Late January Snow: “Perfect” Timing (published 2-26-2026; article #544)

Introduction

There is a reason why “perfect” is in quotation marks in the title. The timing of the late January snow last month was anything but perfect.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 113th entry in the Life (such as it is), or was, topic section. I wanted to publish this article earlier this month. Other more practical or necessary obligations, however, took priority.

This brief record serves as a corollary to the article from 2/13/2026 about my father-in-law's transition from temporal to everlasting life. The snow, which started falling during the visitation and funeral service on Friday, 1/30/2026, postponed the interment service from the next day to Monday, 2/2/2026.

Snow Photographs and Comments from Saturday, 1/31/2026

Early on Saturday morning, 1/31/2026, wisdom dictated that we delay the graveside service. Thus, while my wife performed indoor chores, this Appalachian Irishman enjoyed a snow “hike” and shoveling snow from the driveway.

The morning low was still a balmy 18 degrees Fahrenheit when I photographed the three images below at 9:02 AM. I had “hiked” the roughly three-tenths of a mile from the house to the subdivision entrance. The crisp wind, which was blowing in snow from the north, was invigorating. At the house, I measured four inches of snow, with more snow still falling.

The first view looks northwest, going up our side road.

Just before taking the photograph, a box truck followed by a jeep came down the hill. Ruts indicated that a vehicle or more had driven up the hill. Another vehicle had entered and exited our subdivision.

The next view looks southeast, going down our side road.

The final view from the road shows the uphill drive into or out of our subdivision. The image includes my footprints.

Walking back northward to the house, the blowing snow and wind stung my face and gloveless hands. Previously, walking toward the subdivision entrance, the wind and snow were more comfortably to my back.

Afterward, for an hour and 12 minutes (2:42 to 3:54 PM), I shoveled snow as well as I could from our driveway. By that time, I measured six inches of snow, with light snow still falling. The temperature had risen to the daytime high of 22 degrees. I took the following photograph at 3:45 PM, just before finishing the job.

Of course, I could have worked longer to clear out the snow grooves, but I had already had enough of shoveling six inches or more of snow.

Conclusion

Snow fell lightly while I was shoveling snow. Just as I was putting up the snow shovel, however, the bottom fell out, and heavy snow started falling! I looked up to heaven and said, “Thanks, Lord. Your timing was perfect. I understand your sense of humor.” Of course, the Lord knew that I was joking. After all, he gave me my sense of humor!

More recently, we had a spell of winter from last Sunday to Monday. My wife had a “snow day” off from work on Monday. On that day, we had a dusting of snow. The morning low and daytime high were in the 20s Fahrenheit.

The late January snow was beautiful, and walking the subdivision and shoveling snow were invigorating. The timing, however, was not beneficial to a grieving family wanting to lay my father-in-law's temporal remains to rest.

Of course, meteorological spring begins this coming Sunday! I have missed out on several opportunities to hike this winter. Perhaps I will catch up in the spring. The mountains are calling me, and I must go, Lord willing, and if the creeks don't rise.