7.6 inches
30 degrees
When I went out for my run yesterday in the early afternoon to “beat the snow” I had no idea it would snow so much. What was completely bare yesterday morning, is now covered completely in white. Wow. It is very winter wonderland-y. If I didn’t need to take a day off from running, I’d be out there right now with my yaktrax. Instead of running, I settled for an early morning shovel. This winter, I’ve been shoveling my sidewalk and the sidewalk of my neighbors on both sides. The snow hasn’t been too hard to shovel and it feels good to help others, even in this small way. Today as I shoveled the sidewalk of my neighbor to the south, she opened her door and called out, Thank you Sara! Normally I listen to a podcast or a playlist when I shovel, but I didn’t today. I’m glad. I might not have heard her thank you if I had!
10 Things
- the snow was so bright that even though the sun wasn’t out, I wore sunglasses
- chirping birds
- a droning snow blower
- the sharp scrape of a shovel
- the snow moved easily under my crappy plastic shovel — it was both fluffy and wet
- without the snow, the sidewalk was slick
- the serviceberry tree/bush at the edge of our deck was loaded down with snow —
- once I accidentally brushed against it and snow fell under my jacket and down my back — brrr
- later I gently knocked the heavy branches with my shovel; a soft layer of snow fell on my head and covered my sunglasses
- my shovel unearthed clumps of dead leaves at the edge of the sidewalk
walk: 60 minutes
Winchell trail to Rachel Dow Memorial Bench
32 degrees
Every winter I try to do at least one winter wonderland walk, when it’s not too cold or too windy and everything is covered in white and winter feels like WINTER — as in the ideal form of winter. Today was the day for this year! Admittedly, the edges of the trail and the curbs were very wet, but I didn’t mind because I had on snow pants and boots.
As I walked to the river, I recited Wordsworth’s “Snow-flakes” — Out of the bosom of the air/Out of the cloudfolds of her garment shaken — and watched small clumps of snow dropping from the branches. I listened to the water falling over the concrete ledge, then the limestone ledge, then into the ravine. I felt the snow compacting through my boot and creak creak creaking with every step.
The view of the river through the tall, slender trees was amazing. The water was all open and a blueish-greenish-gray — at least to me. I took some pictures but none of them captured the beauty of this moment.
When I got to the Rachel Dow Memorial Bench, I brushed off the snow and sat for a few minutes. I heard the birds and the faint rumble of a pick-up truck across the river. Then I walked back on the trail closer to the road, and it finally happened — an SUV sped through the puddles on the edge of the road and splashed me. When I run, I often wonder/worry if this will happen, but this was the first time it actually did. I didn’t mind; it was warm, and I dressed for it! Did they do it on purpose? Possibly. No other car splashed up water. Do I care? Not at all.
Get Out Ice
Another sticker in the Arbeiter bathroom. Maybe I should make a sticker to put up in that bathroom? A poetry sticker?
