By Ralphine Major

We waited—and it came.  The world seems to come to a stop, or at least slow down, when Mother Nature blankets the earth in snowflakes.  What was once a common sight in East Tennessee winter is now more rare.  The second week of February 2014 brought one of those rare sights, and youngsters took advantage of the snowfall.  There was enough snow for sledding, and slowly melting  snowmen could be seen for days.  The wet snow that clings to trees and bushes creates a winter wonderland, but it can cause problems on the power lines.

This most recent snowfall brought back memories of the mid-March blizzard in 1993.  Our power was out for three days.  A wood-burning stove provided heat and a means for cooking.  My brother broke the ice for our cattle and horses to drink water from the ponds.  Neighbors helped neighbors.  One of our neighbors was stranded at work in Knoxville and could not get home to tend his animals.  After Wayne broke the ice in the ponds for our livestock, he walked through the fields to the neighbor’s farm.  He fed hay to the cows and mule, broke the ice so the cattle could drink from the pond, and fed and watered the dogs.

Some animals enjoy the snow; others do not want to leave their warm home.  Koko, our red chow and shepherd mix, always loved the snow.  Whether it is your favorite forecast or not, a winter snow can bring a sense of quiet and a whisper that says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, KJV).