Autumn leaf on snow
Yes, yes, yes.
We woke up to snow on the ground. At least two inches of the white stuff on the cars and the deck. Maybe one inch on the warmer earth. We stared mesmerized at the beauty. And caught our breaths as we walked outside into the freezing cold. It’s Autumn in the U.P. of Michigan. Snow can spread her white beauty on us any time it desires.
And it desired this weekend.
Snowman near Houghton
Remember how I blithely told you yesterday that the snow never stays on the ground in mid-October? How it melts away so quickly?
Mother Nature made me a liar within three hours after writing that sentence. My visiting Mom and Dad, Barry and I headed up to Houghton to meet my nephew Doug and his roommate Gabe for dinner at the North Shore Grille. We barely passed into Houghton County before we began to witness Snow on Cars. Then Snow on Lawns. Then snow–Everywhere.
When we spotted the above snowman, I begged Barry to turn the car around for a photo. He is so used to this request these days! He easily turned the vehicle around. He, however, wanted me to walk up into the front lawn of the snowman-builder and take a picture with a red-leafed tree in the background. I was too chicken. I stood closer to the road, ready to make a get-away in case anyone came out of the house.
Instead, you can see another red-leafed tree surrounded by snow. This is the scene to which we awoke this morning.
A dash of color in the snow
After we shared our morning coffee, I headed downstairs to dig out Grandma’s old blue snowmobile suit from the 1970′s from the closet. Time for the snowmobile suit! I pulled it over my pajamas, grabbed a pair of winter boots, hats and mittens and dashed outside for snow photos. (It’s truly amazing how beautiful the first snow of the season looks. Compared with the thirtieth snow of the season when all you want to do is buy a ticket for southern Florida.)
View from the deck just before searching for the snowmobile suit
Oh how exhilarating it is to romp in the snow just after dawn! (And later in the day Mom and I walked up the road for a good half hour…but by then every last flake of snow had melted and disappeared.)
Snow and grass
It’s funny how quickly it melts. One minute there is a white frosted snow-laced world. The snow hangs heavy on the red and orange and yellow and green leaves. Some trees lean over like hunched-back men, straining under the weight. The white snow cleans and scours everything. You breathe out a cloud of breath-smoke. Your boots squish in the water-laden snow.
By noon, it’s all gone. It’s a memory. The cold north wind still blows frigid, but you’re suddenly back in autumn. Thank goodness! Stay away for another month, Winter, at least. Please stay away. We beg you.
Red-orange leaves heavy in the snow
I just asked my mom if she wanted Grandma’s snowmobile suit back. I mean, maybe she was the one who gave me this precious object. Maybe SHE wants to wear it downstate in HER backyard when it snows. But she just stared at me dumbfounded with her eyebrows raised. Guess she doesn’t want it back. Maybe she thinks the neighbors would stare. Guess I better keep it here in the woods…
And it all melts away...for now...
Barry just said, “I think we need a picture of you in the snowmobile suit!” I said, “TOO LATE!!!”
21 comments
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October 11, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Jessica
LOL Sounds like you had fun. So far none of the white stuff down in my neck of the woods. It feels cold enough for it though. I love snow, just as long as I don’t have to be out in it too long. I would rather sit indoors by a window. I am definitely a warm weather girl.
Jessica
October 12, 2009 at 6:13 pm
centria
Twas fun, Jessica. And it’s still snowing today. Not snow-on-the-ground-snowing. But flakes-in-the-air-snowing. I would have LOVED to sit all day by the window. I’m truly one of Your Kind. Unfortunately, this comittment has ruined my days spent cloistered inside without any desire to go outside. ha ha. What will I do next year? Never go outside again?
October 11, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Gerry
It is pretty, fluffy new snow setting off bright leaves. I especially like that last picture where there is green grass and the snow is melting. Yes indeed, I like that one just fine.
I haven’t had my fill of autumn yet. And I can’t find my snowpants. I did find my goosedown coat, and it smells suspiciously mildewy. I’m not ready to put my beachwalking crocs away. Where are those boots anyway? S@#!!
October 12, 2009 at 6:14 pm
centria
Gerry, WE WANT AUTUMN TOO! Send some up this way. Oh, to be wearing sandals again. Skirts. Short sleeves. Sleeveless t’s. Oh those days of summer. How quickly they disappear…
And yes, the melting snow pic IS the most lovely. I agree. 
October 11, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Nature Lovin' Super Mama
Centria-I love that you wear a 1970′s “grandma” snowsuit! And you posted these photo’s with much enthusiasm! I am still chuckling. We have had snow off and on this weekend, but nothing sticking yet…thank goodness. Yet, when it does stick, I am ready….peanut and I will be heading out fully equipped in winter gear.
Hope your folks had a good time visiting you…sounds like you did!
Hugs
NLSM
October 12, 2009 at 6:19 pm
centria
Oh MLSMamacita! I am SO GLAD you appreciate the use of a 1970′s snowmobile suit. An ancestor’s snowmobile suit, to boot. It is a treasured piece of clothing. So, do tell, is it snowing yet? You and Peanut headed out yet? If so, bet YOU will have an enthusiastic blog as well. It was a great visit with Mom and Dad. They are already back home in the Thumb now. They made the 525 mile trip in one day. That’s better than I do most of the time…
October 12, 2009 at 2:53 am
winderjssc
How incredible and beautiful to see the colour of the autumn leaves offset by an early snowfall. That’s really unusual. I remember one spring seeing blossoming cherry trees in a late fall of snow with equally spectacular results.
October 12, 2009 at 6:20 pm
centria
Jessica, those blossoming cherry trees beneath snow sound like they were lovely. I hope it didn’t ruin the trees or the fruit that year. That’s the problem sometimes with a late frost or snow.
October 12, 2009 at 7:08 am
Cindy Lou
The last photo is wondermous! So still and calm….and melting! Yea! Guess I should break down and put away my summer clothes and bring back out the winter ones….could’ve just let the winter ones stay out this year. I’m praying for a longish Indian summer…..
October 12, 2009 at 6:20 pm
centria
Barry keeps moaning about the weather, thinking he needs Indian Summer for his garage project, too. And you are so right…we probably could have all worn our winter clothes all during the summer! Except September. Then we had a glimpse of summer…remember?
October 12, 2009 at 10:42 am
p.j. grath
First and last are my favorite images, those small but perfectly complete compositions. Snowmobile suit! Good idea! I may need one soon to get outdoors with doggy Sarah. Your pleasure in northern Michigan snow gives me courage to face it myself. A friend said they had some up on their hill the other day, but so far nothing here has stuck like yours.
October 12, 2009 at 6:22 pm
centria
p.j….is your name Pamela?…seems like someone calls you Pamela so perhaps it is. (I like those images the best, too.) I saw the pics of your doggy Sarah today. Very cute. Have you and Gerry walked your dogs together?
October 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Gerry
LOL! We could practically wave at each other, but it takes an hour and a half to get from the Writing Studio and Bait Shop to Dogears Books. Pesky Bay anyway. Sarah has not yet encountered Miss Sadie and the Cowboy, although PJ/Pamela has met them. Briefly.
October 12, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Deborah Godin
Really lovely photos here, kind of “Zen of fall in northern Michigan” And the concept of a snowmobile suit over PJs has got to go on that email list that says, You know you’re from Michigan if …etc. what a hoot!
October 12, 2009 at 6:23 pm
centria
Deborah, my husband makes fun of me when I go outside in that snowmobile suit over PJs. Come to think of it, he teases me WHENEVER I wear it! You are so right. That should be some kind of email forward.
October 12, 2009 at 6:53 pm
sahlah
Snow – wow. The snowman does make me smile though.
October 13, 2009 at 9:49 am
centria
Oh good, Dawn. It was worth it to take that photo if it made even one person smile!
October 13, 2009 at 6:45 am
flandrumhill
What a shocking post. Sobering too. It could happen here just as easily. Summer memories are already being dusted with snow.
October 13, 2009 at 9:50 am
centria
Shocking, indeed! (I read that and thought for a second, “shocking? what did i write now?” before realizing you were talking about the Snow.) Summer memories dusted with snow. A poetic way of making it seem…almost…acceptable.
October 11, 2010 at 8:02 am
Elisa's Spot
I love that melting and uncovering of the fire within too! (That’s what those fiery maple leaves had me thinking.) One year in November I got a picture of pink roses still in full bloom, and covered in snow. I may have shared that image with you back then.
Still on this winter theme, I can go out in the snow, it just isn’t the same. Now, though, if I choose to do it, I can manage without the outside. Though, I can become ill without it. But something I have had to learn is that fire is still in all of the living things, it is just not expressed where I can see it with my eyeballs. And dormancy can be a sort of rest, unless one spends a LOT of energy trying to produce little green leaves when one ought to be resting and regrouping! Happy Thanksgiving!! (in Canada it’s thanksgiving!)
October 11, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Kathy
The fire within…I like thinking about this. Honoring dormancy…