Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Tuesday Slice: A blanket of white

 


The meteorologists were cautiously talking about snow a week ago, hinting at the chance of seeing the white stuff here in the Austin area, but leaning more towards accumulation in the Hill Country with a cold, wet mix of rain and snow closer to the city.

Two days out, they said it was looking more promising.  Maybe an inch or two, if we were lucky.

One day out, and one meteorologist was going big with a chance of eight inches.

I woke up before the alarm on Sunday to a clap of thunder for the second time this season.  Thunder always surprises me in winter; I associate that sound with the hot, steamy days of summer.  But there was no mistaking the boom, and the following deluge of rain.  Ah, well, wintry mix it is, I guessed.

Then it happened.  Halfway through "CBS Sunday Morning", I noticed the sound of rain had stopped.  I turned to the window to see big, fat white flakes falling outside.  Melting as soon as they hit the drenched ground.  Still skeptical, I turned back toward the television.

The snow kept falling...and falling.  Soon it WAS sticking.  When it stopped at five pm, we had a beautiful four inches of the white stuff blanketing our backyard.  For a few hours there was no pandemic, no politics...just the silent snow falling, the hush it brought to the landscape, the sight of children building snowmen in the park.


Our snow day was fleeting, however.  By four in the afternoon on Monday, it was almost gone, save for the snowmelt now filling the drainage creekbed.  Ah, well...it was beautiful, if just for the day.

10 comments:

  1. I live in South Louisiana so the snow storm missed us, but my sister in Round Rock and my parents in Jackson posted beautiful pictures. I was a bit jealous because I love those rare snow days and the beauty of it all. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. What a small world it can be! I work for Round Rock ISD. I'm sorry you missed out on the snow fun, but glad you could enjoy vicariously.

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  2. The unexpected joys! Being from India, snowfall is a distant dream for most of us. Hope to see snow in real some time soon.

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    1. It's usually a distant dream for us, too! I do hope you get to see snow as well; it can be a beautiful experience for those of us who aren't used to it.

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  3. Love this line: "For a few hours there was no pandemic, no politics...just the silent snow falling, the hush it brought to the landscape, the sight of children building snowmen in the park." Perfect metaphor for what we all need right now--so glad you got to experience it!

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    1. It was so peaceful, Amy. A snow day turned self care day, to be sure. My husband said I looked like a child outside, just standing and watching.

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  4. I had never experienced a snow day until I worked in America. Snow falling was a magical thing for someone who had lived most of his life on the coast in Australia. Your own surprise and wonderment shines through her Chris. The photos add to the special nature of the occasion. I love the silence that accompanies snowfall and the fact it covers up ugliness for a short time. Snow doubt about it! Wonderful.

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    1. Love the pun, Alan! I agree about the magic, when one doesn't encounter it regularly. I didn't live in a snowy winter place until my teens, in Germany, where a white Christmas is just about guaranteed. I was sad to leave. Thanks for the kind comments on my writing today!

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  5. I heard about your Texas snow! Wow - that was quite a snowfall. Beautiful shots. Must tell you that around these parts in NC, thunder in winter means snow within 10 days... just saying...

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    1. That's a new-to-me weather sign for sure, Fran. And yes, the snow was amazing; I don't think we've had it quite that thick for decades. My son living three hours north only saw a few flakes! Weird weather week.

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