Welcome Back Winter

 We have been very spoiled this winter.

I was looking back over pictures from last winter when we were still living in Idaho, and remembering when we had so much snow that almost the entire front of the house was hidden behind a frozen white wall of snow.

There were snowbanks over six feet tall all over town.

I shoveled more snow last year than all the snow I had shoveled in total over my life time.

By all accounts they had as much snow here in Wyoming as we did in Idaho.

We have been very spoiled this winter.

Regular snow falls followed by days and even weeks of temperatures above freezing.

We have had more snow-free days this winter that snow-filled days.

January was mostly in the upper 30s and 40s.

LC and I had planned on traveling over to Idaho (the long way - up into Montana and then drop back down into Idaho since the park is closed) to get some of our large things - vehicles and campers and boats and how the heck did we accumulate so much stuff anyway??

We saw the weather forecast - 80% chance of snow with accumulations around 1-2 inches.

We had heard that same forecast a number of times through early February, but saw little aside from a few meager flakes.

Much to my disappointment at the time, but we assumed that this forecast would follow the same course.

It didn't.

It was snowing when we woke up Saturday morning and (aside from a few short breaks in the snow bands) it did not stop until Sunday evening.

By the time it was all said and done we had 8 inches of new snow and the temperature had bottomed out (0 during the day and -15 overnight).

Once it became obvious that THIS snowfall was not going to be like OTHER snowfalls, we called our trip to Idaho off.

Reluctantly deciding to wait and try again next week.

I snapped these first pictures on Sunday morning.

Aside from a few brief trips outside, all of us had been housebound for over 24 hours and had cabin fever.

It was freezing cold outside as I looked down at my dog.

Kory was beginning to climb the walls and take me with her.

Pacing the floor.

Looking at me in that silent, expectant, bright eyed, tail wagging, sit right in front of me so I can't ignore her way that she has, when she really really REALLY wants to go for a walk.

And so I bundled up, grabbed for my puppy's leash and headed for the door.

I knew how cold it was outside (made even colder because of the wind) and told LC that we probably wouldn't be gone very long...............

 It was mid Sunday morning.

And mid long weekend.

The day was totally silent in that way the world always is when new snow covers the ground, when nobody is driving on the roads, and when the roads have not yet been ploughed.

It felt as though the entire world was hunkered down under a pile of quilts.

The whole world quietly drinking mugs of steaming hot chocolate and binge-watching a favorite TV show.

I quietly trudged through the snow and watched as my happy puppy danced and pranced in the new snow.

Ecstatic to be outside and (as always) loving the snow.

It was cold.

So cold that my ungloved, camera-holding, picture-taking hand immediately froze, and after snapping a few quick pictures I struggled to shove my stinging and bright red hand back into a single cold glove.............

 The loose plan  to walk around the block quickly became a hard-and-fast plan to walk to the end of the road and then go home.

This dog had never seen snow until she came to live with us.

This dog loves to play in snow and seems impervious to the cold...............

 The little house that we are renting looks so much smaller on the outside than it does on the inside.

It is a clean, comfortable and well laid out home............

 By the time we walked back up the driveway to the house it was beginning to snow again.

We had only be outside for 15 minutes - long enough to walk to the end of the road and back, but that was going to have to be good enough for now.

It was too cold for such foolishness.

A broken wagon that quietly sits at the end of the driveway of the house next door to us.

One of many such wagons that dot the Cody landscape...............

 By Monday morning the snow fall was over.

What remained was a good ground cover of snow that made the world look like a winter wonderland.

What also remained was the greyness of an overcast sky and a day that was even colder than it had been the day before.

The sun battled valiantly (but briefly) for dominance, but after a brief fight it reluctantly gave up.

The sun would stay hidden for one more day.

Kory and I walked again.

This time we wandered further, exploring some of the neighborhood.

The roads had been ploughed by this time so walking was easier.

Regardless of the greyness or the coldness it was a wonderful, beautiful day and we were both glad to be outside...............

 Kory heading out of the picture.

Heart Mountain in the background.............

 We currently live in a quiet neighborhood filled with homes and churches, with mountain views in all directions, and close to down town.

It works.

For now at least, it works for us................

 Just a random picture of a sweet little house.............

 Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless...............Terri Guillemets