Sugar Snow

Here in central Wisconsin, nearing the end of March, is the beginning of maple syrup season, and with it a blizzard with snow lightning.   Surprised really by the lightning and thunder, and last night the TV was fried by a direct hit--zzzzzpt!  So much for the boring weather channel anyway...don't really need that when you look outside and see the amazing phenomenon of a powerful thunderstorm in a blizzard.  Who can doubt the existence of God when you are momentarily blinded by an other-worldly flash so bright that it takes at least a half minute to regain normal vision.  With this amazing spring blizzard comes the phenomenon called "sugar snow".

According to several children's literature books, we've come to understand how this snow has been so aptly named, since it's appearance and texture truly resembles very large crystals of SUGAR!  Actually, it looks more like actual Swarovsky crystals in large drifts on my screen porch:  treasures from heaven, I think to myself and to God.  Thank you for this gift!  Normally, this type of snow occurs at the same time maple sugar season occurs, another sweet gift from the Creator!  Normally, winter is like an unwanted visitor to me, one I hope leaves sooner than it actually does.  I know this won't last, and even though the icy sugar snow is almost impossible to drive on, I'll be glad for just one more time to be home-bound and cozy...a sugar-snow day!