ICY

...freezing cold icicles hanging from the roof. We didn't have rain gutters in the 1960's to catch the water from the snow as it melted off the roof. Winter icicles draped from the roof line of our house, in varying lengths, giving the appearance of a delicate crystal hem-line of a Princess skirt. I didn't need the movie Frozen to fuel my imagination!

Just like a drip from a faucet, every day when the sun came out, I'd watch an icicle grow, drip by drip, from a speck of water into a beautiful icicle. Sometimes it took days and sometimes weeks for an icicle to reach its full potential. The north side of the house always grew the largest icicles. Some were so long and big around that it became impossible to knock them down. They would grow until they met the large pile of snow mound next to the house making it nearly impossible to break through. 

On warm winter afternoons, I'd often find myself out and about scouring the roof line for the best icicle to knock down for an afternoon treat. They were like long popsicles, just without the flavoring.

One day I had a childhood friend over to play. We were going around the house knocking down icicles, with large sticks, from the roof. We came to the north side and started to run our sticks along the roof line, when a bunch came crashing down, and like daggers pierced the head of my friend. Her head started to bleed profusely and it scared me. I thought my friend would surely have to go to the hospital for stitches. We rushed her into the house and mom placed washcloths on her head to stop the bleeding. After doctoring her up, she felt better and we took her home. I always felt bad about that incident, but that didn't deter me from winter's play in the snow and ice.

ICY...

horse hair chins. Out in the pasture, the horses often pawed through the ice in the water trough before we got to the daily chore of breaking the ice. We had some very cold mornings, well below freezing, and the water would often freeze instantly on the hairs of our horses chin. Freezing cold!!!

ICY...

skating rinks. And freezing rosy pink noses! Dressed up in winter coats, hats, and mittens, we have always been game for a late afternoon skate on an icy outdoor skating rink. 

It was extremely cold in 1990. I was living in Logan, five kiddos in tow, going to school. There was plenty of opportunity for outdoor snow play. Our first Christmas away from home and family presented an opportunity to spend a lot of time together... just me and the kids. I bought some ice skates for the girls for Christmas and we spent most every day of Christmas break on the outdoor skating rink at the park around the corner and up a few blocks from our house. The old green shack sitting on the edge of the rink provided a place to sit down by a cozy wood burning stove, warm our fingers and toes, and drink hot chocolate. In the early evenings, the snow sculptures surrounding the rink were lit up by colored lights and twinkling stars. These were good memories.

Years later, the tradition of skating on an outdoor rink continues at family Christmas gatherings at the Homestead Inn in Midway. Below, a couple of granddaughters hold hands, take a few steps, and tumble to the ice... just to get up and try again, and again, and again. This has become one of our favorite family traditions. Even if it's icy and cold!   

ICY...

waterfalls. There's a waterfall in Price Canyon that changes with the seasons. Winter is one of my favorite's. The water freezes as it descends from the top of the fall. With each winter day's temperature dropping... a single drip of water turns into hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of drips, gradually forming into large icicles that span the width and length of the falls. On my trips home, I look forward to rounding the corner where the fall is located. The minerals in the water often turn the icicles into hues of pinks, greens, and blues. And with cold, icy blue skies above, it's such a lovely sight!

It's been an unusually warm late fall. We're anxiously waiting for snow, which is long overdue. So... Old Man Winter.... bring on the ICYness of the season! We're ready!

Writing prompt #6: Write a blog post inspired by the word: icy

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