Spring may be here, but it sure doesn't seem like it when you look out the window. In fact, we were short on snow earlier this winter, but it came through at the end and gave us an average or above total for the winter.
As I am writing this, the snow is again coming down outside for the seventh consecutive Monday, so I thought I would share a few more "remembrances" of winters past.
A popular fundraiser for local charities used to consist of placing an old car on our local lakes. Tickets were sold, which let people purchase a chance to see when they thought the car would drop through the ice.
The person who guessed the time closest to the actual melt-through would win the big prize. As the weather got warmer, people would drive out past the lake so they could check on the progress of the ice conditions and see if the car was on top of the ice or below it.
The process was stopped because of the possibility of any remaining fluids in the vehicle leaking out into the water. I wonder how many of those old cars are still at the bottom of the lake? I can't see why the practice couldn't be made environmentally friendly again; after all, the Navy sinks old ships to create artificial reefs — why not here in Minnesota?
Where was your favorite sliding hill? For many, it was "The Big Hill" about a mile north of Clarks Grove. Kids (and adults) would bring all kinds of to the hill for a day of sledding.
Very few people skied back in those days. Most kids walked out to the big hill in the cold from Clarks Grove, while others were able to get rides. Sledders would be out for hours in the cold; sometimes, a bonfire was built, but usually the exertion of walking uphill (and the adrenaline rush of sliding downhill) kept them warm.
Big kids and adults would go all the way to the top of the hill, while smaller kids had to be content with the lower slopes. There was always a contest to see who could go the furthest on the run out on the bottom.
I've driven past there several times but I haven't seen a kid there in several years. I wonder why, and if they know what they are missing.
I am also guessing that a liability issue came into play and the person owning the land could not allow people to use “The Big Hill” anymore.
Tire chains used to be standard winter equipment in every car, along with a towrope and a shovel. When was the last time you saw someone with tire chains on their car?
Most people used to carry a survival kit in a three-pound coffee can in their car in case they got stuck. The survival kit contained a candle or a can of sterno, a book of matches, or a flashlight, as well as a few snack type items, a bottle of aspirin, extra batteries, a deck of cards, and a little bit of change.
A bright colored balloon could also be included in the survival kit as it could be blown up and tied to a strong string, which could be used to easily let someone know that there was someone inside the vehicle. It was important to keep that survival kit inside the car, not in the trunk, as people may not have been able to get to the trunk.
A candle lit inside the can would keep the temperature inside of the car from freezing. The can and candle could also be used to melt snow for drinking water. Though there was little chance of starvation, a few hard candies or an energy bar would keep both energy levels and spirits up. A small flashlight provided light (and a little psychological comfort) in the darkness.
Most generally people are not stranded in their vehicles for any great lengths of time like it was back in those "good old days," but one never knows.
We still carry a survival kit (as well as blankets, sleeping bags or snowmobile suits) in the car, along with an extra pair of gloves, a stocking cap and scarf in the winter, as well as a shovel. Most people now have cell phones. But one never knows for sure if they are going to work, so I guess it is better to be prepared, just in case.
I can think of many years when we had epic snowstorms like those described by the “old timers” — also years when we’ve had very little snow. I can remember a few years that we got big snowstorms when it was time for the state basketball tournaments. And I guess that still holds true; the weather last weekend during the girls’ state tournament wasn't very nice.
Just one year ago, our temperatures were in the 70s. Since records have been kept, snowfall averages haven't changed much. That begs the question, "Has there been a change in the winters?" or is it the fact we are better able to deal with them now?
New and bigger equipment is a consideration, but nature is stronger than our ability to handle all she throws at us. If we do get a big snowstorm, we'll deal with it just like our rural relatives did. We'll stay at home, stay warm, do some baking, find ways to entertain ourselves by playing a few games or reading that book that we have been trying to get read, and deal with all the snow and ice when it blows itself out.
Spring, is here, or so the calendar says, but it sure doesn't look like it outside. I guess we can start thinking about making plans for planting the garden, and working up the area fields, but it will be a few days before we will be planting any seeds.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, March 28th: Taran Waalkens, Heather Lyn Shearman, her 7th; Dylan Lee Ingvaldson, his 6th; Becky Johnson, Amanda Bergerson, Judy Strenge, Dorene Richards, Bruce Jensen, Linda Seykora.
• Friday, March 29th: Leah Brittan Mortstad, Grechen Jensen Ray, Darrell Hanson, Kim Roberts Sletten, Aiden Michael Berg, his 6th; Matthew Cornelius, Fern Robertson Sommers.
• Saturday, March 30th: Jinny Nielsen, Hannah Haroldson, Melissa Collins, Carlson LaShawn Ray, his 5th; Jill Anderson, David Hemingway, Ross Johnson, Shane Johnson, Doug Hunt, Joanne Neuhart, Mollee & Joseph Tscholl, their 4th.
• Sunday, March 31st: Madison Hanson.
• Monday, April 1st: Harold Wayne, Leanna Burns, Deb Nelson, Luke Miller, Joyce Tufte Sorenson, Sonja Larson, Teresa Jensen, Kaleb Smith, Dwight Schewe, Greg Nelson, Matthew Halla, Genevieve Wayne, Bill & Pat Draayer, David & Shelly Mangskau, Brian & Lois Nelson.
• Tuesday, April 2nd: Solvieg Sorenson, Linda Goodnature, Mikayla Moon, Joanne Christensen, Randy Kronberg, Patty Slater, Jase Dean Knudson, Kevin Born.
• Wednesday, April 3rd: Daryl Paulsen, Jena Richards Thompson, Erik Smith, Rachael Nicole Roades, Erin Elaine Peterson, Nathan Spande, Theresa Kasper, Danny Larson, Don Larson, Ann Michelle Larson, Diane & Dave Broskoff.
