REFLECTIONS

“I can remember when the snow was way above our barn door.”

That’s a true statement, reflecting my words about past blizzards on the farm. I grew up on a small dairy farm located two miles west of Corning on Highway 251 in Newry Township.

In just the past few days, we have heard about some record snowfalls in Minnesota. I remember when we didn’t leave the farm for days because we just couldn’t get plowed out. 

Thanks to my Uncle Lloyd, we were finally plowed out when he brought over his International tractor with a bucket on front. There were days when our milk hauler couldn’t make it to our barn to pick up our daily milk production.

I recall my mom leaving our house with the milk pails and strainer. She trekked through some deep snow drifts, and don’t you know, she got stuck on top of our septic tank. I had to go out and rescue her.

Our dairy cows liked it when we let them out in the corral. This allowed them time to frolic in the snow.

We always valued our mail, and there were not many days when we missed getting our mail. Often, our area containing a mailbox on a pole was snowed in on the shoulder. My dad had a special mailbox built on a swinging arm so when the snowplow came, the mailbox would swing freely away. It did get knocked down a time or two.

With all the snow creating good sliding areas, my friends and I were in seventh heaven.

My parents often reminisced about the Armistice Day storm of Nov. 11, 1940. The storm claimed 154 lives in the Midwest region of the United States. Barbara O’Connor of Blooming Prairie also will tell you about her near bout with death when traversing through some farm fields during the Armistice Day storm.

I don’t remember the Armistice Day storm because I wasn’t around yet.

One storm I do recall was the Halloween storm of Oct. 31, 1991. The night started out with no snow on the ground and with many little munchkins begging “Trick or Treat.” We got over 20 inches of snow.

More snowfall records may be set yet this winter in Minnesota. Meteorologist Paul Douglas says Minnesota has recorded up to 71 inches of snow for the winter. This puts the snowfall at 33 inches above average, says Douglas.

Weather watchers around Blooming Prairie report that we must have gotten 12-15 inches of the white stuff last week. Lots of winter remains, and who knows what records we may set.

Apple Valley reported the largest accumulation for last week at 20 inches.

Don’t put the snow boots away quite yet. Snow can come at any time. Happy snowstorm!