January is often said to feel like a never ending month; after the excitement and busyness of the holidays and winter in our area, it does feel long.
This January certainly lived up to that reputation around here. It was a brutal weather month. We finally had sunshine this weekend; prior to that we had 16 days in a row of measurable snow. Our county got over 50 inches of snow in January with 80% of that happening in those 16 days. We also had frigid cold, setting a cold record of negative 19 degrees one day.
Schools were cancelled for a whole week in a row, then another day the next week. Because it was so cold, salt wasn't working to de-ice the roads, and the constant snow was exhausting for the plow drivers. We were mostly staying in, but here's a few pictures I took on a day I had to get out.
These roads were no fun to drive on!
This is our street, our house is just over that little rise.
I've been whining about the snow, and being sick of not getting out, but then my friend Dianna, over at Joyful in His Presence put up a post about enjoying the beauty of it, and appreciating God's power over weather, which made me think I needed to adjust my way of thinking too.
So here's some positive things!
I'm thankful for a nice warm house and not losing electricity.
I'm thankful that I'm retired and can stay home if I want! What a blessing to be able to just stay in and look at the snow.
I'm thankful for occasional spots of blue sky!
I'm thankful for the beauty of the season
I'm thankful for people who do fun things in this weather. This colorful igloo was being made on a road not far from us.
I'm thankful that God is a God of order, and that season follows season - so Spring will be coming and I will be happy to see it.
Happy February!
27 comments:
Dear Mari, I love all your photos. Beautiful snow and that igloo is amazing.
As you know, I love ❤️ the Winter, and your post is lovely and inspiring...and refreshing.
What a nice post and you really captured the cold in those pictures. The winter season in your area is gorgeous. I know, I don't have to live in it, but trust me - it's more beautiful than you realize.
I always find March to be a long month, after a short February.
Yes, we are both so grateful that we still had electricity! And your photos are beautiful. I love this amazing igloo.
Hi Mari! Wow, you did have a tremendous amount of snow and some very cold temperatures. I am so glad that your house stayed warm and that you didn't lose power. That is a blessing for sure! January was long for me too, even though we didn't have any measurable snow, and our temperatures were not that cold. I am looking forward to next winter, when I too, will be retired and able to stay home any day I want to! Have a good week. See you again soon!
It must have been difficult to drive on such road this is the only thing I don’t like when there is snow! But I am glad we have different seasons. Where I am it is always the same and I know our son miss our Normandy weather. It’s also difficult to stay indoor with AC more than 6 months of the year the children must adapt. It will be 26 C today and much cooler after school so we will go to the playground with the children. Have a good day!
Hi Mari, I love the pictures and it all looks so nice. I have only been in the snow a few times and it was cold! I think the coldest was in the 20's. I could not live in that weather very long. I am sure glad you are retired! Enjoy the new week!
What a winter!
So glad you stayed warm and had power.
Love your photos and that igloo is amazing!
How much snow did you say? wow. Stay warm my friend, wishing you a beautiful day.
I'm glad you never lost power and were able to stay safe at home. I love winter and we've actually had our share of it this year too. Someone in our neighborhood did an igloo like that too and it is so pretty. Happy February.
The photos look crazy Cold! Brrrr!
Retirement does have it's perks!
Stay warm...
hugs
Donna
I needed that perspective too. Thank you.
our cold doesn't compare to yours at all, but for us we have had 3 weeks of really cold for us and I to am ready for it to stop. the past 5 days I have worn 3 layers to walk the dog and you should hear me whining. we even saw a bottle of water somethrough out of their car window into the curbside this morning, that was frozen to the pavement. IN FLORDIA that is really hard to believe.
on the plus side, like you, our sunshine is out now and the beauty of it astounds me. your beauty is also astounding. and now I am thankful I have my winter and not yours... we have a ton won winter residents from your state...
And now that darn groundhog says six more weeks of this! I am grateful for my warm home and that I am retired. I do not miss scraping snow, starting my car, changing my wet clothes, scraping the rest of the ice and driving 30 minutes on snow covered roads to work in the dark. Not at all.
Oh my goodness you did survive a brutal January and the groundhog saw his shadow today - oh no.
I love the colorful igloo.
I also love that you saw the blue sky in spite of it all.
You will survive girl.
I know you really got hit with a lot of bad weather and reading that you had measurable snow for 16 days in a row made me think back to a winter several years back. We had three feet of snow in a matter of a few days, and it definitely closed school down for a week or more. Our schools here were closed all last week, too...as much for the cold temps as the snow.
Mari, thank you for the shout out and your kind words. I know I tend focus on the negative of not being able to get out and have lunch with friends, etc., but then when Carroll and I did get out together and all I could see was the beauty and power of God in that beauty, well, I was humbled to say the least. I think it's what He would call an "attitude adjustment" on my part. :)
I enjoyed all of your pictures...but that colorful igloo is so cute! I'd love to know how they got the color.
This post reminds me of a texting session I had with my sister on Saturday when it was snowing like crazy at both our houses. You know how I feel about snow: it's okay when it's falling, but after that, I despise it. I much prefer rain. But my sister was all, "I never tire of the sight of falling snow" and I said, you need to move to Michigan, hahahaa! Of course this is the sister who lived for many years in Quebec so she knows from snow. HOWEVER I found it charming enough on Saturday -- the power was in no danger of winking out, and we were warm and cozy. I got some nice pictures of it. I can say with pretty calm assurance that never again in my lifetime will we witness the cancellation of two weeks of church in a row due to winter weather! I mean it has been four years since we got measurable snow. But Phil saw his shadow this morning, so six more weeks of winter is what we are due and six more weeks is what we'll get. Meanwhile I am looking forward to the next rainy day, and planning my Easter outfit hahaha xoxo 🏴☠️
Yes January seemed to go on forever but now we are closer to Spring than farther from it so that's a good thing! I'm glad to read your thankfulness for the beautiful parts of winter. It definitely gives one perspective! That igloo is pretty impressive!
Oh my goodness, your pictures are wonderful but it looks SO COLD!! I'm glad that you haven't lost power and that you are retired now and don't have to go out unless you want to!! March is coming!! xo
Mari, I really love that statement of God being the God of Order. Season follows season ... thanks for the positive point.
That's such a huge amount of snow. I'm glad the sun pokes its nose out on occasion.
Hugs and stay warm and safe.
Sue
I had to laugh at January being a long year :) Although your roads were terrible for driving they are beautiful to look at from the warmth of my house in front of the computer.
That colorful igloo is so very creative, I'm thinking that they might have used food coloring.
Happy February to you too 🌞 I hope it brings warmth and sunshine.
Love this my dear fellow northwoods friend - and I have been doing the same thing. I can't complain as our snow total hasn't been anywhere near yours. But I always get cabin fever this time of year. But I've been working extra to still be present in this season and enjoy the gifts of continued hibernation. Living somewhere so beautiful. Getting to feel extra cozy and work on inside projects I love. I agree that it is all a mindset. But I do hope you don't get anymore snow for your own sanity. Lol 😂
It has snowed so much this year that our county is running out of salt for the roads. UGH It snowed again today and we had to drive to appts in it. Am so over Winter. Janice
Yes, it has been some winter. It will just make us enjoy spring more. :)
I agree with you about being retired and not having to get out! It has been great just to stay home without worry.
I love your perspective, Mari! You know I'm not a fan of all this snow and cold either, but I've been trying to find joy in the season, if for no other reason then we're here. Might as well make the best of it...of course, I'm still counting down to spring!! Stay warm!
I felt like this January lasted a very long time too. But I can' imagine it feels even longer with the kind of weather you had.
Well you certainly got your share of snow didn't you? I must say I love snow but hate driving in it, and hate the ice. But I agree with your bloggy friend in that we need to see the beauty in everything ♥
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