I cannot recall all the
times I would be in an office in Illinois, wishing I was here at Teal Lake
experiencing a good old-fashioned snow storm. I envisioned a cozy fire in the
fireplace, a cat curled on my lap, and myself snug on the sofa and under a lap
blanket while reading a good mystery.
My wish was granted this weekend, but the dream did not come quite true. We
went to visit friends on Lost Land Lake late on Friday afternoon just as the
snow began to fall. In only a few hours, the snow had piled up enough to
challenge the four-wheel drive. The short trip to home began with an encounter
with a tree across the road. It was good luck that the tree could be pushed to
the side. We continued on.
The tracks of a previous traveler were all we had of Highway 77 to discern that
there was, indeed, a highway under the tires.The falling snow seemed to be
being pushed into the headlights. Finding the exact place to turn off of 77
onto Larson Road was not only tricky, it was important. Getting stuck at that
time would have been devastating.
There were vague imprints of tire tracks on Larson Road. We had still another
turn to negotiate. It seems ridiculous to say that we had to “find” Camp Road,
but that is how it was. And, we did find it. Now there was nothing to indicate
the way. Tree branches, heavily laden with snow, bowed to a few feet above the
ground. We were glad to be in our jalopy as we listened to frozen twigs
scraping the top. We could see only a few feet in front of the car.
Anticipation was high: would there be a tree blocking our way to home?
As we pulled into our drive, we were thankful for the light beaming out of the
porch window. The garage door lifted on command. Whew!
The view outside the windows was much more exciting than any mystery novel. We
spent the rest of the evening looking out at snow falling like confectioner’s
sugar being dumped from a child’s hand. It was too windy for a fire in
the fire place. As for the cats, they were not the least bit interested in
curling onto a lap. They were busy romping through the house playing Chase.
We awoke on Saturday morning and immediately looked out each window, doing a
reconnaissance. We were incredulous at the depth of the snow drifted across the
door. Good thing we had a shovel inside the porch! All of the trees around the
house seemed safe. That was not to be true for one tree in the woods which had
decided to fall across our drive. Now we would not get plowed out so quickly.
And plowing is needed! The snow is so deep that it is hard to navigate even on
snow shoes. There are drifts in our yard that are a solid five feet deep. The
boulders that make our fire ring are mere little bumps in the deep snow.
As I sit in our “lake room” sipping coffee this morning, the sun is shining on
Paradise Island. The trees on the island are heavily frosted in snow. Their
brushy brown tops wave across a pale blue strip of sky, giving a hint of how
windy it is this morning.
The sky itself looks like an agate with hues of blue and gray. Add a wisp or
two of fluffy white.
As the sun continues its ascent, its spotlight creeps across the surface of
Teal Lake which is deeply drifted. The tops of the drifts remind me of the pock
marks on the lunar surface.
This has been a wonderful, powerful storm experience. I have never been in such
intense falling snow. The sound of the trees creaking under the weight of their
boughs impresses me. They are strong and mighty. The deep crevices made on the
surface of the snow testify to the crazy way the wind danced during the storm.
Our power stayed on. We will be plowed out soon. Life is good!
