Winter
It's officially winter on the lake. This is not determined so much by the arrival of snow and cold, but by the fact that the lake has iced over.
We awoke on January 5th to find a glistening sheet of ice covering the entire lake. It was late this year due to the extended warm fall air that lingered into December. My granddaughter asked me a couple of weeks ago, "How's the lake Grammie?" (Translation - Is there any ice?). Much to her dismay, I told her it was not frozen yet and we had only seen a small glimpse of ice at the very edges.
Of course my grandchildren are looking forward to skating when they come over. I remember when I had their excitement and enthusiasm about skating. I loved it as a child, however the last time I put on a pair of skates I quickly found myself with sore ankles and a fear of falling. Funny how age and the lack of doing these activities changes our reaction to the sport. Probably because we know how much easier it is to break a bone, and that at our age healing is slower.
I still have my cross-country skis, which I enjoy, and if we ever get some nice fresh powder I will venture out on the lake. Of course it will be around the outside edges. No matter how thick the ice gets I still am not brave enough to ski across the middle to the other side. As I tell him - you never know where there might be a break in the ice under the snow. How people put out fishing huts and drive on the ice to get to them is beyond me!?! Of course I can't imagine being out in the cold fishing at all. I guess we all have our own idea of what constitutes a good time.
So, winter is here to stay for a few months. As much as I dislike the cold temperatures and the vicious bite of the bitter north wind when it blows, I will survive it as I always do. Watching my grandchildren play when they come over will help as I recall my own childhood, and how much fun I had in the snow.
And, in a few years when I retire, winters will be spent in a much warmer climate.
We awoke on January 5th to find a glistening sheet of ice covering the entire lake. It was late this year due to the extended warm fall air that lingered into December. My granddaughter asked me a couple of weeks ago, "How's the lake Grammie?" (Translation - Is there any ice?). Much to her dismay, I told her it was not frozen yet and we had only seen a small glimpse of ice at the very edges.
Of course my grandchildren are looking forward to skating when they come over. I remember when I had their excitement and enthusiasm about skating. I loved it as a child, however the last time I put on a pair of skates I quickly found myself with sore ankles and a fear of falling. Funny how age and the lack of doing these activities changes our reaction to the sport. Probably because we know how much easier it is to break a bone, and that at our age healing is slower.
I still have my cross-country skis, which I enjoy, and if we ever get some nice fresh powder I will venture out on the lake. Of course it will be around the outside edges. No matter how thick the ice gets I still am not brave enough to ski across the middle to the other side. As I tell him - you never know where there might be a break in the ice under the snow. How people put out fishing huts and drive on the ice to get to them is beyond me!?! Of course I can't imagine being out in the cold fishing at all. I guess we all have our own idea of what constitutes a good time.
So, winter is here to stay for a few months. As much as I dislike the cold temperatures and the vicious bite of the bitter north wind when it blows, I will survive it as I always do. Watching my grandchildren play when they come over will help as I recall my own childhood, and how much fun I had in the snow.
And, in a few years when I retire, winters will be spent in a much warmer climate.
Comments
Post a Comment