Snow-ing

I turned off the lamp next to my bed last night and opened the curtains on the patio doors so I could "see the blizzard" upon waking.  It was disappointing to wake at 5:00 a.m. to a mere 6 inches on the ground and visibility normal.

It is now 7:30 and I have to  give the weather forcasters their due.  The snow is falling heavily, the wind is whipping the holiday flag in the front yard across the street and tree tops are twisting furiously.  Next to the garage a drift is being sculpted and tranformed by the minute. 

The news scrolls at the bottom of the TV screen announcing the seemingly endless list of cancellations that include school activities, college classes, ACT tests, concerts and the list goes on and on and on.

I am now in the mood to decorate for Christmas and begin my baking.  It is the perfect time to hunker down, fill the house with wonderful aromas and fill the tins with Swedish Krumkaka, Swiss Bratzels, gingerbread cookies.  My new favorite recipe this year is cardamom cookies.  They are "no fuss."  Just mix everything together, form into "logs," wrap in wax paper, refrigerate, cut when chilled and bake.  I can already smell and taste them.

Outside my window overlooking Randolph Avenue, busses slowly climb the incline, contract snow plows are on the move.  It is incredibly quiet on the street.  Best of all, no ambulances, fire trucks or police cars rushing to emergencies.

7:55 a.m.: St. Paul declared a snow emergency and will begin removing snow tonight.  Now it is official.  We have a snowstorm!