We have had a very mild winter in the Seattle area this year. We have had many sunny days over the past few months and, at times this winter, our temperatures have made it to the low 50's. It doesn't snow as much in the Seattle area as some places in the United States, but, in the past seven years I have lived here, we have had at least a couple of snowfalls by January. Even though it is nice to have the milder temps and more sun, I have kind of missed seeing the snow this year. So, when our local weather reporters were advising us that there was a front coming in and a very good chance of snowfall, I think many people were actually kind of looking forward to it. Like my husband and I, many people were keeping their eye on the weather reports to see what the next day or two would bring. After going to the store for a few grocery items, making sure my laundry was caught up, checking my candle supply, etc., in case of power loss, we settled in and watched for the first snowflakes to fall. Weather reports predicted snow would start falling in our area during the wee hours of the morning. Sure enough, when we woke up, there was a blanket of white starting to form on the ground at our home and in the surrounding area. It didn't take too long before snow was covering the ground. Here is a view looking towards the waterfront and downtown Poulsbo from our home....
After a very mild start to the winter, our first snowfall of the year had arrived. January, 2012...
Our upstairs balcony was covered with snow.
I love looking out the windows and seeing the soft white snow covering the area...
After enjoying our morning cup of coffee and gazing out the windows at the snow, my husband and I donned our warm jackets, scarves and gloves. We walked out to the front porch to survey the winter wonderland...
Outside our home, a dusting of snow added character to everything in our yard. Our fountain near the front porch....
Our steps from the porch down to the street were covered with snow. We later shoveled off the snow for safety. We wouldn't want anyone to slip and fall in case this iced over...
Looking down the street towards town and the waterfront...
As we stepped out to the back porch of our home, we saw my angel birdbath filling with snow as well as snow on my concrete bench...
To me, the snow adds a beautiful, almost magical, feeling to the decor in my yard...
All the plants had a dusting of snow...
This birdfeeder hangs in a spot outside my kitchen window. I love to watch the different birds in our area come to feed there and listen to their songs. The birdfeeder, too, was dusted with snow. I have a windowbox for flowers underneath the window. I love to fill this flowerbox with geraniums in the spring and summer. Today, it is covered with white....
My husband and I bought a Toyota FJ Cruiser when they first came out. I love our yellow cruiser! I can spot our vehicle easily in any parking lot due to the color, it has been very dependable, it is comfortable, and.....due to the 4 wheel drive and the off-roading ability....is great for any snowfall. Our little FJ can get through the snow and make it up any hill in our area....even when other vehicles are stranded and left on the side of the road due to the snow and ice. Of course, you have to be careful and safe no matter what type of vehicle you drive. After walking around the yard a bit, my husband and I decided to wash the snow off the FJ and head into town to take a look at the snow in the area. When we built our home, my husband had a hot water faucet put on the outside of our home near our garage. Nice for washing the car in the winter...
Once the snow was cleared from the FJ, we hopped in the car to explore the snowfall in the area...
We live about a five minute or so walk from downtown Poulsbo. Most of the shops were closed due to the snowy conditions.
The town clock...
More restaurants and shops....
A wreath still hanging in downtown dusted with snow...
The magnolia tree at a local restaurant we go to a lot, Sogno di Vino. The tree is completely dusted with snow...
One of the cute buildings downtown Poulsbo...
You can see that the snow is continuing to fall at the Poulsbo Marina. The trees in the background look hazy due to the snowfall. There are some people who live on their boats. They shovel off the snow on the docks to make a pathway for the owners to come and go from their boats. Our sailboat, Skye, is moored at this marina. You can see some ducks out in the water in this photo.
After driving to the marina, my husband and I drove down some of the streets to see how the homes were faring with the snow....
There are many historic homes in Poulsbo. These homes face the waterfront....Liberty Bay.
I love these older homes. They all have such personality...
The fence on this next home is an interesting design. The snow was accumulating on each section of the fence...
There is a small grassy park-like area that is across from the homes I shared with you. This area looks out at Liberty Bay....
You can see a few sailboats anchored on Liberty Bay...
Many people were excited to see the first snowflakes begin to fall....especially the children. Here are a few of the local kids with their sleds enjoying the afternoon....
Mora Iced Creamery in town.... Today would be a good day to make snow ice cream!
This home is very close to where my husband and I live. The lady who lives here really decorates for each holiday. Today, we spotted snowmen in her bay window as we drove by....
Trees in the area dusted with snow...
The evergreen trees in our area grow very tall...
After a short ride around town to survey the snow, we arrived back home...
I made this photo of my husband, Mark, on the front porch of our home. He bought the cap he is wearing in Juneau, Alaska, when we travelled there on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle in 2008. My husband, son and I went whale watching in Juneau and bought knit caps to wear on the boat. This cap is very warm and great for a day like today...
My husband made this photo of me on our front porch. We have had a very mild winter this year, and this is the first time I have worn my down jacket all winter. It keeps me very cozy in the snow. I bought this jacket at Hollister a year or so ago. I loved it so much for the warmth that I also bought a khaki colored one when they went on sale. If it is snowy and cold, you can bet I will have one of these jackets on...
Some of the neighbors walking up the street...
Our bench out front...
Lavender in my front yard covered in snowflakes...
The birdbath is now full of snow....
Time to shovel the front steps off...
Up on my upstairs balcony, the snow was starting to accumulate, too.....
My husband, Mark, decided it was time to shovel the balcony deck....
The snow brings out the child in all of us. After a few shovels, my husband decided to build a snowman before cleaning off the deck...
My husband took off his cap to put on top of the snowman...
Then, he brought Sadie out so that I could make a few photos of them together....
Sadie looked up to watch the snowflakes fall...
After having a bit of fun building a snowman and making some photos to capture it forever in our memories, my husband proceded with the chore of taking the snow off the deck...
My husband had his jeans rolled up to keep the bottoms dry while he worked...
My holly plant on the upstairs balcony..... You can see the red berries on the plant along with the snow.
As the afternoon drew on, it was time to take off the boots, coats, and scarves....
These are my North Face boots....perfect for a snowy day. They have a waterproof bottom which is important. They also have a design on the bottom of the shoe which stands out a bit from the bottom allowing stablity on snow and slippery surfaces. These boots are not only functional, but I love the look of them. They are like something you would wear to a ski lodge.
They are also super warm inside....
With the boots off, it was time to get cozy by the fire....
Time to enjoy a warm cup of tea, cocoa, or coffee and relax by the fire....
Time to appreciate the beauty of the season....
A snow day is a time to relax, knit, read, put in a movie or play a game. Time to keep the fires burning and the pot of tea or coffee on...and to spend time with those you love...
while Mr. Snowman keeps watch on the snow outside....
I hope you have enjoyed sharing our first snowfall of the season. Stay cozy and have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim