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Sunday, March 8, 2015

Snow White No More

Just after a snowfall, everything looks so serene and white — like the expression "pure as new-fallen snow" which it is, of course.

Curious about the origins of that phrase, I sleuthed online to learn it's found in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Maybe, one day I'll read it, not very likely; there's also a 1995 film version. This 1850 fictional story set in 17th-century Puritan Boston explores sin, guilt, legalism in telling about a married woman who has an affair and child with a local minister. He's tormented by his actions, which are unknown to towns folk, and says in a passage . . . So, to their own unutterable torment, they go among their fellow-creatures, looking pure as new-fallen snow; while their hearts are all speckled and spotted with iniquity of which they cannot rid themselves." 

So now we all know the literary background of this expression in case you thought this post just had snow pics.

Snow is not pretty or pure once cleanup and melting has begun. Then it turns dirty and dinghy-looking on neighborhood sidewalks, streets, and along highways. 




Empty lots and fields where it's being dumped in many areas have been dubbed "snow farms"  — like this one in Salem, MA.

Spring is due soon according to the calendar, just NOT soon enough for a lot of snow and winter-weary folks. If you're among them, here's what's coming . . .






Hang on till then — it's worth the wait

22 comments:

MadSnapper said...

never seen snow like this.. i know you are ready for the big melt. but it does look safe to walk and drive.. hope spring comes soon for you

Anonymous said...

I didn't know where that phrase came from, just thought it was something we all said :-)

No old melting snow is never pretty but it's a sign that spring might not be so far away :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.

Anonymous said...

Here in the south, snow is a rare occurence so we delight! For you, I can see that it would get very old. Your spring pics are gorgeous. I am ready for some color in the yard!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Yes, things to come are worth the wait!...:)JP

Emma Springfield said...

The scarlet letter was required reading in high school. I recommend it. It is nice to see all that snow melting. And the flowers promise a bright spring ahead.

Gill - That British Woman said...

I agree we are coming to a dirty slushy time of year now (I hope!!) We are supposed to get temperatures above freezing this week in Southern Ontario.

Gill - That British Woman said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
William Kendall said...

I've been looking at a fourteen feet high pile of snow thinking of photographing it- and wishing there was another snowfall to hide some of the slushiness that's in it.

Michelle said...

Melting, dirty snow is not a favorite, but we have to take the good with the bad! I am looking forward to spring!

Anonymous said...

I read The Scarlet Letter in 10th grade. Lol.

diane b said...

That is so hard to comprehend coming from a part of the world that never has snow. It is true though that it is not all pretty. I hope you soon see spring sights like in your colourful collage.

Out on the prairie said...

I have started some peppers for the garden . Hawthorne used a lot of alliterative and comparisons in his book. I liked the book better than the movie.

Latane Barton said...

I'm hanging, Sweetie, hard as I can and wishing upon a dozen stars that we continue to have warm-ups like yesterday. Wasn't it grand?

Ginnie said...

Thanks for the info on where that expression came from. I've read the book but it's been so long that I had not remembered that part.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello greetings and good wishes.

Lovely photos and the Scarlet Letter is a very interesting story.

The white snow reminded me of the nursery rhyme

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMP,
IT'S FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW.

Best wishes

possum said...

Sooooo glad we don't have that mess around here!
Have you ever taken a careful and close up look at that filthy snow? Have you ever seen snow fleas?

Rebecca said...

That's one nice thing about the snow scenes on the farm. Undisturbed by anything but some deer and other wildlife tracks.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

We had 70 degrees over the weekend, but there were still a few piles of dirty snow to be seen. Quite the contrast! I'm loving the flower collage...it won't be long now!

Country Gal said...

Its all melting for us here as the sun shines every day so far and temps hit 50F . I dont like all the dirty snow looks YUKKY ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

Gail Dixon said...

I don't think I've ever seen snow in its dingy state. Since it's so rare down South, it's a romantic notion for us. I am looking forward to seeing the colorful sights of spring as depicted in those beautiful photos.

Connie said...

I'm definitely one of the winter weary ones. We do have crocus up now, though, so we have a tiny splash of color. :)

Anvilcloud said...

You picked quite a winter for your first there.