From Snow to Sea — Monday Morning Musings
the latest crazy (yet beautiful) snowfall in South Carolina (yes, south of the Mason Dixon line, in South Carolina!)
SNOW!
White stuff that is incredibly beautiful . . . and bright white against brilliant blue skies!
Truly gorgeous!
Growing up in the wind-blown, snow-blizzard-covered plains of Iowa, snow was just a normal part of life that we, AS CHILDREN, looked forward to!
We knew nothing different.
We built snow forts that we even had ‘shelves’ built in to put things and windows to look out to spot the nearest snowball attack. We made snowmen, snow ladies, and snow children of all shapes and sizes!
We had snowball fights!
We trudged our way to the bus stop on the street corner every morning and thought nothing of it! (Our parents NEVER drove us to school because the busses never stopped running in Iowa!)
SNOW WAS PART OF OUR LIVES!
an aged log cabin in the nearby woods, still defying a heavy snowfall in South Carolina
We didn’t mind the snow at all growing up in Iowa.
We couldn’t wait for the first sled or toboggan ride down the slopes of cemetery hill (the steepest and widest hill in town).
We anxiously awaited the freezing of ice in the city parks to ice skate with ear muffs and scarves to keep us warm while we twirled circles at Christmastime (and often fell down attempting to do so). We had our own humble version of NYC’s Rockeffeler Center’s ice arena! But just as damn gratifying, enjoyable and MEMORABLE!
We couldn’t wait to snowmobile across frozen lake tops!
We loved blizzard booze parties as college students and enjoyed hot Peppermint Schnapps to warm the soul throughout Big 10 football games! (oh yea, I confess, these I did do!)
shadows of woodland trees on snow-covered pastures
And then one day, this man from the frigid terrain of Ohio comes into my life during my days in graduate school and says, “If this relationship is going to go any further, we need to get something straight.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“We’re moving SOUTH!”
“No problem”, is my immediate response! NO PROBLEM!
Snow is just NOT THE SAME for some adults. Neither of us ski anymore (yet we still enjoy some hot beverages in the ski lodges sitting next to a roaring fireplace), and although I don’t ice skate (that I love to this day) anymore . . . after one fall on my elbow, that was all it took for me to understand that I don’t enjoy broken bones at my age. I’ll just continue to watch the talented skaters during the Olympics and gracefully accept the realities of age.
And we don’t sit around and ice fish on top of frozen midwestern lakes. I prefer to deep sea fish these days in warmer . . . VERY warmer waters!
Moving SOUTH sounded DELIGHTFUL to me!
Especially familiar are photos shared by Annamaria of Bakewell Junction of New York!
mounds of snow pile up on Annamaria’s deck in New York!
even more on the roof of Annamaria’s gazebo . . . amazing!
So here we are in the Carolina’s experiencing winter after winter of unprecedented snowfalls that each of us were trying to escape.
Despite the beauty of each Carolina snowfall, we continue to look for warmer climates!
With that said, I bid each of you a kind and warm “CIAO” from the Caribbean where we are spending Spring Break.
unbelievable turquoise-green color of the water in the Virgin Islands
fishermen bringing in their fresh catch at dusk
in the wee morning hours of the morning, fisherman bring in their catch in the blue hues of morning in quaint little “Frenchtown”
a native Iguana taking in some warm sunshine
a stunning view from the top of the mountain on St. Thomas
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I love all of the beautiful pictures of your snow and your musing, but I would take the Caribbean over cold and snow any day of the week! Look like you’re having a blast!
Hi MJ, Just getting back to you after a slammed busy semester at work. Yes, it is so great to escape to a sunny place and I’m so glad that spring is finally here!
Roz
Roz,
Thanks for sharing my photos and cleaning them up. I took them from my cell phone through the screen door and kitchen window. Last Friday it went down to -1 overnight but this week is warm and beautiful – it went into the fifties today and the snow is melting.
So glad you’re enjoying yourself on vacation.
Annamaria
It was my pleasure to share your beautiful photos of your winter landscape! Love your garden architecture Annamaria! Just beautiful photos!
Roz
Hahaha! I’d be headed to warmer waters with that much snow, too! Beautiful photos, both blue and white.
Thanks Mindy! It was great to have a little get away in March after such a cold winter!
Roz
I really enjoyed reading all about your childhood in Ohio, and seeing all the snow pictures from South Carolina. Such a different world from where I grew up here in Arizona. I think it is so interesting that snow was just part of your life, and not a catastrophe as much of the news makes it out to be quite often. How wonderful that you get to be in a warmer climate for Spring Break! I have enjoyed following along on Instagram. Love all the pictures of the ocean, but think I could do without seeing an iguana in person! Hope you have a wonderful time, Roz! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.
We had a great time in the Caribbean Shari and I highly recommend this destination to anyone! Next time though, we’d like to get off the beaten path a little more to explore!
Roz
Those photos are so beautiful! Have a great time in Caribbean, Roz!
It was a wonderful and beautiful time in the Caribbean Angie! Thanks for your well-wishes in March!
Roz
Have so much fun enjoying the sun!! I’m jealous. 😛
It was a fantastic trip (St. Thomas and St. John) Joanne! Next on my bucket list: learn to scuba so we can go deeper into those turquoise waters! Hope you’re doing well. Spring semester is almost behind me and I’m catching up on commenting.
Roz
I bet you’re having a terrific time in the sun! Say hello to your mom for me—and hope all the snow is melted by the time you get home!! xoxo
Thanks for your visit back in March Liz! Time has gotten away from me in my commenting back. My bad….I’ll be right over!
Roz
St. Thomas is a really lovely place, enjoy!
I agree Chiara . . . having never been to St. Thomas, we were so pleasantly surprised at how lovely it is! I’d love to return, but must follow my heart and return to Italy again first!
Baci,
Roz
I…am…SO…jealous. There is not place more breath taking than St. Thomas. Enjoy!
I certainly have to agree with you about your thoughts on St. Thomas! It was simply beautiful!
Roz
Great photos, Roz! They’re all beautiful, esp. the last 5! Sounds like you’re having a great time there enjoying the warmth! Enjoyed reading about all good things in your Iowa winters!
I grew up in Ohio, then moved to Louisville,KY and winter was mild there compared to Ohio. Hubby from Illinois, said same as you, loved snow and all that went with it, walked a mile to school in 0 degree weather and his mom told the kids to “bundle up because it’s cold out there.” No such thing as wind chill back then!
Enjoy and relax in the Caribbean!
Pam, I’m not sure if I shared with you or not, but my hubby is also from Ohio . . . so we’ve had similar winter weather experiences! I’m sorry to reply so late to your kind visit to me in March, but once spring break ended, it was back to insanity in teaching. It’s final exam now and semi-letting up! HA!
Roz
Your childhood winter experiences read pretty much the same as mine. Looks like you are enjoying the Caribbean.
Loved every minute of it Larry (St. Thomas and St. John). Needless to say, I’ll be ready to return in another wintery month!
Roz