Wednesday, December 05, 2007

My own winter wonderland...

and if you don't like snow...sorry! Looks like it's here to stay for awhile.The view from my patio...compliments of Sat.'s storm..6".
Gosh, could it be my fault?? I put my "I love snow" snowman by the front door...*VBS* Naw, couldn't be that...
And with December it's time for Frosty. Mine is immune to melting...a bird feeder that the birds don't recognize or accept...oh well, he looks cute on the chair.
Snow means time to get out the old sled. An early 1940's version...very much a one person sled. I spent many, many happy hours on one just like this. A block from my house was the most wonderful sliding hill. The city thought so too, and every winter they blocked off the top and bottom with saw horses and put the old kerosene burning 'pots' at each end of the saw horses. The pots burned brightly in on cold winter nights from early December til the thaw in spring. The hill,you see, was a side street in a quiet neighborhood. Traffic was deferred a block to main street. Kids by the dozens gathered after suppper on cold winter nights to slid and play, warmed by mittons, stocking caps and zip up or buckle boots, heavy snow pants of dark wool, and layers of sweaters under their jackets. We were so well insulated from the cold that the snow clung to our jackets and pants and didn't melt but needed to be brushed away. Our noses got drippy, our eyes watered from the wind and cold, and our cheeks were rosy! It was the grandest of times, that innocent social interaction between boys and girls, neighorhood friends and cousins. We slid solo, or 2,3 or 4 on a sled, sometimes piled 3 or 4 high on our bellies. A topple off into the snow was always a possibility with double-deckers. Our laughter rang out in the cold, clear night, and off in the distance the churches played Christmas carols from their bell towers. It was truly a glorious time in my childhood. I have the very best memories of years and years of sliding on cold winter nights. By 9 p.m., most of us had to trudge home, happy, tired and ready for our jammies. And oh the sweet dreams a child had on nights such as that *VBS*
And of course, since I'm a 'last-but-not-least' mood lately, here is my newest treasure from last weeks thrift store adventure. I collect pitchers... I love cream pitchers(in all sizes) the best!! I got this adorable little guy for only .49!!! On the bottom it says Made in China(stick on tag) and is insized with "1/2 cup" and a pottery logo that I don't recognize. I have only a couple of the 'mouth' pitchers, which makes him all the more special. OK...dishes are done, laundry is washed and dried...now I can sew!!

16 comments:

Norma said...

Lovely snow pictures and nice for a desert dweller to dream over.

The sled brings back great memories here too. I had one just like it. No hill where I was but the alley was great because it turned to ice from the cars going down. We had one neighbor who drove rather fast down the alley so I was forbidden to ride my sled there. Hmmmm, the best way to get me to do something is to "forbid" me...........had many happy hours with the sled in the alley! My poor parents....

MARCIE said...

Oh Brrrrr! It is winter at your house! That is the cutest birdfeeder ever! Stay warm my friend!

Joyce said...

Your story of sliding really brought me back! Now where we live there is a little hill right off our deck and our grandchildren are busy making memories every time they come over.

dee said...

I hardly know where to start-the snow, the pitcher, what fun! Down the street from me they block off one of our side streets for the kids to use. It has a nice long downhill. Didn't get used last year-we'll see what comes of this one-snow showers are happening as we speak.
Great big December hugs to you too!

Libby said...

Such wonderful memories of sledding . . . as a California girl, I've always felt sorry for the snow children who could not ride a shiny new bike down the street on Christmas morning. All of that has changed now that I know the fun that can be had sledding - guess I've missed a lot of fun *s*

Katie said...

Today I heard the Ten Tenors in concert. They are from Australia and said that the weather there this time of year is like Florida in our summer here - hot and humid. They also said it didn't stop the Ausi children from singing about the snow, even if they have no idea what it was. Nice to have memories of what it was. I always say snow is for children and dogs. Must be a lot of happy kids and pups up north this year.

Susan said...

What a lovely memory, and written so well. I love your snowy decorations. I'm glad you have the snow and I don't, though. =)

Your pitcher is so cute! Those mouth ones aren't all that common, I rarely see one anywhere.

Unknown said...

Wonderful childhood memories there Finn - can you imagine the hoo-haa there would be in this day and age if someone suggested diverting the 'Great God Motor Car' to allow the kids to have a little fun - you'd have to get a highways planning bye-law passed to authorise that now! We had a field behind our house when I was a kid with a good hill in it and as none of us were lucky or affluent enough to have sledges (snow was rare so they were an expensive thing to buy for occasional use) we would slide down on our neighbour's tin trays - brilliant!!!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

I love the snow too...though it would not last long here!
great op shop buy, well done! Tracey

Nana's Quilts said...

Oh - what wonderful memories. Snow was so unique for us, that I have very few memories of actually getting to play it. I did a bit of skiing as a young person, but gave that up years ago - when I sold all my gear.

And the pitcher is great. I don't really collect them - as in going out and looking for them - but have various ones I've collected or been given over the years. Great.
Marne

Magpie Sue said...

I don't mind LOOKING at pictures of snow, I just don't want to have to LIVE in it again! But I do have memories very similar to yours. We had a segmented toboggan to use in addition to our single rider sleds and saucers. It was sort of hinged in the middle. Made for some interesting rides down the hill! (It didn't always go straight.)

Perry said...

You have some great memories of snow. I grew up in the Houston, Texas area and "there ain't no snow" there during the winter except maybe every twenty years or so. We did live in Germany during the late 60's and the girls got to go sledding some there. I remember they had good times doing that, and skiing and even ice skating. But I don't miss the snow, lol.

julieQ said...

We used to do the same thing down a hill in our town called "ninth street hill". We skied down it, we biked and sledded down it, we wrecked at the bottom quite frequently!! And it was so fun!! The frozen cheeks and noses...momories!!

Julie

Linda C said...

What fun you had! DJ used to take his step daughters and son out to the golf course and sled there---lots of folks did since it was the municipal course.

I remember helping my dad and brothers build an igloo one frosty snowy Christmas morning in WI many moons ago---kept us out from under foot while Mom prepared the meal. Obviously a time before I could peel potatoes, one of the jobs I later had all the time as the oldest and a girl.

Rose Marie said...

Thanks for the trip down memory lane ..... sliding and skating is what we did as kids.

Jenni said...

Oh it looks so lovely! I would love to live in a place where it snows.