I love the snow. Let’s not forget this point, as you read the rest of this lament about snow. I love the way our Springfield’s, and for that matter, our actual, real-life, towns look, when they are cloaked in a layer of beautiful, white, freshly fallen snow.
There is something magical about the quiet…the way snow insulates and dulls the sounds in the early morning when you first get up. It is peaceful, beautiful, and often times rewards children (and teachers) with a “snow day,” to frolic, relax, and have fun.
In short…snow is wonderful!
Until it isn’t…
In Eugene, here in the Willamette Valley where the REAL Springfield sits just across I-5, snow is a rarity. I joke about Eugene being in the “banana belt” of Oregon. On average, we usually get one or two days a year when the white stuff coats the trees, hills and forests around us. Usually one. Many years, none.
When we got Snow in TSTO at the beginning of the Winter Update (and no…we aren’t going to debate Christmas/Holiday/Winter again), my much better half, remarked, “Oh…your little town looks so nice. I hope we get some snow this year!”
She’s like that. Upbeat. Sweet. Positive (even if she knows it makes me nuts when she calls my TSTO Springfield my “little town”). She is a school teacher of the most extraordinary type, who still rewards her class for long periods of good behavior and scholastic achievement with a field trip to the movies, or the bowling ally, or the roller skating rink. Her kids work hard…play hard…and deserve the rewards.
The first wrinkle in “Mrs. Miller’s” perfect Winter Break, was that two days before the break was to start, we received a gigantic ice storm…as in the worst in 25 years. It destroyed thousands of trees…shut down power for more than 75% of the Eugene/Springfield area, and ended up keeping the kids and teachers home, for what was supposed to be their Holiday Party day.
Mrs. Miller was not pleased. But, she got through it…knowing that Christmas, and two of our girls (out of five) were coming for an extended holiday stay. However…the ice stuck around…and around…and around. Planes were delayed…travel plans made more dangerous…but we got through it with minor hitches.
“What do you do in your little town when there is an ice storm” I remember her asking one morning.
“We don’t have ice storms. But, look how pretty my town looks with the snow, and all of the Christmas lights on!” I offered. “Look! Homer is clearing the snow on his lawnmower!”
She did not seem enthused.
By week two of the ice, the neighborhood looked like a war zone…but the kids had come and gone…Christmas a success…in spite of reduced travel.
And then…just before everyone was to go back to school after “Winter Break,” Mrs. Miller got her wish…and it snowed. A lot. At least for us. Nearly 4″ of snow overnight. She went into full-blown “Winter Wonderland” kid mode.
We built a snowman (using a kit she got from one of her students for Christmas). We had “hot toddies” on the porch. We hunkered in…and enjoyed the rest of “winter break” together.
And then…when everyone was scheduled to go back to school…school was canceled again….and then again…
It was projected to warm up before the weekend…Nope. Another ice storm.
Another thick layer of ice…and to cap it all off, some varmint (most likely one of the “Christmas Raccoons” we have around here) made off with the nose, buttons, and glasses of our snowman!
So now…we had a “Winter Sandwich” of a thick layer of ice…4 inches of snow…and another thick layer of ice. But the power stayed on. Netflix binging…football…and creative foraging for recipes that worked with whatever was left in the cupboard ensued.
Today…after cancelling school for a record 6th day for the year (which need to be made up in June…argh!), Mrs. Miller was allowed to go back to school…and all is well. Mostly.
There is more snow predicted for tomorrow.
So…who do you blame for this?
Is it all Mrs. Miller’s fault, because she wished for snow, while belittling the size and scope of snow in my “little town?”
Is it because Homer actually had the audacity to give up his “Mr. Plow” jacket to “downsizing and simplifying” in the most recent Simpsons episode?
Is all of this because EA finally angered God (or the Gods if you prefer) with such a mishmash of religious blasphemy during the past few weeks??
Or…is it all simply because Eugene is so ill-equipped to deal with severe weather (we have a grand total of TWO snow plows…and refuse to use salt on our streets due to the environmental impact), that we are deserving of being a target of Mother Nature (like mobile homes in tornadoes) when the temperatures dip below 40 degrees?
The fact of the matter is…I still love the snow. It is rare…and gives us all a chance to whine about the SAME thing for once (after a year of whining about opposite outcomes).
But, I get it. Snow can be an inconvenience. I haven’t touched a golf club in more than 8 weeks. That has to change soon…
What do YOU Think about Snow…either in your “little towns” or in your REAL lives? Do you have stories or pictures to share about the Winter thus far (and yes…I realize we still have three more months of “official Winter”).
Let us know. Snow in the forecast for tomorrow. I’ll let you know how Mrs. Miller fares. The bigger question is this…if we get weather in the mid-to-upper-40s as is predicted…will EA come out with a “Flood Mode” for our towns?
We’ll see…
Seeing snow in the middle of Summer is a bit weird. 35-40 C outside, and still snowing in the game. Winter is in the middle of the year and really only lasts a few weeks, with daytime temps from 15-25 C… And never any snow!
Where are you from?
Perth, Western Australia 🙂
You’re living upside down, that’s why 😛
Nice! I experienced a warm Xmas three years in a row. Its been warm here in da south US
For anyone else who is curious about the conversion (I had to look it up), that’s 95-100 F
and 59-77 F in the winter.
Where do you live, shlubadub? I was having a conversation with a friend today about how much I hate winter (NE US) and want to live somewhere with your exact climate!
summer forever ☀️☀️☀️
I’m in Perth, Australia. 40 C is actually 104 F 🙂 You’ll probably get a couple of days a year up to 42 C (107.6 F), although the all-time record here is 46 C (114.8 F). Having said that, it’s not always that hot in Summer… you can generally expect 25-35 C days (77-95 F). Most cities are on the coast so the beach is never very far away and backyard swimming pools are very common (I have one, and I live in a normal house). Air-conditioning is very common, while central-heating is practically non-existent! I like to joke that we only have 3 seasons here: Summer (hot & dry), 1st Spring (Rain, cooler days, plants & flowers go crazy after Summer), Winter (Rain, colder temps for a few weeks, plants sleep but weeds go crazy, definitely no snow!), 2nd Spring (warmer weather, plants & flowers go crazy again). “1st Spring” is obviously Autumn, but our trees don’t lose their leaves and it’s a time of growth as the plants have to conserve their strength through the Summer.
Wow! Schlubadub, I live in Perth too, Willetton to be precise. What a small world! I wonder how many of us are linked by Springfield in Perth! Apply to be my neighbourino in the game. I am joco1964.
I’m up near Hillarys/Whitfords – small world indeed! My invite button seems to be broken, so maybe you can try adding me? It should be the same name as here (schlubadub)
sounds wonderful! I’m on a plane as we speak! 😂😂😂
Where are you jetting off to?
Wait for me Lekitty!😀
As I read this last night, we were actually having a major blizzard – about 15 cm total. It was supposed to turn into freezing rain, but thankfully that didn’t happen. We’ve had 155 cm of snow so far this year apparently. A large amount, but nowhere near a record. We also had an ice storm just after Christmas, but thankfully it was not as bad as yours. There was a lot of tree damage though, which always makes me sad.
“So…who do you blame for this?
Is it all Mrs. Miller’s fault….”
When I read this I laughed so hard I actually started coughing
I hate it! I live in Winnipeg (yup the “that’s it back to Winnipeg! ) and it just doesn’t stop snowing here this year. In a normal year we get about 100cm of snow. We’ve had 90 in the last 5 weeks. And now we have -40c windchills.
I’m not a winter person at the best of times but this year is particularly awful.
I just keep reminding myself that every day is 1 day closer to spring.
We dodged the latest… but Portland got 8 inches last night. My daughter Maddy is holed up with her cat…who has some sort of sneezing virus. Yuck.
I’m in the GTA. We had more snow in 1 week this past December than all of last winter. Plus, a couple days of freezing rain so far. So looking forward to the January Thaw that is coming next week.
I used to live in Calgary and I will admit I miss it. It gets too cold sometimes to snow!
It’s called Winterpeg for a reason. 😉
Minnesota and we are finishing up a round of snow after some freezing rain from the weekend. All in all things are pretty good and a lot warmer than the 30 or 40 below windchills. Enjoy the snow it’s not all bad.
This past friday was the worst Traffic day the Dallas area has ever seen. And that’s saying something. We got the tiny-ist layer of snow. Yes a few bridges became a bit slick but the whole metroplex panicked, everyone let out early, and every major highway was gridlocked. Took me over two hours to get home from work and my wife an hour and a half. Oh, and yesterday’s and today’s temps are in the high 70’s. Go figure.
gotta love Big D.
We Dutch have the same problem. Half a centimeter of snow and the whole traffic comes to a grinding halt, with hundreds of accidents.
We are getting a break in NE Ohio with rain instead of snow and temps in the teens but just for a few days. Back to the 20s for the weekend. I do kinda love the yo yo weather we have–ya never know what you’re going to get!
A fellow NE Ohioan. I also love this Cleveland weather. Last night we had “Forrest Gump” rain where it was raining many different directions, very crazy especially for winter.
We get lots of snow in northwest Indiana and being so close to Lake Michigan you never know where the lake effect snow will hit hard. I don’t mind the snow, if I don’t have to drive anywhere. I’ll always take it over the bitter sub zero wind chills we get. To your wife and the other teachers and students out there, my daughters school started elearning days this year. No more makeup for snow days. They do all their work on their laptops now anyway so they log on and get the assignments.
Excellent post – and mirrors my recent experiences of snow in London, UK – often “promised” or maybe just forecast, but rarely settles despite the average indicating we get snow…
30yrs ago when I was at school, snow was more common and fun, now it’s a rarity on the outskirts of London, more often arriving as rain or if lucky enough for snow fall, it either doesn’t settle or just about covers the ground as per thick frost and doesn’t stick around anyway.
Snow brings out the “big kid” in most of us and I love it, in real life and in my little ol’ town too 🙂 we’re supposed to be getting some overnight tomorrow – fingers crossed, I’ll worry about the commute to work later
Please no, I love snow too much. At least let it stay until March… Pweeeeeeese EA
(මεﾟම)
I agree. Winter lasts beyond the winter event. If there’s snow outside, there can be snow in Springfield. I enjoy it ! Let it stay for awhile, plEAse.
Totally agree. Virtual snow is nice. The real stuff, not so much. 🙂
Count me in as wanting snow in Springfield until…well, Spring. 😀
Well we’re getting ready for a Thunderstorm and Blizzards tomorrow so I should maybe wait until after then to comment, lol. But your photos actually have me yearning for some of the white stuff so we can build a snowman. Always fun, in fact few years ago my little niece was very ill and was so sad she couldn’t go out and play in the snow like the other kids, so we got a buckets and brought a load of snow indoors and we made a little snowman with her, the smile on her face and her laughter will stay with me forever, and whenever I see snow I think of that day and the joy it brought to a very sick but very brave little girl. And before any of you starting worrying I’m glad to report she’s doing great now, healthy and happy.
Great to hear!!
I deliver Pizza in Beaverton, OR and I’ve lost a ton of money with my store shutting down operations as a result of the weather. I don’t blame them per se, as it sucks delivering pies in slick conditions but man does it sting the old pocketbook.
So yeah, I’m done. Let’s get back to 50 degrees and rain please.
And I hear you got another 8 inches lasts night…two of my daughters live up there.
Moved from Ohio to Georgia in part to get away from the snow. I love it unless I gotta make a 30 minute on a good day drive in it. Had enough so I moved South. We just got a “bad storm” that shut down everything for days. I laughed as it would be one of the tamer storms back north. But I’ll take it.
Hey neighbor! Im from GA too! What snow! There wasn’t any in my area. But it felt peaceful to not hear any cars for some days.
I love snow, wish we could have 4 inches of it! In the 12 years since we moved to a village near the sea in Ireland the kids have managed to make a snowman once. Snow rarely settles here. However I can see the downside of it for those of you who have lots and often
I’m over in Dallas by Salem…..no bueno….my mom is a cna and does the drive….she works in Keizer…..I’m the driver….that ice storm last weekend between snow and the freezing rain left 2+ inches of compacted snow and ice on the roads of hwy 22 and salem heading out to and into Keizer…..made for a full weekend getting her to and from work…..oh and she works NIGHT SHIFT….so yeah…..freezing temps dropping to lower at night with snow and ice…thank god for studded tires….
As for the snow today? Yeah we were over in McMinnville getting my sister and grocery shopping…we were leaving winco foods as the snow started…by time we got home and unloaded the car about an hour and a half later there was already over an inch…looking outside now there’s between 2 and 5 inches where I live…
My 15 year old sister lives it because you know…cancelled school…much like me in my teens and as a kid.. Now? No…I have to drive on it…no thank you…go away snow…booo….
Mom doesn’t drive*
We are just not used to this in “temperate Oregon.” No doubt about it.
Eugene was spared today…still melting here while those up North are getting coated again. Back to “banana belt status!”
I live in NYC and hate when it snows here. Sure, it’s beautiful to look at as it’s gently falling and everything is blanketed in clean, fluffy, brilliant white snow. And by the next day or so it’s a gray, mucky, slushy, slippery mess.
The only way for me to enjoy the snow is to watch it from indoors. It’s beautiful to look at, but a mess to deal with after the fact.
Of course I LOVED it as a child! Making snow angels, having snowball fights, building little snowmen with baby carrot noses and twig arms, spending hours in the winter wonderland of Manhattan in the fresh snow…and then it turned into a gray, mucky, slushy, slippery mess. Okay, maybe I’ve just always hated winter. Lol
So for me, personally: snow beautiful to look at from the comfort and warmth of indoors; a disgusting mess to deal with the next day and beyond.
I remember one of the first times I visited my daughter in NYC…was crossing the street going to CBS and stepped in what I thought was “slush.” Not so much. Went almost calf-deep in a puddle with slush floating on top. I heard this guy next to me just mutter…”nice!”
I suspect I looked like an out of towner, as everyone else was giving the “slush” wide berth.
😂 I was fortunate when at my daughter’s, I was always with one of them & they told me where to step. I think I would have landed on my butt at least once while there 😊
Not rubbing it in, but the temp here at 11pm is a beautiful 52 degrees😊 I was born in Phoenix & have seen snow very few times, which makes me like a little kid when I do see it. I made a trip to Bozeman, Montana (20 minutes up the canyon), in the first part of December to visit my daughter, son-in-law, & 3 of my granddaughters. They chuckled at my child-like wonder when the snow came down😀 I loved it… I wanted to move there (like anyone here would let me😂)… while everyone else was at work or school, I played with the fireplace, swept snow off the porches, & watched the deer wander through their yard. It was peaceful, quiet, almost too perfect. Other than my terrible cell phone reception (Sprint doesn’t think Montana needs any of their towers there?!?), I was so happy that I was ready to hire a moving company. Then my oldest granddaughter drove me down the hill so we could go shopping in the mall on her day off from work & school, she’s almost 18 & learned to drive in the snow, so I wasn’t worried. I quickly realized that slipping & sliding on the property before even getting to Bridger Canyon Road in her Trooper was not my idea of fun😳 After a week there, I looked at the routine all of them had… the extra work they had to go through because of the snow, that’s when I knew there was no way I would live in snow unless I was retired. Even getting bundled up to get the mail was too much of a waste of time to me, I’d rather walk to the road in my jammies & slipper boots😂 The day before I was to leave I asked my daughter how she did it, (the baby will be 1 the end of February, best birthday present I’ve ever received 💝), she didn’t complain, she just said they did what they had to do. I flew back to the “Valley of the Sun” with a new respect for anyone who lives where it snows all winter long. I still love the snow… to visit, but that’s it😊 …Oh, and to see in my Springfield until at least the end of January 😂 I imagine in the middle of July I will change my mind when hiking or riding the bike will only be possible at 4am😖 I do love sunrises though😊😊😊
“not rubbing it in…” usually means you are rubbing it in! LOL!
😂😂 nope, wasn’t trying to, not my style😊
Oh I hear ya. I’m a school teacher in Portland and we are looking at ANOTHER snow day possible for tomorrow. I am over it and just want to make progress with my kiddos. A fair number of my kids don’t transition well and they had juuuuuust gotten back into the routine. Sigh.
I need to hook you up with Deb. You can both curse the white!
If you check the latest weather report, it seems like things warmed up enough to cancel the snow for tomorrow. 🙂
In any case, while the ice storms were dangerous, they were very pretty. This coming from someone who had to trudge through it to catch the No. 11 to Springfield Station, then the EmEx to Eugene Station. Just trying to see the positive in the weather.
I work from home…so I really can’t complain.
You will complain when a snowstorm takes down the overhead powerlines.
I also work from home, and re: rudolph’s comment, my area is new enough that all power lines are underground. We’ve probably lost power 5 times in 15 years for under a minute (if not seconds). In a way, it actually makes me sad. My children have never known the joy of being forced to light candles and read or play board games. You can fake it, but it’s not the same.
I love when our power goes out, but use different types of battery operated lights depending on the room. Just don’t take away my cell service 😂
I’m in the Silicon Valley and we haven’t had to worry about snow or ice. It’s RAINING and won’t stop. We’re just trying to stay afloat.
We’re used to winter rains in California. However, it has been a bit more problematic this season.
As I said… flood mode is next!
Hmm hard to imagine your sort of cold. Predicated temp today (east coast of Aus) is 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) which is a scorcher. Some snow would be lovely right now. Hope 2017 is a great year for everyone.
There is still snow on top of your Australian Alps?
Possibly but the general areas, in the Snowy Mountains, are having daytime temps about 20C so imagine that isn’t cold enough for snow.
Love me some Deb! Whenever I come home from doing a show my wife asks (if she is still up) “How was your little skit?” She keeps me grounded! As for our little town I love the white stuff! As a kid I think we had one White Christmas but the bulk of Tulsa’s snow came in Jan, Feb. and Mar. I wish it would stick around longer in Springfield.
Everyone should have a “Deb” in their life!
There was 300 percent more snow at the beginning of this year in comparison to the start of 2016. Half a centimeter in 2016, three centimeters now. You might laugh at it, but in both cases, you get complete shutdown of public transport and hundreds of accidents.
Luckily the snow the snow is gone (for now). But next week it will return according to the meteorological service 🙁
I love snow, as long it is virtual.
LOVE the snow! But most of us Canadians do. Perhaps it’s because we are better prepared to deal with it on a regular basis. Also love it in my ‘little town’. A white wonderland.
Even when it gets bitterly cold, we get what are called ‘chinooks’ where the temperature can rise 20 degrees in one afternoon. ( sorry Leonardo DiCaprio , it’s NOT global warming!). So no matter how cold it gets, you know a chinook will eventually come and be sunny, warmer and beautiful.
Oh Leo….so misguided. He should have shot his movie this year! We have had more snow that has stuck around for a longer period of time than when he was around! I’m actually kind of glad we (south of Calgary) haven’t had a Chinook for awhile. The wind drives me mental!
No kidding. They wouldn’t have known what to do with all this snow and road conditions while filming.
Apparently that chinook is coming later this week! Get ready for the howling wind, migraines and melt.
Sigh. It’s such a mind battle between wanting the side streets melted but hating the wind, or ‘enjoying’ the calm of the extreme cold but having all exposed skin get sore in seconds. Guess I’ll put on my gloves and toque and make sure my wind shield washer fluid is full for the coming Chinook!
Well, if you’re in the right place in Canada…… Here in Ottawa, there is no such wondrous phenomenon. 🙂
Been thru ice storms in North Georgia, been thru hurricanes in South Georgia…maybe time to try a different state…Oregon sounds nice…
I laughed at this weekends “storm”
I don’t mind snow, we have it from November to March. Usually 3 to 4 feet. It allows for skiing tobaganning, skating, dog sledding (yes dog sledding- Finnish style ask my bull boxer). Lots to do outside!
it’ll go down when this ends on 18th probably since this is act 3 (it said transictioning acts when this event started)
Personally I love it because we spend 90% of the year green. I’d like it to stay until the end of February, because that’s when spring plant planning usually begins. . And because I love snow.😀
Hi Patric, I can only be in awe looking at your snow pictures and reminisce what winters were like when I was growing up in the mountains in Switzerland. Now in Australia it appears like a very distant dream. I miss certain aspects of snow, that stillness and brightness, but I am very happy in the heat. I am embracing my summer. I will just keep snow as a memory for now!
Should be No snow in Krustyland, correct?
Amusement parks are located where the wx is always nice …….. 😉
Dollywood is open during the holidays and I’ve seen some great snow shots courtesy of my niece who use to live near the park.
We have a big Six Flags amusement park in Massachusetts and several smaller ones, though they shut down from late autumn until springtime.