I’m feeling a little out of sorts today. I have an annoying cold. It’s stopped me from doing what I had planned to do today, and, with snow forecast for tonight and the rest of the weekend, it had better not stop me from honing my snowman-building skills.
Well, maybe honing is too strong a word. And it presupposes a skill. Learning would perhaps fit the bill. Meet Snowman Ray.
Ok, so he was our first and only attempt last winter. I’m sure he has a very kind heart and a sweet singing voice. Neat handwriting too. And yes, he is a Manchester United fan.
We didn’t have a lot of snow to work with, as you can see, and, well, our hands got cold. The insults that flew through the Facebook world, when we posted photos of Snowman Ray for all to see, were quite voluminous. Poor Ray. I am hoping there won’t be too many less-than-kind-comments in the comments section here.
Before we arrived in London last year, I’d only ever seen snow once before. And that was atop the Alps, in the middle of summer in the mid-1980s. We had taken a cable-car ride up to Mount Titlis and, while the rest of the tourists languished in a heated coffee shop, enjoying hot chocolate and decadent pastries, my husband and I played in the snow. And kept running to thaw out our hands under the hand-driers in the bathroom.
So last December, when the snow fell in London (does it fall or float or both?), I was as excited as a puppy at meal time. The snow continued through January and February. I was working at that time, and I would get so excited when I noticed that snow was falling. I would jump around and say to my colleagues, “Look, look! It’s SNOWING!”
I usually got an indifferent look, an expression of “Whatever,” and was asked if I wanted to lie down until the hysteria passed. It’s a huge novelty for me, you know. Snow, that is. Not hysteria. Although hysteria is too.
So you’re hearing this first: I’m setting myself a challenge of learning to build a decent-looking snowman. The kind that could feature on a greeting card, rather than be mistaken for a Cape Town taxi guard. Photographs of works in progress coming to a blog near you soon.
Bring on the snow.
Sunshine signing off for today!
Sunshine in London 
Shame, poor Ray, hope the end came quickly for him …
It did. He was kicked down by some strangers who didn’t like the look of him. I wonder why? 🙂
Snowman Ray looks like a laid-back surfer dude. I’ve always thought that snow floated down.
Feel better soon!
Snowman Ray thanks you from the bottom of his
pile of snowheart, for seeing the good in him! 🙂Thank you, I hate being ill. xx
I like snow too, although I’m sure I don’t get as excited as you do!
Ray doesn’t look too bad…in North America, the standard way of constructing a snowman is to make three snowballs in graduated sizes, and pile them on top of each other (smallest on top). The carrot nose is right, and we usually use stones for the eyes, mouth, and buttons. The hat is great…adding a scarf would be a good idea too.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Hugs,
Wendy
Snow is such a novelty for me, Wendy! But I’m glad to hear you like it too, having grown up with it. Thanks for the Ray-improving suggestions … I’ll keep you posted! hahaha!
Thanks for the well wishes xx
I love Snowman Ray! I can tell all the way from Minnesota that he was a compassionate sort of snowman, just wanting people to love him for who he was. He was proud to be sporting such a beautiful red hat. It breaks my heart to hear that he was treated unkindly in word and deed. I can see that he loved to greet everyone as they passed by with his hand held high. I hope that you get another opportunity for another beautiful snowman.
One year in a store somewhere Minnesota I saw an official snowman making kit complete with top hat, fake carrot nose, coal eyes, buttons, scarf and sticks for the arms. I suppose some parent out there didn’t want their child to be teased for a less than perfect snowman. How sad! How can the creative juices flow with such a kit? Hope you feel well soon and are up for more snowman making soon!
Thank you, Jeanne, you are too kind! Thank you that you see the good in everyone. 🙂
I agree with you about the snowman-making kit – then you might as well buy a snowman rather than build one! I’m looking forward to the learning process.
Sunshine xx
Hi SunshineinLondon! I’ll let you into a secret- no matter how calm and laissez-faire an Englishman purports to be about snow, he is far more excited than he lets on. Distainful sniffs may be volunteered to you, but he’ll have his own Ray in the garden at home, mark my words!
Lovely to make your acquaintance 🙂
Likewise, Kate! So my colleagues were secretly jumping up and down as much as I was? That’s good to know. And I’m thrilled that Ray might have an English accent too! 🙂
I can relate to snow being a novelty. Played in it for the first time ever in Washington and saw it fall for the first time in Texas. I remember the snow man you made last year. Boy how time flies. I’m looking forward to the designer to follow. They are not as easy to make as one would believe hey?
Hugs x
Don’t hold your breath! Not sure we can deliver designer 🙂
Hugs to you two too xx
You know, there’s no shame in a pint-sized snowman. Maybe you should go for a Dobby the house elf before trying a Hagrid. (Sorry, my 10-year-old took me to my first Harry Potter movie last weekend.)
We’re going big, Todd – we’re going for the Hagrid! What a hoot 🙂
Oh dear, that sounds like fighting talk …
The secret to a great snowman is the type of mitts you wear. They must be the non-stick variety. Wool or cloth won’t work. Then you roll. Ray’s head is awesome. That is a mighty fine rookie attempt! Well done Sunshine!
Ah, thank you so much, ET! I so appreciate the encouragement, and so does Ray. And his head.
The advice about the mitts is very helpful – we discovered how hard, no impossible, it is to throw snowballs when you’re wearing woollen gloves! hahahaha! We really are rookies. 🙂
Poor “Ray” is bound to have been fated…. one ray of sunshine would have him buckling at the knees, just wanting to shrink into the ground. It’s all in the name…so let’s think of a good name for his future cuz.
Oh, ok, so you reckon the secret is in the name? We’ll give careful thought to naming his cousin, Fi! xx
This post is delightful, especially from Haiti, where things are heating up with preidential elections are tomorrow. I look forward to chilling at home (Kentucky) for the holidays and honing my own snowman-building skills. Do you suppose there’s an advanced degree available?
If you find an advanced degree, let me know! Gosh, you’re going from one weather extreme to the other! Thanks for coming by – good to meet you!
So has it been snowing nicely?
Snow fell in London today for the first time since last winter. It’s beautiful!
Sunshine, you might want to check out this snowman:
http://davidpj.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/when-snow-becomes-man
The blogger is an Australian currently studying in London. So also an amateur at the snowman thing.
Well, he’s certainly done a better job than we did! 🙂
Haha, well, it was a labour of love! I had to change gloves 3 times, but once we got to waist-height, quitting was never an option. Unfortunately, today’s 5C temperatures have melted Shafty the Snowman, and he leaned, teetered and finally fell this afternoon. He’s now a forlorn mess of ice on the ground, with his colander helmet strewn on the tarmac.
Good luck with your endeavors though, it was all worth it!
It certainly was a labour of love … Snowman Ray, only a mother could love him! 🙂 Your snowman was superbly impressive – we’ll model our next endeavours on him! And I won’t wear woollen gloves.
Funny how the snow melted so rapidly today and turned everything to mush. This is all new to me.
Sunshine