snow watchers

Grommit and Harley at Greta & Nicole's house

The last 20 minutes of my drive home from downstate-- it got worse!

winter woods

A delightful snow day afternoon with my dad, Bryce, and Cosmo snowshoeing... topheavy branches, psycho snow dog, catamount-ready Dad armed with spear/ski pole.

Couldn't ask for anything more!

happy snowy non-snow day

the walk to school this morning


Despite early morning disappointment at the absence of a snow day phone call, I had a rather lovely day at school. Highlights: bringing my snowpants and playing in the snow at morning recess with my first-graders (going down the super-fast slides too, and sliding down the pole), making "stuffed" snowmen (the kids did their own shapes, as I am very anti-cookie-cutter-activities, so there were some hysterically shaped snowmen).



the walk home

predictions

I am always quite skeptical when the rest of the teachers are gleefully exclaiming about the possibilities of a snow day the following day. Tonight, however, at a bit after midnight, I am feeling more confident than usual. Being the practical forecaster, I must cite wunderground's traverse city/williamsburg forecast which expects 6+ inches of snow during the night tonight. Surely Kalkaska will end up with more, being in the snowbelt?? So, I am hesitantly optimistic. I even ventured to the Kal-Ho tonight with Rachel, which is not my typical school night activity.

Based on past experiences, though, the above letter and photo might apply tomorrow morning. I will let you know how things work out.

morning update: WE HAVE SCHOOL--ACK!

cold nights, warm kitty

Welcome, winter! I envy my kitty cats and their amazing ability to warm up instantly. Sometimes I feel guilty that we keep our house so cold-- I'll touch Lucy's ears and they feel like ice-- but then I totally use the cats as heaters, pulling them under the blankets with me to toast my body... a live fur blanket.

So I walked to school today; it just takes about 10 minutes or less, and I've decided I like the feel of crisp winter air. I'm not sure that I will be so hardy when the winds kick up... but at least for these early winter days, I can save gas, get exercise, and let fresh air energize me first thing each day. I know that I should be walking *every* day, but this fall was a blur. Too much to do, late sleep-ins due to illness or busy nights, and a frantic need to get to school asap. Now it's like it's almost pointless to start the car early to warm it up, clear the snow off if I've parked outside, and then drive... takes almost as long as just walking!

I think I shall heat some water for raspberry tea.

the village flock...

...of wild turkeys!







I have spotted these buddies numerous times throughout the last 6 months or so, wandering the streets of Kalkaska.





Today I just happened to have my camera with me as we drove by them, only a few blocks from home. :)

snow day

What a gorgeous winter storm-- white-out conditions. I cracked up when I saw Lucy stalking the big snowflakes through the front window!

And earlier Cosmo was the perfect audience for Bryce, as he returned from clearing out the mailbox.

coming soon...

Snow, snow, snow!
(think the movie "White Christmas")

At the moment Cosmo refuses to come in from the great outdoors. Just a taste of what winter will bring! He is truly a snow dog. This photo shows Cosmo's favorite hairdo of Christmas Past.