Winter is here

Winter is here.  It tried to come early December and everyone thought we would have a "White Christmas"---but we didn't.  It was cloudy and in the 50's.  

Ah-h-h-h...I remember when...it snowed frequently and every time it snowed, it mounded up at least 6 inches or more.  A foot of snow was not unusual and by the end of December, we would have 3 feet of snow in our backyard!  We made snow forts, tunnels, snowballs, snowmen, paths to play "Fox & Hare".  Our faces were ruddy red and chapped and fingers were constantly cold and wet.  Rubber boots pulled over our leather shoes.  They were uninsulated boots with metal clasps that clamped down to lock into place.  Brother's old insulated underwear was worn by us girls too because it was warm, not pretty.  Mittens were made of wool and got wet easily.  Snow would cling in little balls to the mittens.  It was as if they had glue on them and getting all the snow off was a chore.  We frequently had to stop our play to go inside to warm up by the large, long radiator where all the mittens, scarves, boots, hats and coats were laid out to dry.  They seemed to take such a long time to dry so sometimes we just put them back on damp, though warm, and ran outside for more fun in the snow.  Even shoveling was fun!  Trying to get the path perfectly straight, then tossing down birdseed or furnace ashes for traction.

Nowadays, though I live farther south, McSmalltown still doesn't get snow like "the old days."

Children are not free to roam about the neighborhood as I did as a child.  The world has become a somewhat frightening place even for adults.  But let's try to remember to at least bundle up and get outside at least once a day.  (I have to really force myself to do this now.)

Just think....FRESH AIR!  and breathe deeply when you're out there in it!

Enjoy the cold weather!!!!!