Holiday, part 3: Playing in the Snow

Snow, snow, and more snow - there's no doubt that we had a White Christmas this year. It's a good thing we like snow; we wouldn't have moved to Trout Lake if we didn't. The weather really cooperated for this holiday, alternating days between heavy snowfall and clear, sunny weather that enabled us to go outside and enjoy it.

After one new snowfall, Leif, Loren, Corinne and I played 2-on-2 tackle football. The snow was deep enough that it was near impossible to run very fast or far; and the snow was so soft that there was nothing hard to hit when you were tackled.

Towards the beginning of the break, the top layer of the snow that was already on the ground had formed a moderately hard but unpredictable crust. Sometimes you could walk on top safely; other times your foot just fell right through into the softer snow below. This sparked an idea that ended up being much more fun that we had anticipated - a snow race!

We still can't figure out how Loren didn't fall on his face (like everyone else.)

 

We took several hikes, including one on our neighbor Jack's trail that leads out of the valley and up onto the hills to the east. Corinne and I wore our snowshoes on the trail, but Leif and Linda slogged through with only their boots on. Parts of the trail lower down had already been traveled and stomped down a bit, but once we got near the top the snow was untouched. It was deep and it was hard work! We got some beautiful views, including a nice view down on our property. The dense, dark, perfectly organized trees are all ours. ;) If only we had remembered to bring one of our walkie talkies, we could have called down to our other guests and waved.

 
 

We've lost some branches - and a tree or two - to the heavy snow loads that we get here in Trout Lake. In particular, a flowering cherry near the house had most of its larger branches snapped off, leaving a mangled mess that would never recover. Loren has some recent experience with chainsaws, cutting downed trees after some heavy storms in Tulsa, so he and I made fairly quick work of the remnants.

Of course, all of that snow meant that some work had to be done occasionally. I think I cleared the driveway three times over the break, and I'm thankful that I was able to get away with that small number. ;)

But by far the most frequent and popular snow event of this holiday season was Zillah Magilla, the Snow Gorilla. It all started innocently enough with the pretty standard idea to make a snow sculpture.

Step 1: Create the biggest pile of snow possible.

Step 2: Analyze the raw material to "free the inner sculpture". In our case, Linda spotted a gorilla head. We had our inspiration.

Step 3: Work to bring the new creature to life.

Step 4: Make sure that it doesn't REALLY come to life. (Actually, we're carving out chambers in which to place candles.)

Step 5: Take a break.

Step 6: Take credit where credit is due.

Step 7: Light it on fire.

But as it turns out, our gorilla had a bit more to say. Several days later, the gorilla got a helmet (ala Planet of the Apes). Then, his right fist emerged from the ground several feet to the west. Shortly after that, his left hand was seen around the base of a tree, seemingly pulling himself out of the ground.
 

Before long, our creation was trying to claim his first victim.


We spent a good portion of the daylight hours outside, and that's the way it should be. That's why we live in the country! All that exercise sure did make us hungry, though...

- Mike (& Corinne)