Let It Snow

When we first viewed our now-home, spring was making a late start, and snow was on the ground.  Looking back, it was far from ideal to buy a house under those conditions.  Snow covered the roof, so the inspector couldn't tell what kind of shape it was in.  The snow also hid the neighbor's unsightly driveway that runs alongside our house.

But everything was pretty in the snow.  We fell in love with the house, all blanketed white, yet warm and cozy inside.
Now here we are, spending our first winter as its residents.  We are expected to have a very snowy season, and so far the predictions have been right.  Emmie is dazzled by the world outside the windows.  The branches of the big pine trees in the cul-de-sac are heavy with snow, and the passing breeze blows it into the air like glitter.

The backyard is calling for us to go play.  I can't wait to bundle Emmie up in snowpants and boots, mittens and her knit hat complete with pom on top.  We can build our very own Frosty - whom she's obsessed with right now.

This yard needs a snowman!

I haven't been able to take her out yet because the past couple weeks have been really busy.  It's the end of the semester, and like always, I have stacks of papers to grade.  Yesterday was my last night class, though, so I'm in the homestretch.  I can't wait to concentrate on getting the house ready for Emmie's birthday party and all the holiday festivities.

I'm also glad to be done with work since I found out that the roads are bad out here when it snows.  It's fairly rural where we live, and it takes a while for the roads to get plowed.  This past Sunday it was only supposed to flurry, but instead ending up sticking to the streets.  My compact car slipped the whole way to school and back.  A couple times I thought I was going to slide right into another car.  I've been driving in Illinois winters since I was 17, so I know to go slow, keep my distance, and let off the brake, but it was still nerve-wracking.

Last night the warning came: beware the winter storm during rush hour!  They literally reported that the roads would be "treacherous."  I worried for Bruce, who has to take these back roads and the tollway to go to work.  He left way early, but was still late this morning.  It didn't turn out to be as bad as they envisioned (it almost never is anymore), but it wasn't great, either.

There are some things we'll have to get used to, living out here.  The open fields resemble stark canvases, the trees glisten with icicles, and the Christmas lights reflect off the snow like stars, but we also have to travel long slushy roads, cloaked in black ice, to get to work or see family.  Luckily, we live in the heart of our little town, so necessities are close by and easy to get to.

In the next few months, the weather may get frightful, but the days when we have nowhere to go will be delightful.