hello Jarn! I would love to spend the whole day curled up in front of the fire relaxing with a good book on a snowy day, but do you have any idea what children act like on a snowy day?
Children bounce off walls when it is storming. They are noisy and energetic. One must keep them in a constant state of activity just to maintain sanity.
I remember my high school teachers saying they had snowy day lesson plans, because when a storm was coming the kids would not focus. This is my plan for sanity!
What a wonderful depiction of the first snow day. It must be nice to see snow on occaision, it's still 95 degrees daily down here :)
But that seems like quite a lot to do during a snow day. Heck, that's more than I do on a work day! Why not just relax, rest, and take it all in?
- AUTHOR
Alekhouse: I would miss the snow too, but a warm winter would be a refreshing change. Enjoy your change!
Thanks LEWJ.
Joy at Home: I like those snows that disappear as they fall, because, like you said, there are eight months of winter weather ahead. Fresh cranberry sauce sounds like a wonderful tradition. I'll have to see if I have any in the freezer from last year or maybe the first snow will wait for November, when they are available.
We just had our first snow on October 2nd. It amounted to light, almost transparent flakes, which lasted no more than two or three hours. Each flake melted as it touched the ground, so there were no snowmen, but the children and I enjoyed it all the same. We made extra coffee and cooked a special lamb roast for dinner.
We've been cooking with our wood cookstove for about two weeks now, and while I'm not looking forward to eight months of winter, I am enjoying the season's changing. I always look forward to the first "real" snow day, when I can tell it's snowed 24 hours later.
I'll have to plan some "traditions" for us, provided we're home on the first real snow day, and not trying to put metal sheets on some roof. This hub proved a lovely inspiration. Thank you!
Now let's see... Cutting snowflakaes from wrapping paper to decorate the windows sounds like fun, and fresh cranberry sauce with sweet spices smells delicious, and, of course, there are always the dressers to clean out and the summer clothes to deal with (partially done)...
This is a refreshing hub on a refreshing topic.
I love snow and for most of my life have lived in areas with lots of snow in the winter. I will be moving to Austin Texas soon and know that the the beautiful winter snow will be sorely missed.
Nice hub.
- AUTHOR
Thank you Moon Daisy!
I understand the annoyance, Wendy, and glad this helped bring a new perspective. :)
I was annoyed when my boyfriend came from work last night and announced that there was a chance it might snow on Monday. Now that I've read your story I'm starting to feel that excitement inside too! Thank you.
How amazing, snow already! I love the idea of celebrating the first snow, (and indeed, the first sun the other side of the year!), and your special day sounds really lovely!
- AUTHOR
I do to, Jess.
I love the first snowfall, so fresh and clean and cold. thank you, Ivorwen :)
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