My Front Lawn (The Snowy Side)
My Blueprints for the World's Greatest Snowman
Most snowmen have three snowballs, two buttons and a carrot. Mine needed a few extra features.
It snowed a lot last night, so this morning I drew up the blueprints for the greatest snowman ever built. Most snowmen have three snowballs, two buttons and a carrot nose. Mine needed a bit more. Here are the plans, approved by the architect, me.
The Plans
Level one, the base: The biggest snowball on the street. Rolled by hand, by me, for an hour. Then by two neighbors, because it got heavy.
Level two, the middle: Holds the buttons. Seven of them, from my old coats, all very shiny.
Level three, the head: A carrot for the nose, two stones for eyes and a smile made of raisins. A confident smile.
The hat: My spare top hat. It improved the snowman so much that I almost asked it to stay.
The tie: A long red scarf, worn as a tie. Very long. Very red.
Construction Notes
Snow is a wonderful building material, but it has one big weakness: sunshine.
By lunchtime, the snowman was leaning. By three o’clock, he was sitting down. By sunset, he was a puddle wearing a hat. I’ve kept the hat and the scarf. Next winter he’ll be back, bigger than ever, and this time with a roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did your snowman have a name?
Donny the Second. He had my smile, my tie and a little less staying power.
What's the secret to a good snowball?
Wet, sticky snow, packed tight. Powdery snow won't hold together, and neither will a snowman made of it.