It is just funny that every day we get a little more snow. While it does not stick except where piles have accumulated, it seems like most mornings our lawn is white. I have always loved the snow, from the towering drifts in Spokane and Hailey, Idaho to the whirling white on ski hills ready for me to plow down in a whoosh. From Doctor Zhivago a favorite line comes to mind, chanted by Yuri and Tonya’s daughter “Ho! Ho! Ho! I love the snow!” as she waltzes around Varykino. 

You might have witnessed my lips forming these same words during early morning runs as I skitter through the snow-covered roads. The cold does not strike an endearing chord in quite the same way, but I still enjoy it as long as I have a warm hat, coat, and gloves. 

My husband periodically reminds me that there is not really “cold weather”, but rather improper dress.

Reno residents may have a different take on these falling flakes as the city and surrounding mountains have been inundated this year. Fortunately, warm days fall in-between flurries and roads are fairly clear, but enormous mounds stand in parking lots and along narrow streets where dumping is limited. Last Saturday following the UNR basketball debacle, we exited to swirls of snowflakes.

On the positive side, they lightened the mood following a heart wrenching game; the bad side includes crazy, inattentive drivers and slick sidewalks. We tiptoed along, finding a pizza place where we could pause and warm up before moving on. 

Outside the window we watched fast drivers swoop down the hill either swerving left and right then skidding to a stop or crashing into another vehicle’s bumper. Surprisingly in this turmoil, no one even left their car – no fist shaking, no shouting, no exchanging of insurance information. I suppose other more important places beckoned.

As for the wind? That produces less thrill. Sunday morning, I awoke, had a cup of instant Starbucks (not so tasty), grabbed my jogging gear and headed out the hotel room door. One glance relayed to me that running was not a good idea. 

Churning snow in gusting winds created dismal conditions, plus 5 inches of fluff take away part of the enjoyment as steady strides transition into clomping chomps with skidding hazards hidden beneath. 

Checking back into the room the entire family had awakened and we determined that loading the car and heading out would be wise. Slipping in and out of the room with piles of miscellaneous junk to toss into the car, we pulled onto McCarran – a wild mess. The freeway improved as we traveled east with intermittent sun, snow, and hail wrapped up in constant westerly wind. Little did these problems matter as getting home became our focus.

Fortunately, a blasting heater in the car and a pellet stove in our home answer my shivering woes. Dual controls in the car allow me to run the heater full blast while Lynn can tone it down a little. The stove investment has been one of our finest, providing us with toasty living room, dining, and kitchen areas while keeping it cool in the bedroom for agreeable sleep. Although I must bundle up in the morning before the fire is roaring, proper dress keeps it tolerable. 

Another interesting aspect of our March snows includes how warm it can be. More hours of daylight and the sun’s increasing intensity make for pleasant outings. It is only when winds erupt that I am reminded that winter still exists. I have chatted with friends about the warm spell of a couple of weeks ago.

You know, the one when we all thought about spring and planting gardens? Thank goodness a busy life and better sense prevented me from churning up the soil and dropping innocent seeds into the earth. I actually know better as frost in June is quite possible. 

Weather forecasters assure viewers that sunny warmth lie ahead. As delightful as this thought is, we all realize that too much heat too fast will bring disastrous flooding across the state which will hem us in in a new way. I just have to remind myself that these temperature swings are Nevada’s tactic for letting me know who’s the boss. In reality the challenge of determining weather patterns, or the lack thereof, entertains me. It amazes me how often my phone displays ‘12:15pm snow’ and voila! Here it comes.