Critters in the Snow...

We got more snow this weekend. About 5 inches of snow fell yesterday. A couple more of those blizzards and we would not have to worry about the drought any more....

The bad part was: Lots of backbreaking snowshoveling we had to do. The good part: We got to play in the snow.

Lots of fun furry critters showed up yesterday.

As I peeked out my window yesterday morning there was a strange sight. Something stuck out by the corner of roof where the gutters end. At first we thought it was a big lump of snow. Can you tell what it is?


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After digging out our pick-up truck we hit the sledding slopes. There is one great hill by the University Campus. A few years ago the administration discussed getting rid of  this hill to put another building there. We are so glad the senate members protested. All kids - big and small - congregate here after a big snowfall. We have seen the strangest vehicles of transportation used to get down that hill. From old suitcases,  to cushions wrapped in plastic, over coolers, to a shopping cart - we have seen it all. Yesterday we spotted a big raft.

Everybody had fun! I hope you got some snow too.

Snowflake Babies and Giveaway

Inspired by one of my favorite wintersongs growing up in Germany, I created a bunch of little snowflake pocket babies this week.

It's been much too warm for the season in Colorado. We really need some snow. So maybe my wishful thinking about snow will help bring us the much needed precipitation?

Here are the German lyrics to this old German folksong:


Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen,
wann kommst du geschneit?
Du kommst aus den Wolken,
dein Weg ist so weit.

Komm, setz dich ans Fenster,
du lieblicher Stern;
malst Blumen und Blätter,
wir haben dich gern.

Schneeflöckchen, du deckst uns
die Blümelein zu;
dann schlafen sie sicher
in himmlischer Ruh’.

Here is my English translation of the lyrics: 
 
Little Snowflake, little white skirt,
when will you come down?
You come from the clouds,
your journey is so far.

Come sit by the window,
You lovely star;
Painting flowers and leaves,
we love you very much.

Little snowflake, you cover us
and the little flowers up,
So they can sleep safe,
and in heavenly peace.

I will be doing a Giveaway for some of my snowbabies during the Advent season. So please, stay tuned for details!

Nutcracker Music in Midmay?

You know there is something terribly wrong when they play music from The Nutcracker on the radio in the middle of May. Even when you live in Colorado...
I am so depressed. We had just planted our tomatoes. Will they survive under their plastic bucket covers?

The heavy wet snow also destroyed the kids favorite climbing tree/ tree house. I assessed the damage with camera but I am too depressed to post those pictures here...

Spring in Colorado

After a warm sunny springbreak the children went back to school yesterday. Today they are home again. Why? Well, look at the pictures. This is what Colorado looks like in March - at the beginning of spring.

The Best Christmas Present / Das Beste Weihnachtsgeschenk

Reading the title of this post you may have expected to find pictures of children opening boxes and wading through piles of wrapping paper. I am afraid, Santa did not bring the best gift this year. It came from Nature!

The gift the children enjoyed most this year came from above but it was not a toy. It came a day before Christmas. It came in big fluffy white heaps. It was not set down by the warm fireplace in the house. Nope it landed in the backyard, and it was oh so ccccold. Brrr. You guessed it: We got lots of snow. A beautiful White Christmas this year.

While his sister went sledding my son decided to build a snow cave in the backyard. It provided hours and hours of fun. So much so that the children forgot all about Christmas for a while...The right size and weight of snow shovels and having right kind of tools for snow cave building became a crucial matter. Santa, do the elves make snow shovels at the Northpole?