We rarely get more than a dusting of snow here in central North Carolina. When we do, we declare an unofficial holiday – Snow Daze! Excited kids play outside until dark. Parents shiver and watch. We head to bed early in exhausted delight after downing quarts of hot chocolate. And the snow melts the next day like it was never here.

Join me and see for yourself what a rare southern snow is like on this Snow Daze photo walk through my ‘hood. Drone Photo: Favorite Neighbor1.  Anticipation is keeping us waitin' ... 
​ Excitement builds days before.
​
Forecasts tease us with possible snowfall amounts and storm tracks.

Most times, the wintry weather misses us.

But once every year or so,
the predictions come true.

And just like that....
​Snow Daze mania takes over!
​Folks in northern climes, who are used to snow falling all winter, think we're nuts. We ignore their eye rolls and revel in our frenzy. 

It starts with a mad dash to Harris Teeter and Food Lion for milk, bread and toilet paper. (Yep, those items run out quick. Nope, we don't really need them, but they're our winter weather security blanket.)
​ Cat's Snow Daze stashThen we dig out snow boots and that pair of warm mittens Grandma knitted for us last Christmas, hoping we remember where we stashed them.  

Parents hunt for shovels and ice melt. Kids pull out sleds and cardboard boxes. Anything to whoosh them down a snow-covered hill.
​
Me?
​I assemble my Snow Daze staples.​2.  Twas the Night Before Snow Daze ....Temperatures plunge. 
​
Breath plumes silver in frigid air.

There's an eerie nighttime sky,
dark clouds
ringing the moon.

Oh yeah.
We're sure now .....
​
snow is on the way! Snow moon over the 'hood
When snow creeps in,
it's cold, dark, and past bedtime for most.

but.... 
my social media feeds still
explode!

It's snowing in southern Wake County!
First flakes in down town!
We got an inch already on the deck!
Anybody know if garbage pick up is cancelled for tomorrow?

Photo by George Mike Wilson: Chatham Street in the snow, Cary, NC3. Ready, Set, SNOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!
Snow brings out the inner kid in all of us. 
I'm so excited,
I hardly sleep a wink.
Can't wait for my first glimpse of the white stuff in daylight. 
 
I'm up at dawn, camera ready,
​to catch the best light.

The storm has moved on,
but in its wake....
​
a brilliant sunrise. Morning-after snow sky 
​Our Covid-weary, winter world
is transformed and delicious,
dusted in white
​ like a cake
drenched with powdered sugar.  Hidden garden path
It's not long
before 
we hear 
breakfasted, booted, and bundled kids
giving the freshly fallen snow
some lovin.' [image error] Snow Daze wonder - photo by Favorite Neighbor
Nothing short of a winter wonderland!

Kids are ...

sledding

snow angel-ing

building snow people
​
​EVERYWHERE! Snow Daze joy;  Photo by Favorite Neighbor
​Me?
​
I walk the hood, taking it all in
before dashing inside
​to throw chili fixin's in the crockpot for tonight's meal.
​ Crock Pot Chili
Later, I dig out my trusty shovel to attack the sidewalk and driveway. This is the first time we had to clear them in five winters! I don’t mind. Tackling this fuffly stuff is my favorite kind of winter cardio. A thin layer of ice adds enough resistance for strength training, too. Best, when I tire, Hub finishes the job.

Cat Michaels' winter exercises
So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye
​Night falls.
Temperature drops.
Everyone reluctantly straggles inside
to warm up with chili or hot soups by the fire. 

Some Littles even stash bowls filled with snow
in their freezer
​to save for another day.

Good thing they do.
Next morning,
the snow melts away.
 
​We hope we don't have to wait
another five years
for our next Snow Daze! Photo by George Mike Wilson: Arts Center, Cary, NCYour Turn
Have you experienced a Snow Daze in your part of the world? What do enjoy most about it? If you don't live cold country, what would you like to do during a snowfall?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

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