A Winter to Remember

Winter snow and ice arrived in Cedar Rapids on December 1 (yes, that is technically still fall, but the calendar and the weather don't always agree on the season) and it looks like even that original mess plans to stay until after the calendar says spring. Recently a few people from out of state have asked if have much snow left. I don't think they understand: I have hardly seen my driveway and sidewalk since December 1, I'm not even sure I remember grass! There may have been one day in late December a few blades poked out, but we were out of town and the next storm covered it before we were able to get home and verify!

But, this winter has brought out some unusual and noteworthy experiences:

* If you planned to have your yard aerated in the fall and didn't get around to it, you should definitely expect record snowfall! (I hope the water can get through our compacted soil to nourish the remaining grass but somehow miss the creeping charlie!)

* If you procrastinate at hiring a tree service to trim away the dying -- or simply annoying -- limbs from your trees, sometimes God uses ice to bring them down for free!

* When you encourage someone to park in your driveway instead of on the street during an ice storm, make sure their car isn't under the tree limbs that you didn't get trimmed in the fall. (Fortunately the limb missed, but it was a close call!)

* Our children were able to make a tunnel, a slide, steps, (you can't climb UP a slide!) and a "warming house" in a CORNER of our front yard AT THE SAME TIME!

* Miles invented a new sport "extreme sledding". First, perch atop a mound of snow between 5 and 6 feet high. It's best if the drop is almost vertical and cleared concrete is at the bottom. Second, mount your sled -- no helmet required, it won't fit over your hood and it's too cold to go without the hood! Third, lean forward just enough to set the sled in motion, sail down the snow, across the driveway and be sure to stop before you are impaled on tree limb buried in another mound of snow that almost hit the car and has been waiting for the city to pick it up for nearly 3 months. Finally, repeat. If you happen to loose your sled at the top of the mound, insulated snow pants serve as an adequate substitute and you wont' even notice the missing sled until the end of the ride.

* When your driveway -- which slopes downhill toward the street -- is cleared of snow/ice and your street is not, the resulting 4 inch height difference causes a huge pond to form at the end of your driveway.

* When your van doors are frozen shut and only the tailgate will open, make sure there is a handle INSIDE the tailgate before you shut it and crawl to the front to start the engine and turn on the defrosters.

* A trampoline sags almost to the ground when it is covered in 10 inches of snow and has an iceberg in the middle that is about 4 feet across and 4 inches thick.

* It takes a lot of work for one person to remove 10 inches of snow and an iceberg from a trampoline.

* According to eight-year-old boys, when the outdoor temps are in the 20s it is too hot to do any work outside.

* When the temperatures reach the low 40s in early March, people can be seen outside in shorts or t-shirts and need to drive around with their car windows open. (I'm pretty sure those same people were bundled up in heavy coats, gloves, and hats when the temperature hit the low 40s in November!)

* If you step outside in the winter, rumor has it that you need hot chocolate. This includes walking from the car parked IN THE GARAGE into the house, a total of about 6 feet.

* You don't really need a snow blower if you have nice neighbors who own one and you have enough homemade chicken soup to share.

* It's a lot more fun to shovel off 5 inches of snow if you work with a group of neighbors and move from one driveway to the next until they are all finished.

* When the city says they will have every street in town cleared within 12 hours of the end of a 12 inch snowfall, wait the 12 hours before laughing. Even streets that usually remain uncleared for 3 days can be cleared within 15 hours of the storm's end! Hooray!!!! (We won't ask why it takes 3 days to clear off only 4 inches....)

* Don't lose your insulated gloves in February. The stores are sold out, but the snow and cold temps remain for a long time.

* One advantage of home schooling is that road conditions and subzero wind chills do not cause cancellations, delays, early dismissals, or make up days during the second week of June!

* You can tell God that if He sends more snow He needs to also send a note telling you where it should be shoveled to since no more can be piled along your driveway or sidewalk. But He may not do what you tell Him to do.

* One list you don't want to top is "all-time snowiest winters". Breaking into the top 10 is kind of exciting. But in early March with 3 inches remaining tie #1 and another storm on the way, only the TV weather reporters remains excited about the possibility.