Snow, snow and more snow. Since it's been several years since we've seen real winter weather here, it seems quite strange for it to be in place now.

Of course, winter just officially began on Dec. 21, which is the winter solstice. That's the shortest day of the year from the aspect of hours of actual daylight, so from here on out, it will start getting dark later and later and the sun will rise earlier and earlier.

This week the timeline has been pretty much B.S. and A.S., as in "before-snow and after-snow." If you want to know if it's going to snow, just go to the grocery store. If they still have milk and bread, you'll be fine.

I've always been a fan of snow, despite the hardships that it can cause. There's something almost magical about the way it can transform the green and brown landscape into a wonderland covered with white icing. It's also a time of great joy for the children, which in turn brings great joy to me. Since it's hard for adults to exhibit uncontainable enthusiasm, vicarious excitement is sometimes the best I can muster these days. I guess that's better than no excitement at all.

All kidding aside, there is a special happiness that comes to me when the children are happy and excited. That's why I love the Christmas presents so much. I was always one of those more muted kids (and adults), so it's nice to see some unbridled joy now and then.

Along those lines, I went to the local hardware store on Thursday and picked up a couple of sleds. After the other one broke in half and went on to that great sled repository in the sky after over 30 years of loyal service, I decided I would buy one that wouldn't break.

I found one at the store here that was made of steel. I feel relatively certain that the children won't be able to break it. However, my parents once told me that I could tear up an anvil. I've never said those things about my own children for fear that I might give them ideas.

Anyway, in addition to the round steel snow riding thing, I also picked up a more traditional one that the kids could ride together.

As I walked out of the store with the sleds, it really didn't look much like it was going to snow. The sun was even shining. By the next evening, the world was buried.

Before that happened, I had several things that I needed to get done. Along those lines, I spent a couple hours moving tree limbs out of the yard that had fallen during one of our recent ice events.

There were three truckloads of pine limbs in the yard, which had to be loaded on the truck and then unloaded below the house where I usually burn brush. I always hate to do work that doesn't profit me in any way, so I had been putting it off. I had already moved the limbs out of the driveway earlier, but had left the others awaiting a better dose of motivation.

It never came, but while I had a fellow that was willing to help me, I decided to get it done. Once the limbs were moved, they were just as useless as they were laying all over the yard. When I cut firewood, I end up with something to keep my house warm. Carpentry work makes the house nicer. Moving tree limbs just gives me moved tree limbs. I wonder sometimes if things just fall out of the sky to give me something to do. The snow certainly was a case in point for that.

The fellow helping me and I filled up the porch with dry firewood and then moved a few things out of the house to the building. Afterwards, we drove to the house in Ennice to get a few things done there, but by 11 a.m. it had started to sleet. By noon, it was snowing and by 1 p.m. everything was starting to turn white.

On the way home, my daughter called me and asked me to stop and buy a Christmas tree. With the promise of that childish excitement fresh in mind, along with the potential childhood disappointment that could also occur, I agreed. So, with snow falling heavily, I made a quick stop to a choose and cut farm. After knocking on the wrong door to start with, I rode on down the hill. The fellow got on his coat and I picked the first tree I came to and held up the snow-laden branches as he sawed it down. After I drug it down to the truck, he helped me load it up and I got back on my way.

Then the other fellow wanted to stop at the store and yet another friend called and asked me for a ride home. After we stopped at the store, the fellow riding with me tried to get his vehicle out, but realized it was stuck in the snow. We hooked it up with a chain and pulled him out of my driveway and then I headed back to town to get the other friend.

He wanted to stop by the grocery store, so I went also. As is usually the case, I can't go to the grocery store without buying something. So, with my required milk and bread in hand, I dropped off my friend at home and finally headed home myself. I then unloaded and gave the tree a good shake and loaded it into the stand where the kids could decorate it. The tree was over seven feet tall, on the stand and filled the house with its scent. With a warm fire and the world outside blanketed with white, it almost felt like being in a holiday movie as the kids excitedly decorated the tree.

However, it felt like less of a holiday movie as we worked on digging out the next day. Thankfully, someone scraped my driveway in what amounted to an act of holiday kindness. I didn't even hear them outside, but went out to find it all already done. So, after digging just a bit from around the car, I was able to focus my energy on playing more than shoveling. Less shoveling is always a good thing.
 

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