First Snow has a magic that draws children to it. Even some adults “get into” a first snow. Share your adventures and memories – current or past – of a First Snow. (Or any winter adventure you cherish.) Let us sparkle with life. For those who prefer to enjoy winter inside curled up with a good story, Robert Frost’s “Stopping By Woods On Snowy Evening” or John Greenleaf Whittier’s “Snowbound” both at Poetry Foundation are terrific reads.
*The idea of posting about the magic of first snow was inspired by Wahneta Tonn Dimmer’s FB post and hearing our neighbors’ children laugh as they belly slid down a slope by their home. Yes snow has its hazards and needs to be shoveled. But we can whistle while we work and appreciate the beauty of an Iowa winter in November.
First Snow is magical.
Devany Souza – musher extraordinaire
“I was dog-sledding to Alaska. I had some medicine for the
children and all the grown ups who were sick. I put the medicine
in the box, with a blanket under it and on top of it, so it wouldn’t freeze. And the lead dog was my Husky named ‘Snowflake’.
The dogs’ paws froze and I had to put them in my sled and
push the sled until I got to Alaska. When I got to Alaska, everyone
got out of their cottages and cheered. I let my dogs off their harness and a lot of children came up and started petting them and they built
a statue of the three dogs and a statue of me. The End.”
Devany Souza as dictated to her mom, Kelly Carr Souza.
Considering their options.
“Hygge”
The infant snuggled close to her mama as snow drifted down outside.
“I made a conscious decision to stay home today. I did not touch my car, or anyone else’s car. We had a warm breakfast. We wore comfortable clothes. Around 11:00 a.m. the neighbor girl came over and drew my older daughter outdoors, where they mostly stayed until about 4:30 p.m., reveling in the newly fallen snow. Too powdery for snowmen or snowballs, but good for pulling a sled! My little one, of course, was intrigued by her older sister’s adventures. I found too-big snow pants for her and rolled up the legs; put on her coat and hat, and held her little hand as she shuffled down the sidewalk. In the afternoon, we had chicken noodle soup and a nap. I read my book. To the little one’s delight, we were not separated by more than an inch for most of the day. My sister came to visit and we toasted with a couple of glasses of wine and ate some salmon. I recently read about Danish “hygge”; there’s no good translation to English but it could be thought of as coziness, togetherness, and well-being that gets us through winter. We may have discovered it in Iowa already this winter! I hope it carries us through.” Sophie Nicholson
The Magic of Winter
A typical winter scene – an assortment of gloves, mittens, hats, scarves all returned from a day on the snowy slopes.
“Children know how to do it right, celebrate winter that is! Watch the excitement in their eyes as the first snow flakes fall, then as the snow begins to accumulate on the grass, trees, patio swing and sidewalk. “Do you think it will be enough to go sledding, Mom?” my son asked.
“As a child I was fortunate enough to grow up in a five acre wood that was once home to a ski jump in rural Wisconsin. My brother, two cousins and friends from the neighborhood would bundle up and brave the Wisconsin winter cold for the thrill of the descent. From our side of the hill, we would climb a narrow, well worn trail through the woods. As we approached the top the ski slope would open up to reveal the valley to the south. We were well protected from any wintery winds by the tall hardwoods that lined the ski slope.
“The ride down was well worth the long trek up through the woods. The hill always kept its promise of a fast and exciting ride down. We would often have races to see who could reach the bottom first! I can only imagine in the stillness of the snowy countryside, that our giggles and squeals could be heard far and wide. When we just couldn’t bear walking up the hill one more time, our sled seemed like 50 pounds instead of five, our mittens were just too wet and our toes too cold, we would trek back down the trail in the woods. Mom would surely have hot cocoa and warm wintery treats waiting upon our return. She would welcome us home, pink cheeks and all. She would want to hear every detail of our adventure.
“What strikes me most in hindsight is the realization that we never worried about the time. We were so engrossed in the wonderful experience, the joy of it, the thrill of it, that we had not a care in the world. We were truly present and enthralled by the experiences that winter had blessed us with.
“An old friend once said, “It is not really about bad weather. It is really about having the right gear.” Whether you choose to bundle up and dive into the snow and cold or have the opportunity to witness the magic through a child’s eyes, allow yourself to get caught up in it. Magic is all around us. Take time to see it and experience it!” Wahneta Tonn Dimmer
the magical spirit of children.
The Severins take on winter with a smile and dinner out!
“The first snowfall of the season descended in large fluffy clumps … the kind of snowflakes you want to try to catch on your tongue … the kind of snowflakes that sparkle and glisten in the light from the street lamps. We ventured out into the snowy night and shared in its magic.”
