It Came at Last

I slept in this morning a little. All was quiet when I awoke ... just muffled sounds of distant , very light traffic . It came at last. I jumped from bed and threw open the curtains. Our first snow. Everything was covered and it was still falling.

Still in my flannelet PJ's - which by the way happened to be printed with polar bears- I threw on my winter coat and slipped on my husband's winter gum boots.

Just as I have always done for who knows how many years , I needed to put my footprints in the fresh , new snow. There is something about being first.

It felt so good to press my mark into the First Snow . And it was perfect first snow . Thick , heavy and slightly wet.

How many kids today would be rolling their first snowman ?...or having their first snowball fight? ...or building their first snow fort in anticipation of future battles ?

Of course I wasn't the first one out as I had slept in .The usual morning sounds weren't there to get me out of bed. The alarm clock didn't penetrate the deep sleep of winter that I was in.

While I filled the bird feeder with seed , one chickadee appeared immediately . From the tree just inches away ,it chipped out an excited greeting .
I am sure it said " Where have you been? Don't you know that everything is covered and I couldn't find seed easily this morning? Thank you." I imagine that I speak chickadee very well.
I knew that the blue jays would be hot on their heels as they keep close watch on little birds who have that knack for finding a stash first.

I knew there was plenty of food still around the yard to feed ever-hungry birds .

 But , it is an annual thing with me to share a feast of celebration for the first snow with the birds that are so delightful to watch during the long months of winter.

When I walked around to the front of the house a reminder that winter would be long ,stood silently in the driveway.

How much snow would fall this winter and how often would we have to shovel?

The answer was laying on the ground. You see , the special thing about the first snow is that it will tell you how bad/good the snowfall will be during the winter. A predictor.

The first snow usually never stays long . Temperatures warm up and it melts away.

How long it remains on the ground is a vital clue . Each day counts as one full storm - the big storms that change life.

One day= one huge storm ; two days= two huge storms ...and so on.

If it doesn't leave , keep the snowshoes handy.
If the rain takes it away , the winter will be mild and wet. No winter fun for you.
 Yes , some of you are probably right. There are few scientific studies that lift folklore into the realm of perfect accuracy. But I'll take 80 % and any 'heads up' that I can get.

I am curious , what are your winter predictors that help you get ready for the long haul?

Is it the wasp nests?

...or the woolly bears?