Weather Smarts—Finding Joy in the Snow

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choices in clothing. ~Nordic proverb

On the homestead, watching the weather predictions can be something of an obsession, but it’s certainly an obsession with payoffs. This week, with the back-to-back set of winter snow dumps, it was garage Tetris extreme, trying to get all the vehicles to fit inside with the boat motors, table saws, and ongoing fix-it projects. Kara hauled the trailers to their winter destinations, and ladders and scrap wood were all picked up and stored away in sheds. The landscape was ready for plowing.

When you’re living close to the land, you understand deeply how Mother Nature is calling the shots. Your task is to stay responsive to her moves, anticipating ahead of time and cleaning up afterwards. Winter storms make this especially poignant when human agendas must be put on hold until the flakes have fallen and the pathways been cleared.

As a homeschooled teenager at the farm, I loved snow days. Not that they were the school-canceling kind because that’s never really an issue with homeschooling, but the view from the window was always magical and changing—big flakes, little flakes, lazy floating flakes, driving pelting flakes. And then we and the dogs would be released out into the magic with shovels or skis.

Fresh snow brings a hush to the landscape, a cleaning of the atmosphere, and a fairyland in its wake. At the last farmer market at NorthLakes Community Clinic, complaints abounded over the new snow. “Now my shoes are all wet, I hate it!” came the exasperated remarks.

I wondered to myself how personal choice in footwear (shoes instead of boots) was nature’s fault but offered an upbeat observation instead. “We leave the seed heads in the flower gardens at Farmstead up for the winter, so the finches can eat them. I noticed this morning that the bee balm looked like each head had its own little snowy gnome hat. It was magical!”

Finding the magic after the storm is part of the Nordic hygge (hoo-ga) way of appreciating nature in wintertime. As the popular Facebook meme going around offers:

“If you can’t find joy in the snow, you’ll have less joy in your life and the same amount of snow.”

So how do you find joy in the snow if that’s not your typical response? Here are some tips from farming folks who have to work in it every day.

Plan Ahead
When a snowstorm is coming, be prepared. If travel was on the schedule, you might need to leave a day ahead. Booking a hotel room at the airport and riding it out is much better than asking a loved one to drive through a blizzard. I doubt they’ll feel much love for the snow if they’re white knuckling it or in a ditch! This misery isn’t necessary if you watch the forecasts and plan ahead. Then you can both be safe at home (or the hotel) and watch the flakes float by without having to drive in it.

See Shoveling as Part of Your Fitness Routine
Ok, so you get a snow blower but then use your exercise bike or treadmill? For us, the farm is our gym membership. In winter, we leave the shovels right by the back door, so we can dig our way out if necessary. Even if the plow isn’t coming for several hours, we can trench our way to the animals, pulling water buckets on sleds. We take the process in pieces, digging out the garage doors, then in front of the barns and coop, then scooping off the deck. It’s a great full-body workout that gets your heart rate up. And you’re in the beautiful outdoors with fresh air!

Notice Nature’s Secrets Unveiling
When there’s fresh snow, I love to watch for animal tracks. If I was all grumpy and just wanting to hole up inside, I’d miss it! Now with the fresh snow, I can see how the snowshoe hares have raced around the side of the woodshed or how the deer have checked the base of the apple trees one more time, just in case. There are tiny mouse footprints on the top of the porch chest freezer (how did it get there?) and little sparrow footprints by the turkey coop. I might even see owl wing tip marks. All these things happen other times of the year, but I don’t get to see them. Be curious and go snooping in the snow. Strap on some snowshoes or skis if you like and go exploring.

Be Playful
What was it about snow as a kid that you enjoyed? Was it making snow angels or throwing snowballs? Did you look for snowy gnome hats on dried seed heads or try to catch flakes with your tongue? This sense of playful wonder in the snow doesn’t have to be just for kids, but if you have kids (or dogs) in your life to share that magical experience with, all the better! Some of my favorite winter memories as a youngster on the farm are when Grandpa would climb into my snow fort with me, or Mom and I would write messages in the snow by walking them with our feet, just in case someone in a small airplane flying by could read them.

Treat Yourself After Snow Activities
So, you’ve planned ahead and are safe during the storm. You’ve gotten your workout shoveling, noticed what’s happening in nature, and had some playful fun. Now it’s time for a warmup by the fire and a hot treat! One of my childhood favorites was sledding on a hill in our wooded trails until our snowsuits were all wet, then coming back to lay everything out on chairs by the fireplace and wrap our chilled fingers around a mug of Grandma’s hot cocoa with marshmallows. Usually cookies were involved as well. Wet things can be dried, chilled toes can be warmed, and a treat (Fika!) makes the process a bit sweeter.

So, dress appropriately, keep your weather smarts, and explore ways to bring joy to the snow experience. See you down on the farm sometime.