Hoping “Woods Will Fill Up With Snow”

~ rabbitpatchdiary.com

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I have spent the last several days waiting to  watch the woods at the rabbit patch, “fill up with snow.”  The weatherman promised it-and we all believed it.  By Thursday, bread was scarce in grocery stores.  Everyone planned to cook beans and stews, including me.  I planned to post a new picture of the rabbit patch, covered with snow-and I still may.  The forecast  called for about seven inches-I think we have two, at best.  When there is any snow, in the southeast, we raise a ruckus.  We are not equipped as my northern friends point out.  Farmers clear backroads, like the one the rabbit patch is on.  I have made a snowman, maybe a dozen times, in my life.  I have never been sledding , but I have seen a field covered in the bright white of snow and I have seen the light of the moon on new fallen snow and I find both to be beautiful-and so snow is a grand event to me.   

I woke very early this morning to drink coffee and write while the snow fell.  It was still dark, but I saw a good “dusting” and waited for more.  The wind was blowing with a howling sound and there was ice on the bare limbs of the great sycamores.  The pines looked like Christmas trees when the first light came, but the air was void of the precious snowflakes.

I did put some birdseed out by the window at the morning table.  Country birds do not depend on feeders as their “cousins in town”seem to-unless it snows, that is.  Moon Shine sat by the window and watched, but did not seem tempted in the least.  He is too civilized now for such things as feathers.  He drinks cream from a bowl and naps on a soft blanket, in the company of Christopher Robin.

It started snowing , in the afternoon, though the flakes were fine-some would say,”unimpressive”.  They still counted, to me.  They may not afford me the chance , as Robert Frost said,  ” to watch the woods fill up with snow” nor to gather enough for snow cream . . . nor to build a snowman-but they counted.  

I made a trip to the wood pile and found the snow was too icy to even make a snow lantern.  Cash raced around the yard unhindered by the notion, he could fall and break a hip.  The light in the pump house was out, so I had to make another trip to replace that.  Kyle and Christian opted to “get stranded” with friends and I didn’t blame them a bit- til I needed wood and a light bulb.

The wind chill is an unfamiliar temperature at the rabbit patch.  It is a single digit , though they haven’t said which one.  The weatherman may have lost his confidence, after all.  I know that my “winter coat” was not made for this weather and my footwear left a lot to be desired, too. 

The night fell early, but the wind does not sleep, it seems.  Instead, it is “ripping and rearing” around the territory like it has an old score to even.  I hope the rabbits are burrowed deep, for  remember, they are southern rabbits.

There is most of a moon tonight and the stars are shining their silver light -so the rabbit patch is especially lovely on this night in January. . .even if it was a  light snow and a cold wind blew.

24 thoughts on “Hoping “Woods Will Fill Up With Snow””

    1. Loved this, Michelle!. I , like you, was excitedly anticipating the snow. I was so excited to finally see it though we probably only have an inch. I loved your descriptions of the animals, country birds with town cousins, dignified kitty (no feathers please!), and southern rabbits. You are such a natural, wonderful storyteller and you always make me smile!

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  4. Just homework I think so far, and church on Sunday morning. Let me know when you’ll be there and how you would like to meet. You and Lyla could come here for a viait or I will come see you! ❤

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  7. Aaahhhh Michelle…..even though we get plenty of snow here in the Midwest….I still love to watch the flakes fall gently to the ground. It does leave time for reflection and just slows the pace down a bit. Your rabbit patch sounds like the loveliest place to be when the snow falls.

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    1. It is a sweet place and especially when snow falls. I can not imagine living where snow falls in the winter dependably but maybe one day. thank you for your friendship, for that is what I consider it.-oh have you read Jessicas’ post-Unmeasured Journeys-today? You ought to!

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      1. About her writing a book? I did read that one. I loved her frosty picture.
        It is a rare winter that we do not have a pretty good snow cover at some point. Right now we have some snow, dirt and ice. We had a Christmas thunderstorm this year which took the snow down a lot.
        I love how our lives seem to mirror each others…down to the DIY things to getting wood to be warm. You are a treasure!

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  8. Too many folks complain about the snow. I am glad to have it, and now feel a bit selfish that it can’t be shared more easily with you (except photos). I dislike frostbite as much as the next guy, but I am thankful to live where I do, and enjoy such a wide variety of circles within circles for seasons.
    I have watched the woods fill up with snow.
    I have listened to the sound, the sweep, of gentle wind and downy flake.
    I have stood stock still in the silent darkness, startled by my own voice, “The woods are lovely. dark and deep.”
    In the last century, as a schoolboy, an English teacher posited the theory that Frost’s poem of a winter wood was filled with symbolism for end-of-life, death, suicide.
    Pish-posh, I say. Just another person that does not understand the heart of a poet.
    No time for that.
    I have miles to go before I sleep.

    Love,

    Paz

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    1. oh what an especially lovely comment-I am with you-Frost spoke of the beauty of a snowfall and he did it well. It does me good to imagine you taking all that beauty in-there is hope for the world, when humans do such things. Thank you so much for making my day more lovely.

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