Snow on the Roof

The sky showers us with white wonder.

c e hollis

Sleet came down hard sounding like an old typewriter’s keys tap-tap-taping on the metal roof. The sun coming out next morning showed a layer of ice that looked like snow but to the disappointment of gleeful children was not user friendly. It was hard and slick and made for dangerous walking and driving. The tiny pellets like marbles rolled against each other.

People stayed indoors and drank hot chocolate and ate Poptarts. They cuddled up cozy in their Christmas blankets and watched movies. They put beans in their crockpots and hoped to have electricity later so they could bake cornbread. Yes, comfort foods. They sipped coffee and lit candles so as to ward off the drearies.

The horses seemed not to mind the cold and snow at all. They spent their day at the hayring chomping on hay. Just another little inconvenience–the snow falling. At least there were no flies bothering them.

The sun reflecting off the white snow and ice, made things glare almost too bright to look at. Whitey wasn’t so white as he usually looks–all his spots gleamed. The cows wander the pasture questioning: “Will we get an extra feed? What is all this stuff anyway?” The sun shone and there was hay so they are content.

Snow and ice soon dripped from the roof, carport and the tree branches. The sycamore tree served up the cold cuts of snow. The birds emptied the feeders. Cardinals and jays, nuthatches and meadowlarks came for an extra share of sunflower seeds.

What a mess! What a lot of extra work to get water for all the livestock! The homesteaders and ranchers have to break water in the tanks and ponds and put water out for dogs and cats and other pets even for the chickens. The mail doesn’t run. The streets are empty. Snow muffles any sounds. The world is printed on black and white film.

The long day passes. The clock dutifully ticks and tocks. Enjoying their time off work and school we get a chance to spend some family time and read books we’ve had been meaning to get to. Snow cascades down while folks watch from their double-paned windows and shiver. It is beautiful and exciting. Put on another sweater and a soft lap blanket. Listen, I hear the tea kettle whistling.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.”

Isaiah 55:10