Waiting for the Thaw

I have been living in the Poconos since 2005. And I have to say, in that time, the winters weren't too bad. Yes, we've had snow. Sometimes a small amount of snow, others 6 inches or more. There's been our fair share of frigid temperatures, too. But overall, it hasn't been to bad. In fact, there were a few winters during that time when most of the storms were coastal, and our relatives in New Jersey and even Virginia were hit harder than we were.

Enter winter 2013-2014.

This has just been brutal. Brutal. And not just in the Poconos either, based on the updates from family and friends via social media. Thanks to the "polar vortex" -- a term I had not heard before this year -- there were too many days to count when it was warmer in Anchorage, Alaska than the northeast.

My son has had 10 snow days already. There's only 1 left in the calendar before they start taking Spring Break or in-service days away. He's had two early dismissals, and more delayed openings than I can count. In fact, the last time he went to school for 5 full-days was in December. It's going to be a rude awakening when he has to go to school for 5 full days again.

I took the above picture a week ago. Since then we had a foot of snow during the day on Thursday, another 8-10 inches overnight into Friday morning. And yesterday we had yet another 4 inches.

I took the above picture yesterday. If we don't start to thaw soon, the icicles are going to grow into the snowbank on the porch roof.

And if another 8 years pass before we have another winter like this one, well, that'll be all right by me.

Let It Snow!

Last Saturday, it snowed. Not a lot -- just enough to make everything beautiful. It was fairly early in the morning. Not so early that the sun wasn't fully up, but early enough that no one had braved the roads yet. Undisturbed, pristine snow. Magical snow. I've always loved the way the snow covered the tree branches, and while I have no illusions that I'm Ansel Adams, I was feeling inspired and grabbed my camera to document the beauty before everyday life tainted it.

I've always found snowfalls so beautiful and peaceful, but evening snowfalls in particular have always been magical to me. It is so quiet and peaceful, and even though it's dark, the moonlight's reflection on the snow gives the would a soft glow. It is so quiet, like the world is holding its breath. As a kid, when the opportunity presented itself, I would love to stand outside in the snow. I remember one time sitting on an old-fashioned sled, the kind with the metal blades, and my dad pulling me up the cul-de-sac. For me, it was like a moment out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, and holds a special place in my heart.

See, despite how quiet and still it is, despite the fact that everyone else is tucked safely inside -- or maybe because of all that -- when I stand outside during evening snowfalls, I feel most connected to the world.

That realization reminds me of a yoga session I had back in September. The instructor asked us to lie on our backs, close our eyes, and think of when we felt most connected. At the time I couldn't really think of anything, but I was patient, and now I finally have my answer.

Even now, just thinking of evening snow fills my soul with warmth and peace.

It was definitely worth the wait.