Monday, February 23, 2009

Afloat on Snow

Hi: 26°F
Low: 14°F
Conditions: Winds and snow subsiding overnight. Total expected
accumulation: 24 inches.


One of my favorite essays is "Afloat on Snow" by Robert Kimber. There, he talks about the leveling effects of winter weather--the way a good snowfall can blanket the landscape, smoothing out its contours and making previously unaccessible places navigable by skis and snowshoes.

The area around our house can be a trecherous bogland of cedar most of the year, so Kimber's idea appeals to us greatly. We love our snowshoe expeditions deep into the heart of the woods, where you never know what a clever canine naturalist might find.



In the past 24 hours, we've received about 20 inches of snow. So today seemed as good a day as any to test out Kimber's theory. Ari and I set out with snowshoes, ski-poles, and a pocketful biscuits to see what this most recent blanketing has brought us.


Our adventure began with the traditional happy snow dance:







Once that was done (or at least the taller of the two of us decided it was done), we put on our investigatory hats. There was a lot to see, like our neighbor's mailbox, which had definitely been blanketed--to the point, in fact, that it was barely identifiable as a mailbox at all.




Much about the landscape, in fact, had changed entirely. These otherwise familiar pine trees furled under the weight of this storm, becoming foreign entities in the forest.

Our favorite--and much used--path became unpassable under this same weight:




And that got us thinking.



If you can be afloat on snow, you can also sink within it. For every bobbing surfer up top, there's bound to be bottom dwellers and schools of swimming creatures deep below the surface, right?


Apparently so. And at least one of those winter flounders has four legs and a tail.

26 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

OH MY!

To jump ahead to my verifikhation word:

gimmi

Please gimmi some of what woo got!

Evfurrything looks beaWOOtiful!

Especially my furiend Ari!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Teddy Westlife said...

How beautiful! Mum is oohing and aahing over those photos. We don't get snow which is probably just as well because I would disappear under all that!

Huffle Mawson

The Daily Echo said...

OH MY DOG! Look at that snow! I wanna come swimming in your snow! You lucky dog you.
ECHO

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Oh how we wish we were there!!!! Even our Mom, who is so NOT a snow lover, says it is just so beautiful. Got room for three more winter flounders?

Tail wags, the OP Pack

Country Girl said...

Too funny, enjoyed your pics. We are burried here too but still have power unlike many Mainers.

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

I think Ari was trying to make a snow angel!
--JB

jo(e) said...

All that snow makes for beautiful photos.

Khady Lynn said...

So gorgeous!!!!!! You are so lucky to get all the lovely fluffy snow!

Lorenza said...

20 inches of snow?? I guess I'd be buried there!
Ari sure made a happy roaching there!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Jack & Moo said...

How glorious!

woos & a-roos,
Star & Jack a-roo

Charlie said...

What a beautiful ramble!

Eve said...

I know you guys are up to your necks still! You will enjoy my Feb 23 post Kathryn...however mine was shot a few weeks ago...since we've lost most of our snow (not south of here but I'm happy to be above the belt). Get Ari some snowshoes will ya!!

Kess And Her Mama said...

Ari does look very much deep in thought. So much snow! Unbelievable...

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Ari, I make snow angels too! I love the snow and I like to eat it! Woof, June

That looks like fun! We didn't get much, just dusting. Mom said that same storm that you got, we missed it here. Hugs, Sam

The Army of Four said...

SIGH!!!!!!!
Those pictures...
That snow...
That bee-roo-tiful snow angel...
Play bows,
Zim

Anonymous said...

Wow that's a lot of snow! What do all the birds that were counted in your last post do when there is that much snow? I would thumb my way to North Caroline if I were them. Whithers took my dear Simon, and as you learned from DNM, horses must be carniverous or else why would Pet have been bitten? Go shovel.

Amber and Nala said...

That picture with all the trees is VERY cool and Ari, it looks like you are having fun in the deep, deep snow. :)

Nala

Southbaygirl said...

Mom and I can't believe how much snow you have!!! We've never seen so much snow!!! Send some to us!!

velcro

sugarcreekstuff said...

Those cedar trees covered with snow look like soldiers all standing in a row.

I really didn't mean for that to rhyme. I'm a poet and didn't know it.

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Great pictures. We sure wish we got snow in Texas...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Anonymous said...

Oh No! rolling in the snow sounds way too cold to me, but you sure seem to love it.

Those snow pictures were wonderful!

Barklove,
Rusty

PS Don't worry about the bird ocunting, I'm sure everyone understands. and the pack took care of you!

The Daily Echo said...

Hey Ari - you must check out my blog post. I need to you run some experiments on your snow collection. We have a mystery on our hands!
ECHO

Khady Lynn said...

Did you know you were an Iditarod dog??? Well, it sure looks like they stole your picture anyway!

http://iditarodblogs.com/news/2008/12/05/iditarod-xxxvii-field-set-at-73/

Holly

D'Azul Siberian said...

Great snow, great fotos. Wooooo.

D'Azul, Where Siberians Rule

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

Look at that silly Ari making Snow Angels in the fresh powder!

Steve, Kat, & Wilbur said...

All that snow! I'm so jealous. At least you can swim in it.

Kat