Alas, The Snow Is Gone...

This is what our street looked like back on January 8th, just over one month ago. We'd just been hit with a big storm--I think it followed another big storm a few days earlier. Either way, it was beautiful, cold, but beautiful.

I know many people hate the snow--it causes problems that we don't have when there's no snow. Statistically, it's safer to drive when there's no snow or ice on the roads. That makes sense (even though, if people would slow down, it can be just as safe...). Plus without the cold weather, we don't need to burn as many fires to keep warm. We save on natural gas for the same reason.

I don't have a photograph of what the street looks like today. Look at the photograph above and imagine the same street, just with no snow--none. Temperatures this week have been in the 60s. Even the hardest-packed snow can't survive long with that. And if that weren't enough, it's been raining all day. Yup--the snow is gone.

Every year we get a February thaw, so much so, some of the plants get confused. We'll probably get another snowstorm or two before spiring, but usually the snow doesn't last. It melts pretty quickly. I think the days of a constant blanket of white are behind us, at least for eight or nine months. And that makes me sad. I sure do like the snow.