First BIG(ish) Snow

As I write this, we wait at the beginning of a major system that may bring up to a foot of snow over the next two days. It comes on top of a few minor snows (less than half an inch) on the 23rd and Christmas night. If we get more than ten inches, it will be Minnesota's largest snowfall in 22 months.

Earlier this month, though, we had our first big snow -- somewhere around four to six inches. It was quite a beauty, but also kept Suzanne overnight in the Cities (thanks to her awesome coworker for giving her a place to stay both then and now).

I am increasingly convinced that I actually work at the American version of Hogwarts. I mean, just look at that architecture and that tower! And our Advent wreath is suspended in the sanctuary -- that's right, actual floating candles.

It's not a bad view from my office. Though, it was more serene before the nursery school students left their mark...

Even a few inches really piles up when you clear a parking lot. Some of these deposits lasted the entire month.

And even a 70s parsonage looks quite lovely when you add a wreath and blanket of snow.

The temperature jumped back up after about a week, so the snow melted before the next systems came in. Apparently, in a non-El Niño, the snow would hang around until a warm spell in late January or early February, leaving behind only a bit of grime. This year, we're starting over with a fresh blanket.

I'll wander out after the storm is over to get new pictures -- and hopefully capture a bit of blue sky or sun as well.

Minnehaha, Frozen

One of the great things about Minnesota is how drastically different everything looks even with just a bit of snow on the ground. Just a thin layer, less than half an inch, adds a rich texture to the landscape. The stark, now-bare farmland looks completely different after a dusting of snow.

Or Minnehaha Falls, for instance, is in a ravine, which means that snow hangs around for much longer than it does on level ground.

On our last trip, we (carefully) made our way along the river and enjoyed the new landscape.

As the falls plummet over the edge of the bowl, the mist coats the surroundings in ice. Even the trees up at the rim were reflecting the sunlight, and the frost is readily apparent on the rocks below.

Along the trail up to the falls, the little bit of snow the Cities had received on Thanksgiving Day was still hanging around. Even thought it was less than an inch and the temperature was above freezing, the snow was protected by the ravine's wall.

And as we went back to the car, a guy stopped us and pointed up to this eagle -- one of many I've seen over the past month or so.