Remember the saying “What you see is what you get?” The words came to mind as I thought about last weekend’s snowfall.

For some folks, snow means inconvenience, a big mess, extra work (shoveling sidewalks and cleaning windshields), traffic woes and wet clothes.

I’m thinking otherwise. After the first wave of snow Sunday evening, I looked from a window to see sparkling flakes falling to form a white carpet in my back yard. I was tempted to plunge into the soft mat and roll in it just for fun. But nah, I settled for the window scene. I would’ve hated for Mr. Me to have had to pick me up and drag me in after a fall while frolicking in the fluff. Besides, I couldn’t find my snow boots.

The view was like a looking at a postcard. Trees laden with glistening ice and a growing layer of flakes, each one with a different design, just like people. Our backyard light cast just the right illumination and shadows to make a beautiful landscape.

Monday morning was a panorama of nature at work. Birds of all kinds foraged at the feeder outside my window. They flitted and hopped, hungry and happy that there was a place where they could fill their bellies.

A pregnant calico cat waddled through the yard looking for food, too. Its footprints dotted the snow in a zigzag path. Mr. Me tossed some leftovers outside, hoping it would be enough to sustain her in the freezing weather.

All day, creatures came and discovered a wonderland of bounty. I was glad I could help.

But one of the best things about being snowbound was when I decided to go outside Tuesday morning. The hedges out front were drooped with weighted branches.

When I was a kid, I remember my mom gathering fresh snow in a bowl and making what we called snow cream. The mixture of canned milk, snow, beaten egg whites, sugar and flavoring was the next best thing to storebought ice cream.
As I passed the hedges along my driveway, temptation got the best of me. I scraped the top layer of snow from some branches and pushed a fistful of the icy slush into my mouth. It wasn’t snow cream, but I savored the idea of tasting pure nature. I scooped several handfuls, dismissing concerns about acid rain (this little bit couldn’t hurt).

So I guess my point is that people see snow in different ways. It can be a nuisance. But there’s nothing more awesome than waking up to a snowdrift from God. I saw it as a blessing.

I think the birds did, too.
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