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Slice of Life.

It snowed.

On Sunday, in the stillness of a windless afternoon, under heavy grey skies, gigantic wet flakes like confetti fell straight to the ground.

Whenever it snows, I like to look at the trees and rooftops from our second story hallway dormer window, facing north. This weekend I read excerpts from Charles Burchfield’s journals, and as I looked out the dormer window, I thought of his words–

“Nov 2, 1917 – A cool grey morning – houses have a far away look”

“Nov 8, 1917 – On the walk to work – house roofs in shadow are purple
while sky is watery cerulean – Sunlit houses of whatever local color are lighter than sky”

Around 10 AM this morning I received a text from my daughter (whose backyard joins my backyard).

*  *  *

Every family has its own special stories that with a word, a phrase, everyone chuckles. Well, “partially brown snowman” is one of ours.

When my husband was young, he heard the song “Winter Wonderland.” You know the one,

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

The song continues,

Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

Well, that’s where the lyrics didn’t make sense to the little boy. He thought the words were “… pretend that he is partially brown,” and he couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to make a snowman “partially brown.”

*  *  *

So, I Immediately pulled on my boots, grabbed my coat and iPhone (for the camera), and headed through my backyard to my daughter’s where the kids were putting the finishing touches on their “partially brown” snowman.

After taking some pictures, I went back into my house, but it wasn’t long before I was called out again. This time to my backyard to meet Grandpa and Gramma Snow.

Then before the snow melted, I took a few pictures of winter vying with spring.

Along the backyard walkway and stone wall–

Along our driveway, pink and white–

The crew of six who built three snowmen from a very thin cover of snow.

Tonight, as I pen this slice, the snowmen are shrinking and the snow on the ground is gone. But the weatherman is predicting snow showers for Tuesday and Thursday. Maybe there will be a couple more “partially brown” snowmen this week.



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