Friday, November 21, 2008

FIRST SNOW

This week marked the first big snows of the winter. Wednesday provided a good dusting and then today (Friday) we got a few more inches. The snow flakes here can be so large that it piles up very quickly.

Since the snow ushers in the winter weather, I thought I would provide my Top-Ten Winter Hints for Texans living in Latvia.

  1. Never leave home without your warm cap, thermal long-johns and scarf. It only takes one time for your ears to become ice-cubes and you will never forget again.
  2. Just because an old lady can move really fast over black ice doesn't mean you can. She has 70+ years of walking on ice and snow, you have five months.
  3. If a group of kids starting gathering around fresh, wet snow ... move away! They will bomb anybody within range with snowballs (and they are accurate).
  4. A bus or tram can sling icy slush at least 1/2 of its total length (or where ever you are standing...which ever is further).
  5. Don't forget to bring the firewood in every day ... or your wife gets really aggravated walking through snow at night to the woodshed.
  6. Snow is soft, its the concrete underneath that is hard.
  7. Snow tires, snow tires, snow tires
  8. Get over the idea of having a big, steaming hot, spicy bowl of Texas chili. It just isn't going to happen.
  9. If your wife is not sure-footed, go with the Yak-Traks.
  10. Be ready for strange looks when you say "I've never seen this much snow in my life."

 

Here are a few pictures from today's walk:

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Lovely post! LOVE the snow photos! Looks by your list you are getting acclimated to Latvia! I have yak traks too and don't leave home without them when it's icy. Thanks for sharing. Come see us in Ergli some time. God Bless, Kim