Now that my family and I live in the Texas Hill Country, I’ve been told that seeing snow here is a rare occurrence. I have, however, enjoyed seeing snow pictures that friends on Facebook have been posting. I admit to not being a huge fan of cold weather, but I do miss the photographic opportunities. And, of course, watching the kids and pets play in the snow is always fun.
We’ve had several wonderful snowfalls in the past, but one of the most memorable was in 2011. Our daughter wasn’t quite a month old when we got freezing rain followed by several inches of snow. By some miracle, our power remained on. Unfortunately, our pipes froze. At that time, we lived out in the country a ways, and didn’t have enough bottled water for anything other than drinking. It took three days for things to warm up enough for us to have running water again.
During those three days, my husband would fill buckets with snow and bring them inside. I’d then melt the snow and boil the water on the stove. We could use that to wash dishes, cook with, and make sure the dogs had water to drink. We were also cloth diapering our newborn, and I figured I could use that water to hand wash her diapers if needed. I’m going to freely admit, however, that the cloth diapers worked well until the last one was dirty. That third day, I went ahead and broke out the package of disposable diapers. Yeah, I don’t regret that decision. LOL
In the end, our little boy loved playing in the snow, and it was an adventure I’ll never forget!
Giveaway: How about you? Have you ever had a weather-related adventure? Comment below and one winner will be randomly chosen to win a digital copy of any one of my books! I’ll choose a winner on Saturday, February 2nd.
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While I’ve never been snowbound, I had a lot of fun writing a book where the main characters – a divorced couple – are stranded together and forced to address the issues they never did face years ago. I absolutely love writing and reading about second chances, especially when it means a second chance for a couple who was once married to fall in love all over again.
If you haven’t read I Still Do yet, now’s a great time! Even better, you can read it while cuddled up by the fire with your favorite hot beverage nearby!
What’s worse than running into your ex-husband? Becoming snowbound with him and an avalanche of memories you can’t escape.
When Cora Wells married her high school sweetheart at nineteen, she thought it was the beginning of a perfect life together. Their divorce two years later shattered her heart. She thought she’d never see him again, until she agrees to go on a crazy trip to honor a loved one and comes face to face with none other than her ex-husband, Grey.
Grey Jackson never could decide which was his biggest mistake–marrying Cora or divorcing her. He thought he’d moved past it all, but unexpectedly seeing Cora brings every emotion back to the surface. He can tell she’s keeping something from him, yet how can he expect her to open up to him after he shut himself off from her years ago?
When a crazy winter storm leaves them all snowbound, everything seems to go wrong, and Cora and Grey have no choice but to work together. As tempers flare and old wounds are re-opened, they must face the truth of what happened between them. Will it give them a second chance to rediscover their first love?
I Still Do is available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited
Melanie D. Snitker is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes inspirational and sweet romance novels. She and her husband live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure. They share their home with two dogs, a guinea pig, two lizards, and four frogs. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, baking, computer games, and hanging out with family and friends.
Hi Melanie, thanks for sharing your photos and memories of snow! We don’t get snow at our home- the mountain about 15 mins away will get a dusting most winters, but we have to drive a couple hours to good snow; nothing like what you guys get!!
We spent part of our Christmas (Summer) holidays camping; our last night the wind picked up and it was CRAZY! Our whole camper was being buffeted by the wind, so much so that my husband got up and unzipped the awnings. When it was light enough to see, two tents across the road from us had been blown down, another tent nearby had been flattened- we were very thankful to have come through the night intact!
Blessings:)
Good morning! I miss the snow too, being raised in NJ and now living in Florida. Speaking of weather related issues, lol, for several years in a row we have been hit with mild hurricanes…by mild I mean no one lost their life, and structure damage was light….but power was out for days each time!
I grew up in Northern New Mexico. At this point most people assume we had no idea what snow was, but we would actually get a ton every year. (We were 7500 feet above sea level). I can remember a handful of school delays but never a cancellation – not even when we got 5′ of snow overnight.
When we moved to the DC suburbs just before middle school, we got a “massive” snowfall for the area and missed almost three weeks of school. How much snow? 10″
My family laughed and laughed.
Hi Melanie! As a Midwesterner, I have survived many blizzards, being snowed in, and extreme cold. January 25 was the anniversary of the 1978 blizzard that shut down Michigan for an entire week. The winter of 2013 – 2014 we received 180 inches of snow and students had 7 snow days (a record for the area). We moved to Chicago in January 1979 during a blizzard. January 10, 1982 while living in the Chicago area our family survived 80 below zero windchill. Our key sheered off in the lock and ice formed indoors above our door. That January we had 13 days of zero or below temperatures. January 25, 1985 we lived in the city of Chicago and our water pipe froze from the street to the house. We had to unthaw the pipe at the man hole with a blow dryer. As a pastor’s wife living next door to the church, I fed many a homeless person that winter. Today is another snow day – not sure if students will have school this week. Best wishes. Stay warm.
1988 December Denver Colorado got 2 feet of snow and I had 3 kids under 5 to take to get groceries was an event alright.
I grew up in Texas so I like the warmth and now that I live in DC area, I feel cold all the time! But you’re right, it does make for some great photo ops. :)
My big snow story was in Sunday Edition two days ago! It seems much of North America is getting hammered with snow this winter, while we’re not.
I really enjoyed I Still Do. And such a perfect title for a reunion story!
Oh, wow! I’ll bet that was both crazy and scary. I’m so glad that you came through that horrible storm okay, even with all that wind. I’ll bet the mountain near you looks beautiful when it gets that dusting of snow!
That is a huge change moving from NJ to Florida, Paula Marie! Hurricanes seem so scary. And to have no power for days at a time – that’s not fun! I’ve always thought it would be intimidating to live in Florida because of the hurricanes. Of course, it’s all in what you’re used to. This area of Texas doesn’t get many tornadoes, but I’ve lived in areas that did.
LOL!!! That is too funny!
It was similar for us. I grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona where we got a lot of snow (even though most people who think of Arizona think of Phoenix and desert). Then we moved to Oregon and people were snowbound in 4″ of snow and NO ONE knew how to drive in it. LOL
Wow, Renate. I’m not sure I could survive in temperatures and weather like that. LOL Sounds like you’ve had a lot of experience with extremely cold temps. Thanks so much for sharing! <3
Wow, Kim, I’ll bet it was quite the adventure!!
I think it’d be harder to go from a warm state to a cold one! Hopefully you’ll adjust soon and not feel so cold all the time!
I enjoyed the photos you shared, Valerie, both last Sunday and all month. So many gorgeous pictures!! My half sister and her family are in the middle of some of that crazy snow this week. Brrrr!
Thanks so much! I Still Do was one of my favorite books to write. It was so much fun!
That is so funny, Liz, I know what you mean! In 1989 Jacksonville Florida was hit with a snow “storm”………a few inches, lots of icy roads, and EVERYTHING shut down for two days – the weekend before Christmas! My family in NJ was like, what?? LOL
Snow memories have me turning back the clock to 1980. Here in Va. we don’t get a big amount of snow, but that year we had a ton.
Saturday, March 1st we had tickets to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. There was already a snowstorm going on outside, so we debated going as planned with our neighbors and each of our 3 yr. olds. Both girls were so excited so we decided to go. We went to the 2 p.m. show at the Norfolk Scope about 10 miles from our home. We enjoyed the circus but kept our eye on the storm outside.
Near the end of the show we decided to leave a bit early and get a head start. I still remember pulling out of that parking garage and turning around looking behind me. The car behind us pulled out too, but then a guard stepped out and stopped the next car.
We weren’t sure what that was about but we continued on. We had chains on our tires and had no problems driving but there was not a soul on the road, snow and ice everywhere. We felt like we had dropped into another world. We had to go through a tunnel and across an old bridge with wooden railings but we got through.
Our one yr. old was at grandmas, my husband thought we should go on home and let her stay there. Nothing doing, I had to pick up my baby! I insisted we drive the few extra miles and get my girl. It was a good thing too. The entire Hampton Roads area was shut down for 3 days and all cities were in a state of emergency and no cars except emergency vehicles were allowed on the roads.
We found out later on the news that car behind us was the last car out of Scope that night, the city had shut down the exits to Scope, and somewhere around 1300 of the 2300 people in attendance spend a hungry, cold and uncomfortable night in that coliseum until they were allowed to leave at 10 the next morning. The circus animals had to walk 3 miles to the train station the next day. The 2 hr walk ended up taking 12 hrs, but they still made it to Richmond for the show that day! There were news crews filming the animals walk. Here’s a 90 second video
https://pilotonline.com/news/local/weather/storms/article_01008233-5020-5ebe-ad8d-8cb2a44027d2.html
The Circus Blizzard of 1980 will always stand out as my most memorable snow experience.
My most memorable weather event was the Blizzard of ’78. My brother, sister, and cousin were out in it and my cousin’s truck got stuck in the middle of the road. They walked to the closest house and were fortunate they knew who lived there. They spent the night there and managed to make it home the next day. My sister said she would not have been able to walk unassisted because of the snow and wind. We were out of school for most of January.
My weather stories are mild compared to most, but one stands out in my mind. One year we had taken our boys to Sunriver the day after Christmas. We live about three hours away. We decided to head home early because a storm was moving in. We probably should have left the day before though because it took us eight hours in our, F150 with studded snow tires and four wheel drive, to get home. There were two snow slides on the pass that blocked traffic and then black ice once we got out of the snow. Cars were sliding all over the place. Anyone who knows me well, knows that scenario terrified me. I prayed all the way until I hear the Lord say to me “Relax. I got you.” I relaxed some after that, but it’s something I’ve never forgotten.
Just your typical adventure when you loose power for days!!
My husband and I went to the Sierras of California for our honeymoon the end of December (45 years ago). We got there okay, and then it started snowing… We had planned to go our for most of our meals, but thankfully my hubby had picked up a bunch of snacks. We ended up eating all those snacks! We would have had to put chains on to get out of the subdivision where the cabin in which we were staying was located, then take them off when we got to the main road, and then put them on again to get back to the cabin. So we just stayed put! Thankfully, there was lots of firewood and a hideabed right by the fireplace. :-)
Melanie, I do not miss snow lol
I grew up in Russia with cold snowy winters, so California is perfect for me :)
We enjoy snow when we want to by driving to Tahoe :)
This December, we’ve decided to cut out own tree for Christmas – well – we ended up in a snow storm, got lost on the farm with four children, it was getting dark…so it confirmed that I do not miss snow lol AND we didn’t cut the tree, We bought one on our way back, but kids have a story to tell for sure!
Oh my goodness, Tracey, what an experience! I’m sure, looking back, you were so relieved you went and got the baby. It was also probably pretty miraculous that you got home without getting stuck anywhere. The video was amazing to watch – thank you for sharing!
Sounds like the weather was just terrible, Sherri! I’m glad your brother, sister, and cousin were able to make it to a house to weather the storm!
Oh, I would’ve been incredibly stressed out in that scenario as well! And for the whole drive to take that long – yikes!! I’m so glad you guys got home safely!
That’s enough, though, right?! lol
What a fun adventure! I’m sure it was nothing like you’d planned, but definitely memorable!
I truly don’t miss snow, either, Natalya lol I always told my family that having snow for one day withing a week of Christmas and that was it was MORE than enough for me.
Wow on getting lost on the farm during the snow storm. You’re right, the kids will have a story they’ll never forget!
In Upstate SC, we don’t get much snow either – maybe a dusting or a couple of inches some years. In 1988, we got 12 inches. Luckily, we had power too, but we were snowed in for three days. After that, it would re-freeze every night and my dad carried me to work for two weeks – leaving late and coming home early. I love snow and wish we had more, but if it’s going to snow, I want to be at home with my family and not have to be on the roads.
I grew up in Northern Illinois and we had a lot of snow. In 1968, I remember driving in a blizzard to pick my sister up at work.
We also lived in North Dakota for three years while hubby went to school. We lived in a trailer. I had to use a hair dryer to unfreeze the doorlocks so the door would shut after he left for class in the morning.
We also lived 75 miles north of Green Bay for 11 years. We had a looooong driveway that had to be shoveled before we made the trip about a mile away to Church where my hubby was pastor. I’m tired of smow. Here in Mid Missouri we don’t get much. But tomorrow it will be 3 degrees.
I agree about how, if you are going to have snow, it’s best to just get to be home with the family. It’s getting out there on the roads that’s no fun! So sweet of your dad to get you to work and back like that!
Thanks for sharing, Paula! After all that snow, I’m sure it is nice to not have to deal with it much now. But 3 degrees tomorrow? That’s still way too cold!
Thanx for the giveaway!!! I enjoyed reading everyone’s snow stories. I grew up in Michigan and lived through the Blizzard of 1978! I was in college in Grand Rapids. The snow reached the secord story windows on the dorms! On the farm, we always had a wood stove and a generator to cope with power outages. Here in my husband’s beloved West Texas, we get cold, but not much snow. Our first winter here, we had a snow day from school for 2″ of powder. My daughters were so disappointed. You couldn’t play in it! It just blew away!!!
Hi, Jennifer! Wow, snow up to the second story windows. That’s a lot of snow! Yeah, when it snows in West Texas, it does seem like it just blows away lol Very dry and hard to make snowmen with it, too. lol
My biggest and greatest snow story happened a little over 25 years ago! In 1994, on January 21, I married my husband with approximately 3 ft of snow on the ground. I had been at his house watching a movie and we fell asleep. We woke up the next morning to more than 3 ft of snow on the ground! My little car was completely covered and the only way we could even open the front door was after his brother drove a tractor down and cleaned off the front deck. My grandmother was upset because I was having to stay at his place and we weren’t married, so, since we were engaged, as soon as we could get everything ready (marriage license, rings, etc.), he went and got our preacher, brought him to our house and we got married! Probably the only time in my life I actually liked snow! ;-)
Count me in Melanie! One week for Christmas is perfect :)
One of my weather adventure was, we just moved in to a house we just bought and the pump to the well went out a couple of days before Christmas Eve. I don’t know how many gal jugs of water we went through, for drinking, dishes, bathroom. We finally found a repair man to come out on Christmas Eve. We needed to replace the old pump in the end.