Words for snow

Two hundred does not seem like nearly enough.

Yesterday, it wasn't snow at all, but ice. It encased the branches of lilac, maple and cherry. It hung like fringe from the electrical wires. It turned the grass and leaves into a crunchy, vibrantly colored version of themselves. A glass lawn.

Last night I sat in the chair by the den window watching a cold rain fall outside and thinking about how treacherous, how slippery the morning would be. Before my eyes, a quick wind blew against the window, and the rain turned to big, soft, feathery flakes of snow.

Today's snow is golden. The sun is shining through it, making the little flurries sparkle and dance. The icy ground is still crisp, but now with a soft dusting of white here and there.

Some mornings, my Hot Shot Husband takes Bee to school, and I stay here with our little Rosey Posey MM. We do each other's hair and nails, we talk about boys and we consume candy and soda hand over fist.

This morning, HSH went to work, and I was in charge of getting both girls dressed and out the door to take Bee to school. I also had to put on honest-to-goodness outdoor-worthy pants. It was a real drag.

But I am a real trooper, so we did it.

I even remembered to put some mittens on Bee's hands, because I'm a good mom.

When I got out to the car, I opened the driver's door so I could start the ignition and the heater. Then I went around to MM's door. It wouldn't open. I fidgeted with the locks. No dice. I climbed into the car - still holding the baby - and tried to open it from the inside. It wouldn't budge. And neither would the door on the other side.

I strapped MM into her seat and instructed Bee to climb in through the driver's door, too. Once everyone was firmly belted in place, I got out to brush the snow off the windshield.

You know how sometimes, when it's raining, you might turn off the car without turning off the wipers? And then the next time you start the car, probably on a sunny morning, the wipers spring to life and you just turn them off without a second thought?

Well, if that rain has turned to ice overnight and the wipers attempt to lurch across your windshield the next morning, don't be surprised if the soft rubber part completely detaches and you have to go find a replacement. Don't be surprised, in other words, the way I was surprised this morning.

No one warned me about frozen doors or double checking that your frozen wipers are in the Off position.

I have been warned about black ice - which sounds like an awesome name for one of those tail-magnet deodorants they market to teenagers. But I don't know what it looks like. I've asked and heard that it just looks like a wet road. "How can you tell?" I asked. "You just know, because it's cold enough."

Have I mentioned that I do not even have a pair of decent gloves for myself - and that is mostly because I just don't know quite what to buy. And I'm supposed to "just know" when water is really Black Ice?

So I'm making an appeal. Those of you with experience in frosty climes, pass along your best advice here. If not for me, then for my poor children.

What do you always do? What do you never do? Where did you get your gloves?

Tell me about ice dams and snow shovels and Smartwool and tires and the right shoes to wear for all those 200 types of snow.

I know that worldwide delurking week is history, but have a heart and chime in. Then ask all your smartest, coldest friends to chime in.

Don't make me spray myself with a can of Black Ice and beg.

Comments

[ppb]

Regarding the windshield wipers....they do make a variety specially for very cold weather. They are worth investing in. I actually just leave them on year round.

The other things I always do is this: (and I don't live in a super cold place anymore, this is just habit from when I did):
have a bag in your car (a duffel bag in my case) with an extra pair of mittens, warm wool socks, a blanket, shovel, kitty litter (not the clumping kind), practical shoes (sneakers, boots---something to rescue you should you be wearing some devastatingly cute and impractical shoes) hat and flashlight. You can also put in there any other personal essentials, like, you know, mascara and candy bars.

2) never ever let your gas tank go below half during the winter.

3)Smartwool is the best stuff EVER! It's warm, it's light, it doesn't itch. But it is pricey, so look for sales!

4)Ice scrapers are really helpful, but not if they're in the car and you have to scrape your door open. Have 2--one in the car, one in the garage or by the back door.

5) They make these little melting things that will get your key into an iced over lock. They are awesome--but again, don't leave it in the car (like I've done a million times).

4)If you're a wimp about walking on ice, they make these things called trackers or stablicers that are basically cleats that slip on over your shoes. They allow you to dig in to the icey/snowy yuck and not go sliding all over. Unless I"m shoveling or doing something where I'm going to be outside for a long time, I'd much rather put a pair of trackers on over sneakers or non-snow boots (I wear those sneaker/boot combo things a lot) than change shoes a bajillion times.

Gloves: my favorite gloves of all time came from a camping store--they are fingerless gloves made of ragg wool. I love them because I can still use keys and cell phones and, you know, apply mascara, without taking my gloves off. For warmth, though--serious staying outside for a long time warmth, you'll want mittens.

Basically, go online at ll bean or rei or ems and you'll get yourself well hooked up!

[gabby]

whenever you're expecting snow or ice, pull your wiper blades straight up in the air and put bread loaf bags over them. no bread bags readily available? just leave them standing up, so much easier to de-ice.

[Jennifer]

OK, here goes...Some of the stuff is the same as the first poster, though I go a step further on the packed bag thing. Because I normally have all my kids with me I have a separate bag of stuff for everyone. I go th a thrift store or pick up at garage sales an extra set of everything for everybody. Boots, snow pants, jacket, hat, mittens, scarf and at least one blanket. I never let my gas tank go less than half all year round, it isn't good for your gas tank anyway! I put tubes of sand in my trunk to help with weight and if it becomes necessary I can use them for traction. I always have a couple of extra pairs of gloves in the car because inevitably mine get wet and my fingers get cold. I also paif a fortune for an extra key fob/ unlocker thing from the dealer that I keep hanging in the garage in case I have started the car and then locked it (very, very paranoid about that) I keep a gallon of rubbing alcohol in the garage because it will wuickly help melt ice if you don't have time to scrape it all off or you just want a head start. I ALWAYS keep a gallon of blue stuff (windshield wiper fluid) in the back of my van because I inevitably run out between exits on snowy/slushy/salty days. Drive carefully, if the road is wet and it is cold out, it could be black ice. Talk to people near you, there are several spots on my commute in that really almost always have black ice under those conditions (Schenevus to Richmondville on the 88) Good luck!

[Jennifer]

Oh, and one more thing, always a small shovel.. Heavy Duty blade but short handle!

[jo(e)]

The reason they call it black ice is because you can't see it. No one can. That is what makes it dangerous. So just remember that if the weather is hovering between rain and snow, certain surfaces like bridges will freeze. The only thing you can really do in that situation is imagine that every bridge is icy and drive slow so that you don't have to use your brakes.

If you hit ice and need to slow yourself down, downshift instead of braking.

[jo(e)]

Oh, and I hate it when the doors of my car freeze shut. Usually, it just happens on one side and I can crawl in from the other side. If I am feeling patient, I just turn the car on and run it until it's all heated up -- and usually that gets the doors to unfreeze. Usually, though, I open the doors from the inside by bracing myself against the seat and pushing with both feet against the door.

It is possible that this second method is not very good for the car.

[jo(e)]

One more thing -- if you are scatter-brained like me and lose your ice scraper, you can effective scrape ice with all kinds of random objects -- the edge of a piece of wood, the edge of a plastic cup, etc. Just pick something that won't scratch the glass.

[Bettie Bookish]

This camping gear you guys are describing - is this a precaution for the eventuality of spending the night in your car?

Has it happened to you?

[stepblog]

Here's what I do when someone tells me to watch out for black ice. I kick them in the shins. Why? Because "black ice" is just ICE! On a road! Making it black! There's no magic or secretly terrifying properties of black ice that ICE doesn't aleady have, and why, because they're the same thing! Phew. Sorry. Here's what to do: if the road looks wet, and it's below freezing, just assume it's icy. If you start to spin on the ice, do NOT slam on your brakes. Take your foot off the gas, gently pump the brakes, and try to turn away from the edge of the bridge off of which you are about to hurtle. (true story)

[ppb]

No, I've never had to spend the night in the car. And with cell phones these days you shouldn't expect to, unless you're in Montana or someplace really remote. But, if you go into a ditch and have to wait two hours for Triple A to get there because everybody else in town has also gone into a ditch, you're going to want things to stay warm with, (and the second poster is right---enough for the whole family--I'm single, so I forgot). You can't run the car the whole time. Also, nothing is more dangerous in really cold weather than being wet. If your shoes or socks get wet (and they will), you'll need to change into dry stuff--triple ditto for the tiny ones. Basically you spend all winter driving around with a bunch of junk in your trunk. Since we're getting personal here, I also include a change a underwear and a T-shirt, because while I've never spent the night in my car, I have had to stay the night in a hotel or with friends, having not planned on it, but getting smart over my inability to make it the rest of the trip due to the weather. Oh, and mascara and candy bars.

[Bettie Bookish]

You kick people in the shins? Did we go to middle school together? That sounds painfully familiar.

[ppb]

I'm totally joking about the mascara. I don't even own any. But I heard Anne Lamott give a talk once where she referred to emergency equipment and included mascara in the list. And I've always wanted to use that line.

[revdrmom]

I moved from Florida to Vermont with three kids, none of whom owned a coat...so I know whereof you speak. Here's what I learned about clothes: LL Bean is your friend. Even if you don't buy it there you can see the kind of stuff you need. And for the kids the other essential place is Rugged Bear. If there's not a Rugged Bear where you live, they are on-line. Twice a year they have everything in the store 20% off. I would always go to the fall sale to buy boots, snowpants, etc. And unless every winter is like this one, you will need those things. Boots with removable liners are great for kids b/c they will get wet inside. I had a second pair of liners in case one set didn't get dry

Good gloves are important too. I could buy gloves for myself at Rugged Bear even though it's a kid's store and they were far less than good adult gloves elsehwere.

If it is cold just assume there will be ice (black or otherwise) unless the roads are really really clear.

I never kept warm stuff in the car, but I didn't live in the country so I think the advice about that is good advice.

And the car doors--the only thing more annoying than doors that won't open b/c of ice is doors that won't shut once you get them open. I had that problem with my old Toyota. It took FOREVER for the car to get warm enought for the doors to stay shut.!

[lila]

I think you already know about it, but Sierra Trading Post dot com is a great outlet for outdoorsy gear and clothes. The shipping is slow and not cheap, but you can get some great deals.

You'll definitely want blankets in the car, and I agree that the bag of clothes, candy, and cosmetics is smart too. I think my mom used to keep sand bags in the back of the Dodge Caravan when we were wee ones, to prevent the car from fish-tailing and to use for traction under the wheels if you get stuck.

And I've seen people around here put their wiper blades straight up in the air when snow threatens. I've never tried it myself, but it seems like it must work.

As for gloves, my fingers get really cold when separated in gloves so for the nastiest of cold, I agree that mittens are the way to go.

You'll be a pro at this in no time.

[lila]

Oh, and gloves/mittens with leather (real or faux) on the palms are good for keeping a grip on the mommyvan steering wheel.

[Jennifer]

I have never had to spend the night in my car BUT about five years ago I lived near Buffalo when there was the huge snowstorm and people spent up to two days in their cars stuck on the Thruway. I don't think that I will ever need all the stuff I have with me but I don't want to be unprepared should something happen. And, if it came down to it, I could spend the night in the car with the kids and we would not freeze to death and we would not run out of gas!