My Winter Wonderland

I love snow. I've come to learn that it's not a popular opinion among adults in my part of the world. And I do understand why. It causes a lot of problems: slick roads, downed power lines, roof damages. It also slows everything down. But I think I rather appreciate that part. I also think it's beautiful. I'm of the mindset that if it's going to be freezing outside it might as well look pretty.

We recently had one of the heaviest snowfalls I've experienced in northern Kentucky. Since we don't frequently get wintry weather conditions our city isn't equipped like others farther north to deal with snow covered and icy roads. As a teacher, I ended up getting an entire week off work. Events and activities all over the city were cancelled. All the busy energy coming off the holiday season came to a screeching halt. I was grateful for the time to rest and recharge before the start of a new semester. And because I enjoy the snow I was excited to have time to explore.

Since moving to Louisville nearly nine years ago I've always lived within walking distance of a wonderful park. The house I live in now is just a few blocks away from the Louisville Nature Preserve and Joe Creason Park. It's a beautiful area with forest and meadows along a creek, right in the middle of metro neighborhoods. It's quite the experience to be located off a major city roadway and have deer wander through your front yard. I'm very grateful for getting to live in such a place because I'm an urban school teacher who loves being out in nature and I'm situated perfectly to do both.

Louisville is home to a park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is considered the father of American landscape architecture and also co-designed Central Park in New York. There are many things I love about Louisville (there are also some things that need to change), but one of the things I love most is the multitude of beautiful parks maintained throughout the city. I know how much I appreciate the opportunity to visit a sanctuary of nature despite living in the city and because of the system Olmsted designed a great many people have access to similar parks in various parts of Louisville.

So I already love taking walks and being outdoors, but then you add in the beautiful pristine snow and I'm over the moon. There's nothing quite like looking out the window and seeing your familiar surroundings completely transformed by a blanket of white. While I love my cozy time watching flakes fall through the window, I have to make my excursions into the Winter Wonderland.

The featured image was taken on the first long walk I took with my dog, Alfie, during the snow week. Finally enough fresh powder had fallen to cover the ice and make going up and down the hills less of a life risking endeavor. There were still some trees hanging on to a few of their leaves. We came across this one small sapling along the walking path that had two leaves seemingly clinging together and hanging on for dear life.

I considered this to be one of the more unique and artsy photos that I managed to capture and thus it was my selection for the featured slot. But I did take a lot more photos that capture the beauty of my Winter Wonderland experience so I'll sprinkle a few more throughout this piece. It is for the Photography community after all!

Both Alfie and I were having a great time until too much snow built up in the hair around his paws. He's very sensitive about them for some reason and I don't know why. He's a rescue. Then all he wanted to do was lie down and lick them clean. So I tugged him up the final hill where we had to weave our way through a crowd of enthusiastic sledders. And then made a quick dash home so he could thaw out back inside the warm house.

The next day I was ready for more adventuring, so I let Alfie take it easy and set out on my own. The snow was still in that picture perfect state with a brighter morning sky. I took my time meandering along the walking loop, wandering off the path whenever a pretty scene caught my eye. I wasn't the only one. There were a lot of people trekking through the snow in their boots and even a couple cross country skiers who opted for the off the beaten path routes.

I think if it hadn't been for a growling stomach and a need to use the facilities I could have spent all day just taking in the beautiful scenery. But even if it couldn't last forever I thoroughly enjoyed my morning in the park and all my snowy walks I took that week. I'm very grateful for the time I got to spend surrounded in the glory of nature. The ability to appreciate such beauty is not something I ever want to take for granted. It's a gift we've been given and it's so important to slow down and recognize that. I think that a world covered in snow forces us to stop and invites us to experience the wonder that we tend to overlook.

After time to rest and enjoy the peace of being snowed in I felt much more prepared to take on the challenges of returning to teaching. Eventually the sun came out and temperatures rose, so only a remnant of the snow still remains. And I admit once it's turned to gray slush dotted with yellow spots and has patches of grass poking through, I'm ready for the melt to happen.

But while others declare they hope we don't get anymore snow this winter, I will continue to check my forecast app with the hope of seeing some snow icons in the coming months. I would gladly spend more time in my Winter Wonderland whenever it returns!