Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Two of my grandsons and I were walking from the store to our car, the night before the snow and sleet mixed, with some snow falling all around us and landing on our heads and faces at a brisk plummeting, and I just mentioned “off the wall” that I wish it would snow rump deep to a giraffe. There were several people around us that were frantic by my desire for this development.
The weather anchors had been cautioning us for several days we might get a little snow in our area. Then, of course, by that night we were assured we would for sure see some of the rare white flakes falling from the sky within the next few hours. I am still a doubter, so I told my little boys “maybe.”
Can you imagine how convinced I was as I looked out into my backyard later on and saw a “snow blizzard” falling all around. I put out a group text to all offspring and just typed “SNOW FALLING”.
As I sat, warm and comfy wrapped in a fuzzy blanket in front of our fireplace, I remembered the big snow we had received in the early 50’s. I was a young child, and we lived in an old duplex house across from the now Veteran’s Home, no insulation, no running water except for the hand pump in the kitchen, and no indoor facilities.
Our heat was radiated by a small coal burning, potbellied stove in the center of our living area. It was so cold my mother and I had stayed in bed while my daddy got the heat started. I never knew for sure, but evidently, he added too much lighter/starter to the coal that it blew the door off and threw him back against the bed and blowing out the window behind the little heater.
I don’t recall exactly what happened after that, but I do remember my mother grabbing me and running out to the front porch as she was sure he had completely blown up the entire house. There was just black dust, from the coal, all over everything and lots of frigid air blowing in from the hole where the window used to be. I don’t remember even playing in all the fluffy delight that year.
Two of my grandsons were at our cabin in Sallis yesterday being pulled over the packed snow and ice by a three-wheeler as they slid along in a cover that belongs to a top-of-the-car luggage carrier.
No, we are not equipped for this type of weather here in the south, and we don’t have a snowboard or snow sled in our barns, but we are prepared to turn back into children and build snowmen, throw snowballs, make snow ice cream, and be pulled in a makeshift snow sled.
I am a coffee and hot tea connoisseur, but all my little ones love hot chocolate. This is a great recipe.
Hot Chocolate
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
6 cups milk
1-2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups of milk chocolate chips
Stir whipping cream, milk, vanilla and chocolate in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for two hours, stirring occasionally with a whisk until hot and chocolate chips are melted. Switch the cooker to warm and serve till gone, which is pretty fast around here.
