Thursday, January 26, 2012

Icicles


























I can't take much credit, but we've been growing a successful crop of Icicles around here.
We got some heavy snow days last week, and this week has been warm.  Because of that,
the snow is slowly melting off the roof and freezing again; melting, then freezing.
That melt/freeze process sure creates some beauty!


































These are from inside the house:




























































You've heard of Ice Fishing?  Well here we have Ice Hunting.  And that's not hunting FOR ice.
That's hunting WITH ice as your weapon!



























We had a few days of dangerous-looking cicles as they grew ominously long, and told the Bugletts not
to play under the eves.  Then they came down.
It was quite an avalanche when the roof finally let them go. We watched from within the quaking house!



































As children raised in a river valley, my love and I never experienced living in the snow.
Imagining it would be frigid, uncomfortable, and complicated, we worried how we'd
fare with a brood of small hoodlums during North Idaho winters.
Having now weathered two snowy seasons we've come to some conclusions
on the matter:

1) Good quality snow clothes and foot gear beat bread bag covered
     tennis shoes held in place with rubber bands.  
     (no disrespect meant to my folks who gave us memories in the occasional mountain 
     snows despite the budget gear we were outfitted in)

2) Not having anywhere we have to be, or a time we have to be there by, reduces complexity
     a zillion-fold.  It also makes for cozy days/evenings at home not worrying about how many
     inches accumulate.

3)  In the event that we need to get to town, 4 Wheel Drive and studded tires are where it's at.

4)  We're not in a hurry to have animals that need feeding, mucking, milking, or egg-collecting.
      (It's still cold - even if it's not dreary!)

5)  Snow is beautiful.  It's clean, white, bright, and lovely.  It's much more pleasant to spend a
     winter in than bone-chilling wind,  icy hand-numbing rain, gray skies and muddy brown    
   landscapes.  I don't know why we didn't try it before now.  We're sold!

10 comments:

PUPPPsMom said...

Lovely! I concur whole-hearted regarding snow!! I've always loved it's softening effects on a rugged world! Can't wait to come enjoy your wonderland again!!

Marie said...

Absolutely beautiful !!! I love the way a snowfall just seems to make everything feel so fresh and clean again :) Enjoy !

Marie said...

Absolutely beautiful !!! I love the way a snowfall just seems to make everything feel so fresh and clean again :) Enjoy !

RavenM said...

My boys are so jealous of all your snow and icicles!

We really enjoyed your last few posts and all the fun pictures. Thanks for sharing! :)

And, just by the way, I Really can't wait until we can make it up there again. I miss you!

Love, Me

Cinnamon said...

So beautiful! We get beautiful icicles on our porch every year, except this unusually warm winter. The kids love cracking them off and using them as popsicles :-)

Or making snow cones with fresh snow, yumminess and fun.

Miss our visits~ Cinnamon

Brenda said...

Just beautiful. Snow seems so soothing and you can't help but smile in it. But the practical side of me worries about frozen pipes busting. I know I know...prepare well and you won't have to worry. Keep warm and enjoy snuggling....
huggs
Brenda

Momma Bug said...

Winter can be a lovely time to visit too! Wonderful from Summer in a totally different way :-)

Brenda, I think you might have something there. I'd prefer not to deal with burst pipes on my own either. There is a bit of preparing to do in this colder climate!

outdoor.mom said...

your pictures are so so beautiful!! i love your new blog header too!! i am OVERDUE for a visit too :-) hey, this weekend is the bonners ferry gunshow!! make sure your men know ;-)

Momma Bug said...

Again? Already?
It would be fun to see you friend!

Photo Momma said...

Snow is beautiful! If it is going to be cold, I would much prefer that snow go along with it :)