Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Let it Snow

Ten years ago it snowed here in Solvang. And not just a little snow that melts when it hits the ground. As you can see from our cars, we had a few inches pile up.

Solvang is a place where we dress in shorts and t-shirts to watch the Christmas parade. We go to the beach on New Year's Day. People pull out boots and sweaters when it gets below 60 degrees. Snow was a big deal.

My husband and I were so excited we hopped in his truck and drove around town. We took pictures and videotaped our favorite places wearing a blanket of white. We had a snowball fight in the front yard and stuck our tongues out to catch the tiny flakes.

Some people aren't sure about the date. But I always remember that it snowed in February of 1999. Because the day after it snowed, I realized I was pregnant. My son was born that November.

This morning when I took the kids to school it was 36 degrees outside. A winter storm is headed our way. My kids are praying for snow. So am I.

I was thinking about the snow as I sang this song earlier today. So I added some of my snow pictures and set it to the Gingerbread Singers' a capella rendition of "Jingle Bells" (I'm the tenor).



The winner for the Third Day of Christmas is:



Congratulations, Shannon! Email me at solvangsherrie at gmail dot com and let me know which prize you would like to receive from Day Three.

For the Fourth Day of Christmas there are two book choices. Choice #1 is Hamlet by John Marsden, an updated YA version of Shakespeare's classic play. If only we could have read this in English class! And isn't that a great cover?

Choice #2 is The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. This is another update on a classic tale, this time from the Grimm brothers. I love reimagined fairy tales and this one was a good read.

I'll be randomly selecting a winner for this drawing on Thursday night, 10 pm PST so be sure to leave a comment before then. And don't forget to email me to claim your prize.

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

23 comments:

Kelly Polark said...

I hope your kids can enjoy some snow in Solvang soon! You are lucky though, then you get warmth! My daughter cried this morning when she found out it wasn't a snow day after all here!
Loved the pics and the Gingerbread singers! Yay! I'm so glad I finally got to hear you sing! Beautiful!!

Jackee said...

Thanks for sharing both the giveaways and your beautiful voice. We certainly have snow we can share--Flagstaff's snowstorm even made national news!

Susan R. Mills said...

I hope it snows for you guys. We got snow last night. It's beautiful. Nothing unusual for Kansas, though.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

You can have ALL the snow here. I'll put it in a big insulated box and send it to you. Your kids will love me forever!

Anonymous said...

Good luck on the snow. We haven't had it down at our level, but when we scrape the ice off the car windows, it piles around the edges and LOOKS like snow. It is FREEZING up here! :)

Sherrie Petersen said...

Kelly: Unfortunately it will probably warm up when the storm moves in, cruel irony! My kids would love a snow day :)

Jackee: I miss Flagstaff!! I lived in Scottsdale for seven years and we often hit the slopes in Flag. Isn't it crazy that I skied more often when I lived in the desert?

Susan: Snow is so beautiful. Wish I could have done more than drive through Kansas!

Glam: My kids would love you. I'll pay the postage!

Becky: The roofs and lawns look like it snowed every morning. I guess that will have to do for now!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Sherrie,
Thanks so much for the day 3 prize! I'm so excited!

It has been below zero here all week. Today it has been trying to snow, and we're supposed to get a bunch next week. That's Montana for ya! :)

Elana Johnson said...

Man, I wish I could go to the beach on New Year's. I'm currently huddled in my coat at the computer, because the heat didn't come on at school today. It was a balmy 40 degrees this morning -- inside. Outside? 4. That's right. FOUR. And lots of snow. I hate it.

But I hope you get some!

PJ Hoover said...

We were hoping for snow last week but it didn't happen. Well, it snowed but nothing stuck and then the sun came out.

Julie Dao said...

Yay for snow! We got a ton today, but that's no surprise considering I'm in wintry New England. Enjoy the weather!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

i want snow! :)

Dawn Simon said...

Snow in Solvang--who'd have thunk it? I didn't know it ever snowed there, but I wondered when you said how cold it was yesterday. I hope you guys get the snow you're wishing for! There is something magical about snow.

Thanks for the book giveaways. It's super fun of you--and I think so even if I don't get selected any of the days. Really. :)

Sherrie Petersen said...

Shannon: You're welcome! Enjoy the snow for us :)

Elana: 4 degrees outside -- wow! Sounds like fun :D

PJ: I didn't realize Austin got snow at all. I knew it was a cool city, but now it's even better!

Julie: New England just gets all the great seasons. Lucky you!

Shelli: Me too :D

Dawn: Snow is totally magical! And I'm glad you're enjoying the party :)

Yat-Yee said...

You guys sound FABULOUS! If you come out to Pikes Peak again, we'll have to make you sing at one of the banquets.

We have snow, and the cold that goes with it. We won't see freezing till sometime this weekend.

lisa and laura said...

Congratulations Shannon!

Thanks for sharing the song too! Absolutely beautiful.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

We've been enjoying a LOT of snow over the last twenty-four hours. It has been awesome. We had almost thirteen inches! The wind was something else. There are drifts so big, I can't get through them with my big time John Deer snow blower..

I'd love to win a copy of Shannon Hale's Goose Girl. :)

Sherrie Petersen said...

Yat-Yee: Thanks *blushes* I hope you're enjoying the snow, at least a little!

LiLa: Thanks :)

Sharon: Thirteen inches?! I remember digging igloos out of those snow drifts. I'm so jealous! That string of storms we were supposed to have has so far only given us one day of rain.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Sherrie - I have some "virtual flowers" waiting for you at my blog today! Come and see. ;-)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Sherrie--I remember making snow tunnels in the big piles of snow on the side of the roads when I was a kid. Ironically, I moved to NE Iowa when I moved to America and 35 years later I'm back in NE Iowa. I spent three and a half hours blowing snow this morning. We have new neighbors (from Pakistan) and they only had a shovel! I helped dig them out. They have a seriously big driveway!

Kelly H-Y said...

Snow is so awesome ... hope your kids get their wish soon! :-)

Lori W. said...

Your snow pictures are beautiful. I can't believe it snowed that much there! Loved listening to you sing.

Sherrie Petersen said...

Comments are now closed for the drawing.

Shannon: I love flowers--thanks!

Sharon: That was so nice of you to help with their driveway. I'm guessing they don't get a lot of snow in Pakistan!

Kelly H-Y: If it doesn't snow here, we'll just have to go to the mountains. And that's not such a bad option :)

Lori: Amazing, huh? Especially since it's usually warmer up here than in Santa Barbara!

Anonymous said...

Thank you fro dropping by! I sem to be getting lost in keeping up lately! Thanks for your comments tonight at my blog especially.

Now, I pray you will have your snow :)!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...