March 2023 SOLC–Day 1
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Late yesterday afternoon, I bundled up and slipped outside into the snow. Immediately, the cold flakes hit my face and I couldn’t help smiling.
Why hadn’t I come out earlier?
All day long the snow had been falling and I’d been watching it from inside. Happy to be watching the birds. Warmed by the steady heat of the wood stove. Enjoying the drowsy, PJs-all-day, snow globe kind of day.
Now, the feel of the snow on my face animated me, and I set out to wander. Before too long, I noticed that I hadn’t been the only one out and about. Fresh deer tracks led across a back trail, weaving between trees.
How long ago had they passed? Had they been watching me? Had I inadvertently startled them? Were they still there?
I paused and scanned the trees, waiting for long hushed moments. I heard nothing but the soft sound of my breath. I saw nothing moving other than the drifting snowflakes.
After a bit, I walked further into a clearing out back. The falling snow was striking against the contrast of the deep green of the tall pines. The branches of the smaller trees bowed gracefully under its accumulating weight.
I wandered on, my attention caught by one thing after another. In the back field, remnants of wildflowers cupped collected snow in delicate chalices.
In a marvel of textures, the bark on the pine trees boasted soft pillows of snow amidst its collection of scalloped green lichens.
Once I’d had my fill of wandering and wondering, I walked back to the front yard and looked across the smooth expanse of white. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to lie down in the middle of it all.
Why not?
I waded out into the yard, found a good spot, sat and then lay down flat on my back. I turned my face upward. I thought of making snow angels as a child, but that had no appeal. Today felt like a still kind of day. So I simply lay there, arms by my side, watching the flakes fall in spirals from the grey sky. A hypnotic ever changing swirl of grey and white. They appeared one flake after another after another.Collecting on my coat, my face, my glasses.
I lay quietly watching for a long time. Mesmerized. Then I closed my eyes. Through my coat, I could feel the cushion of mounded snow. The distant cold solidity of the ground. I felt the flakes land gently on my cheeks. Felt them settle and melt from my body’s heat. One after another after another.
In that moment I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be. Doing exactly what I wanted to do. Utterly content.
Nix the comfort zone 
Welcome back to the challenge! You took us on such an adventure! Your description was beautifully written and painted such a picture in my mind. I especially loved this line: “…remnants of wildflowers cupped collected snow in delicate chalices” Happy Day One!
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Thanks! It was a lovely day and this morning was gorgeous as well! Happy writing!
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Same here, yesterday, but your images were wonderfully evocative of a snowstorm, and how flakes transform the world.
Kevin
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That transformation thrills me every time!
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You included some beautiful images! Thank you for sharing. I think that this was my favorite line: “In a marvel of textures, the bark on the pine trees boasted soft pillows of snow amidst its collection of scalloped green lichens.”
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Thanks! Green in the midst of winter white always catches my eye.
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What a lovely, peaceful journey with you through the snow and through all the noticing. I have found these things as well, particularly during the last three years when winter could no longer keep me inside—I simply had to get out. I love the places snow finds to decorate, redesign, and imprint our natural settings!
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The redecorating is pretty amazing! I love how leftover summer stalks and stems become newly upholstered in the storm.
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So much to say here! The descriptions of your walk- especially the wild flower chalice made me feel like I was right there with you- or like one of the deer watching you!
Your photo of the sky was the perfect way to end to show what it was like to lay down and watch the snow fall down.
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Thanks for coming along 🙂
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All of this, but especially “In the back field, remnants of wildflowers cupped collected snow in delicate chalices.” Swoon.
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Repurposed plant matter!
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There is such peace and tranquility that runs through this entire piece. So many beautiful lines that I can’t choose just one as my favorite.
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Thanks, Leigh Anne. I’m so glad I took that step out the door…and all the steps that followed.
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You make snow sound so magical, poetic. So peaceful. “chalices of snow”
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Snow is magical! It never fails to thrill me!
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“The branches of the smaller trees bowed gracefully under its accumulating weight.” This line had me reseeing your picture not as trees but as dancers in a field. Beautiful! You painted a picture of your final position in the snow — a picture would have been a bonus!
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As snow was late arriving this year, I’m enjoying it even more than usual!
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Thanks for the moment of snowy reflection–in your words and your images. I read your post this morning, before I started teaching, and reveled in the description. I just had some snowy moments last week (in Washington state), but didn’t think to lay down and just be. Now it’s on my list of things to do in the snow. 🙂
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I’m not sure I’ve ever done that before, but it felt perfectly right for the moment.
Washington is so beautiful! I’m glad you were able to enjoy some time there. I haven’t been in decades! I’m getting the itch to travel.
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