Monday, February 05, 2007

A walk through the snow



My house is about a 15-minute walk from Syracuse University, which is ideal since I have to go and use their library for research pretty frequently. Being a semi-newbie to Syracuse weather, I sometimes let the cold and snow keep me from doing what I have to do. But last week, I decided to ignore the fact that there was over a foot of snow on the ground, it was snowing, and the temperature was below freezing and head out to the library.

I'm so glad I did! There was something so exhilirating about the brightness and the brisk cold, and even about the snow falling on my face. I've heard that the best way to keep yourself from being depressed in the winter is to go out there and engage with the elements, and now I know that this is true- my excursion certainly put a bounce in my step! It must have also been some workout to trek through deep snow- the next day, my muscles were aching. Bonus!

I will share some photos with you of that day. **CAUTION** if you are already freezing, you might need to skip this post!


Icicles on a neighbor's house


Where's the sidewalk?


The beautiful Hall of Languages building at Syracuse University


My idyllic view through the library window as I worked


Leaving the library- the paved sidewalk shows how much snow there was


On the way back home-cold crisp air and the moon


Me trudging through our front yard-those boots come up to my knees, so you can get a sense of the height of the snow. This is so unlike the snow I was used to when I lived in New York City, which had a way of immediately turning brownish-gray, slushy, and funny-smelling.

Brrrr!


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21 comments:

Ruthie said...

Looks like where I live! :) Actually we're having an amazingly warm day here. It makes me shudder to think what it means for the ozone layer!

Brooke said...

Awwww! I miss the snow. You probably don't want to know that it is 79 degrees here today and I have the windows open and am wearing shorts. :-)

Eat Peace Please said...

Bazu, I live close to Brooke, and yep, the radio told me it is 80 degrees right now. I have all the windows open too, sandals (the usual), a tank and this is pretty much a spring tease.

You need a warning to us AZ people... your post made me cold! But hey, it is pretty to look at and I'm with you on just joining the elements, not resisting them. That's what I do in the summers here.

Theresa said...

Those images all look so familiar... I can't say I miss the snow much, but it does have a way of making everything look really pretty and sparkly, doesn't it?

Emmy said...

Howdy Bazu, I should have heeded your warning....these pictures are making me colder! LOL The buildings at the University are just gorgeous. Everything just looks so pretty in winter covered with snow. Luckily, we haven't gotten any snow, just sub zero temps.

Stay warm!!!

Emmy

P.S. I sent you an email about Crazy Bowls

Amey said...

Ohhh, those are such beautiful pictures. How lovely. It never snows here in Santa Cruz - and I don't get to experience snowy weather often. But it really is so magical, isn't it? thanks so much for sharing these lovely pictures

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the photos. Snow is what I miss most about the U.S.!

Judy said...

Yeah, 25 years spent in Ontario and I find snow less and less appealing each year. I wish I could appreciate how beautiful it is, and maybe at the first or second big snowfall I would say "oh, look how pretty!" but now I just want to see grass.

wheresmymind said...

My cousin that went to the 'cuse for school said they got a ton of snow every year...*shiver*

Anonymous said...

Love the pics -- I shared them with my daughter. She's definitely envious of your snow.

Carrie™ said...

Ahhh, Bazu - what a great post! I am a winter lover & get the feelings you described. It is exhilirating to be out when it's nice & fresh & crisp. Most people stay in when it's first snowed, so things are also usually quiet & peaceful. We haven't had a snow like that yet this year. It snowed a bit - maybe 4-5 inches total and then has just been friggin' COLD! I guess most of us are being hit by this frigid spell.
I remember a few years ago (I wish I'd had my camera then) it snowed all day. We got a pretty good dump - probably a foot. In the early evening, just after dusk, I took Simon for a walk. The temp was just a few degrees below freezing, everything was still & quiet and covered with fresh, soft snow. There was a full moon sparkling over everything. It was one of the most beautiful nights I can ever remember. People forget those things when they bitch about the snow. I look forward to those things.
This turned out to be a really long post about snow. You've obviously hit a chord with me on this one! Enjoy!

Kati said...

Oh, I love this post! I really miss the non-city winters. I went three "winters" in OK (you can imagine that) and now I'm here in Chicago where it's bitterly cold and windy, but all the snow gets melted with TONS of rock salt. :P I do love a good walk in the snow, though - thanks for taking us along with you!

Nikk said...

I have been missing snow. We haven't had really any snow around here and I feel like we're due for a nice little storm!

aTxVegn said...

The pictures are lovely, but I'm glad I'm just looking at snow and not actually standing in it!

urban vegan said...

Great photos--so pretty. I can almost hear the snow crunchng as you walk.

Dori said...

I love the pictures of your university.... the ones taken from inside the library (where it is warm) the most. It is very cold (-15) here and it warmed up enough to give us 4 inches of snow, then the temperatures dropped again. I like snow and winter, but the below zero degree F temperatures are not fun (I can handle 20 degree F and even the freezing point of 32 degree F very well though.

Happy studying!

Unknown said...

Wow, it all looks so amazing. I used to live up near Watertown just north of you in Carthage. Your photos reminded me so much of that area. I miss it so much. I'm a huge cold weather and snow freak. Hoping to make it back to Alaska one day. Thanks so much for sharing. Boo Texas, LOL.

Anonymous said...

Your university is so architecturally stunning - especially with the blanket of snow. What great pictures and what fun to go along with you on your journey. I think the idea of getting out with nature to keep from being depressed in winter is really quite true. I don't care for the cold much (especially the constant running nose) but I do like winter to some degree and always more so when I'm out in it. I like being able to see the bird's nests in the trees and to see all the birds flying around (which I don't get to see much of in the spring/summer because there are so many leaves).

Anonymous said...

I spoke too soon...they are forecasting SNOW for tomorrow!

Susan Voisin said...

I can't say I miss snow (I'm such a wimp that I can hardly stand to go outside here when it's in the 40's!) but your photos really make it look beautiful. The Hall of Languages is especially lovely.

laura k said...

Oh, the snow is just so beautiful! I've never seen more than about two inches of sludgey looking dirty snow, and I am totally jealous. I've always wanted to see snow! Can I come visit you? :)