Snowdays, snowmen...

An entire winter has almost swept itself through this northland. It has snowed many times, but there has only been that one biggish snowstorm in our area. This past Sunday evening however, we had our first packy snowfall of the season (this late, I know.) It was 54 degrees F on Saturday, gorgeous and not typical for February in Minnesota. It rained all day Sunday, and we lost any snow cover we had. Then, latish sunday night, it began to snow. Big fluffy flakes that just begged for a person to run outside and stick out one's tongue to catch a falling snowflake and let it melt in the mouth. Katie and I looked at each other late that evening, roughly 11PM and thought about the fact that enough snow had fallen to shovel. (we like our snow-income) On went the snowpants, the boots, the hats and mittens. On went the jackets, and down the stairs we went. We grabbed a shovel each and headed out into the snowflakey wonderland to shovel our walk. The snow was water underneath and made that satisfying 'scrinch, scrunch' noise that all good packy snow makes. Well, most of it did. Remember the rain? Some of it was slush under the snow on the walk, and really quite heavy to move. We shoveled just as quick as we could, and I did take the opportunity to stick out my tongue and taste the wintery precipitation. Towards the end of our shovelling, Katie and I had an idea. This was the first packy snow of the season, and while it was WAY to wet for snow angels, it was just right for snowballs. The first one flew, and the second, but the third...began to grow into a bigger ball. Then another followed it. A third made up the head of our little snowperson, who was really the size of a snowhobbit. He was only about 2.5-3 feet tall, and fit just wonderfully on the end of the stone walkway by the stairs that lead up to our home. He was quickly outfitted with rock eyes and nose and mouth, branch arms, and a pot for a hat. I don' t have the picture on this computer, but here is a link to Katie's picture of Frosty Appleseed. Very quickly on the other side of the stairs, a one foot miniature snowbrownie (for those who have seen Willow) was errected. He received no rocks for his face, our rocks were way to big, but we did add some branch arms. The next day (Monday, and the day of being nicked in the arse) was 40 degrees F, and very quickly in the warmth of the sun both our snowhobbit and snowbrownie went the way of all snow on a warm day...melt-splat down onto the sidewalk. But at least I can still say that I have gone all my walking years of winter without missing the chance to make at least one snowperson. Our two snowpeople were not as big as the one a few years ago; Katie and I required special leverage devices to make that 8 foot tall snowgiant, but they were just as important. Here's to hoping that we have at least one more chance at snowpeople this winter. I would greatly like to try to make a snowman, or even a snowelf.

I wonder how hard it would be to add pointy elf ears to a snowman?