Snowed In

We knew going into this adventure that the location of our farm meant a high probability for being snowed in this winter. We make sure we plan ahead, have plenty of supplies, and it is not a problem. In fact, we LIKE being snowed in. In truth, we could plan on leaving the vehicle that carries all of us at once at the top of our hill when snow is coming. We could then pack in the 4x4 and get out just fine. But it just hasn't seemed worth it yet, to HAVE to get out of here. We like being here so much that not being able to leave is a treat. Our first trip from the farm was planned for our holiday celebrations with my husband's family, just a few days after we moved in on Christmas Eve eve. We set out on an attempt to get out after a heavy coating of snow overnight. The driveway, which follow what in years past was a railroad, seemed to go on forever, and was breathtaking.

There is a black walnut tree along the driveway that was split just enough during the derecho of last summer that it is bent over. We call it our Derecho Tree. It was snow-covered and beautiful.

We made it out the driveway and tried the hill leading out of our little homestead by the creekside. We didn't make it much farther. We only nearly made it up the first hill, and this is as far as we got.

That was okay with us. Well, most of us. We were heading out for Christmas celebrations, so a few of the kids were disappointed. None-the-less, we were stuck. We inched backward until we were safely down the hill, the husband being the exceptional driver that he is, and we went back to the homestead. Ah, a snow day. Our first REAL snow day. Because, let's face it, snow days are just not what they used to be. We packed everyone inside, after letting miss Sylvia get her first feel of the snow.

Some of us took it better than others (more precisely "other", being Kane), and those that took it the best left the other in the house to nap with Papa and the littlest girls while we had a much appreciated winter hike. 

We are surrounded by a pine forest here, planted around 40 years ago on the old pature to take this valley back into forest habitat, and it was so perfect in the wet winter snow.

Just perfect.

We walked a much-loved route, exploring new places brought into a different light in the snow.

There were many spontaneous snow angels.

And when homeward bound, it was a bit warmer, and there was a bit of a wind, so there were many snow avalanches coming down from those pines.

An avalanche got each of us. Me in the woods,

Bella just as we were emerging,

and Max after Bella and I had made it clear of the fallout zone.

All in all, it was a perfect day. And by the end of it, the road was cleared and we were heading off to Columbus anyhow. We were snowed in many times in the last three months of being here, and each time was as peaceful and appreciated as the first.