Views of the Neighborhood – Snow People from The Blizzard of 2021

Views of the Neighborhood

Yes, we had a blizzard here in Austin. We all managed to survive long enough to clean out the grocery and liquor stores. What was left in the wake of the devastation were several snow people. So what better thing to do than to climb on the bus and go gawk at them. Yay.

We need to have some substance for an appetizer, I’ve cooked up some glazed baby back ribs, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, assorted crudities, cheeses, and stone-ground pepper crackers. There are two choices for the main course. The first is applewood smoked pork tenderloin and course brown mustard. The second is seared Ahi Tuna with lemon aioli. Both are served with oven-roasted red potatoes, broccoli, and glazed baby carrots. For dessert, we have an old-fashioned bread pudding with brandy sauce and Ice cream. Today’s wines are 2017 Cabernet Franc Fulkerson Winery for the red and 2018 Glenelly Chardonnay Stellenbosch Estate Reserve. Our entertainment is none other than Willie Nelson.

So jump on and let’s go.

Our first snow person is obviously a cowpoke from the wild west. Love the pink hat.

Next is one who obviously has someone making sure they are warm enough. The hat blew off, but the scarf is in place.

Here’s a cute one. Can’t tell if it’s tickled or taking a stand-up nap.

We have been by the flamingo house before. Let’s see. A headless snow person and sleeping flamingos. They may be snow eaters.

Ah, Twin snow folks. How romantic, especially since they have no clothes.

Here’s a snow person and their pet snow person. Wait, is that allowed?

A mail topper minature snow thingy.

Here ‘s one that is working on getting over the night before. Everything about the evening is pretty fuzzy.

Here is the last shot that I left uncropped to give you an idea of perspective. These snowpeople are very demuere.

That is our tour today. Have some more food and drink and listen to Willie. I hope you all have a great week.

113 comments

  1. Gwen M. Plano · ·

    Your best so far! 🥇 I love this hilarious post, especially the naked snowmen. 🤣 I’m glad the storm was kind to you. We got a bit of it in Branson, but no snowmen to report. Hope you have a fantastic Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Gwen. A super Sunday wish to you. 😁

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  2. I think my invitation must have got lost in the post John,
    Hugs

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    1. You have a standing invitation, David.

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  3. Cute snowpeople! The best thing about snow is making snowpeople. Thanks for good old Willie Nelson and the fabulous food. I’ll have a second helping of Ahi Tuna, please.

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    1. Would you like some to go too. We have plenty. Thanks, Darlene. 😁

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  4. Too funny, John. Glad that you were able to dig the bus out and take us for a spin. Enjoyed the repast as well. Diminutive snowmen and a lovely applewood smoked pork tenderloin…doesn’t get any better…

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    1. When I write this post I always think what would be good for dinner. Applewood smoked pork tenderloin sounded good to me. We are having grilled pork tenderloin, garlic mashed, and peas. (I don’t have a smoker)Thanks, Lori. I’m a little focused on pork tenderloin. 🤣

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      1. And your thoughtfulness shows, John! I would take a seat at your table any time! ☺️

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      2. And you wouldbe welcome anytime. 😁

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  5. Nice recovery on that fuzzy photograph! 😀 😀 😀

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    1. I have a new phone and I took three shots of that snowperson and this was the best of the group. Decided to run it anyway. Thanks, Liz.

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      1. You’re welcome, John. 😀

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  6. hahaha The flamingo house looks like a sad cat! I would take a ride on your bus any day.

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    1. You always have a seat too. As a bonus the seat is airconditioned and heated so you will be comfortable year round. Thanks, Pamela. 😊

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  7. You did well with the food, wine and music, John, but you people in Austin don’t know how to hold a decent blizzard. There was not one igloo fort or snowball fight! I’ll just stay onboard and have another order of ribs.

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    1. Yeah, I agree. I remember those forts from my childhood in Michigan. We used to build the fort and then pre-make the snowballs. One kid had a snowball maker. Looked like a pair of tongs. You close it on snow and an instant later you have a snowball. This same kid got a watch one Christmas. We figured his dad was rich. Thaks, GP.

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  8. LOL! This looks like our snow storm here in Charlotte, John! I liked the third snowman the best. Great snacks today, I’m stuffed. Wishing you and the family a peaceful Sunday.

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    1. Wishing you a peaceful Sunday, Jill. Thanks for coming along. 😊

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  9. Really like the snoozing third one.

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    1. Hahaha. This house goes all out for each holiday too. Thanks, Charles.

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  10. Quite a task when it takes all the snow in the yard to make a snowman. I think that makes them special.

    Nice tour, John. Mind if I make a sandwich of smoked pork tenderloin for the walk home?

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    1. Please help yourself. We have nice warm crunchy ciabatta bread. I can also throw some provolone on there too. 😁

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      1. You are an excellent host – thank you.

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  11. Willie and bacon-wrapped water chestnuts? I’m in! To think I used to make those a hundred years ago. Of course there rest of the meal and wine are delicious.
    This is hilarious. And a great way to get ALL the snow one has received into one pile! Love the – what looks like – melting cat with the flamingos. I took a very long walk in our snow. Let’s just say we differ in quantity. But the snow people I encountered? Fabulous!

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    1. I’ll bet yours are big and beautiful. Thanks, Dale.

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      1. Hahaha! 🙂

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  12. henhouselady · ·

    You folks know how to travel in style. Those snow people are hilarious. I find it interesting that Texas is getting more snow than Indiana this year.

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  13. Ha!Ha! That’s the best, John! I loved the ‘Howdy Cowboy Dudette’ in the first photo! My sister used to live in Mansfield and showed me photos of the results of a “blizzard”. There was barley enough on her lawn to make a snowball. On another topic, your guests must find the newly renovated bus interior quite comfortable. 🙂

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  14. Impressive set, dear John! The the fact that they don’t melt is incredible! They are hard snow-people! 😊😉

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    1. They are. I took the photos the morning after they were built. It was still a little chilly. 😁

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  15. Love it. Yes, in Texas the very mention of the possibility of a snowflake sends people flocking to the stores. What do they think, that we’re going to be snowbound for weeks? 🙂

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    1. I guess. Strange behavior.

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  16. I must admit, that mailbox snow-topper-thingie really appealed. It looks more like a Mexican fountain than a snowman, but what the heck? Creativity knows no bounds!

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    1. That is so trye, Linda. Thanks.

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  17. The cute one with the scarf and hat is a work of art.☃️

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    1. It is Lynne. Thanks.

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  18. 🙂 A lovely menu, John. Although Willie Nelson would have been enough to lure me aboard the bus. I got a big kick out of the snow people. This was a particularly fun tour. Hugs on the wing.

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    1. Thank you, Teagan.

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  19. Like with us, it was what out of want for “better”, southern Texans call “blizzard”. 😀
    And as to your intro: are you opening a restaurant? 😉 You’re really making my mouth watering. As I haven’t had breakfast yet, I can barely keep from slobbering. 😀
    Habe a wonderful day,
    Pit

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    1. Hahaha. Yes, this is designed to get every one to eat.

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  20. P.S.: Old Willie’s song makes me longing for roadtrips again.

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  21. I love this! The cowpoke and the snow thingy were my favorites, along with the fabulous food and music. Have a good week, John.

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    1. Thank you, Jennie. You as well.

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  22. I never know with just that much snow how people make a man of it. A fitting song for the trip, John. Have a great week. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. The men are small. 😁

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  23. Mercy, I’m still laughing! Y’all’s definition of “blizzard” is certainly different from ours, John. Nevertheless, I’ve got to hand it to you — use what you’ve got and be as creative as possible. Hmm, probably good advice for a writer, come to think about it!!

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    1. Yes that is good advice, Debbie. 😁

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  24. There’s nothing sadder than a melting snowman!

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    1. I know, Noelle. Here it is a long time between snowmen

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  25. Great snow people! In Texas we make do with the snow we have but we don’t get much practice making snow men. And never enough for a fort and snow fight. Food top shelf as usual!

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    1. Yes we do, Jo. Thank you for the comment and riding along today

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  26. I think one of those snowmen was a snowzombieperson. Even the twig arms fell off. However there is still too much food on the bus and the driver says something about one more time around the block. I think he and Willie are writing a sequel. And all that chardonnay is not helping…

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    1. Hahaha. All calculated to confuse the world into thinking this is an entertaining blog.

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  27. Great ‘Itin’!

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    1. Thank you, Billy Ray.

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  28. Delicious food and a wonderful winter tour! I’m so glad you survived the blizzard, John! I loved the snowpeople … my favourite was the cute little one in the third picture who looks like he might have snuck into the wine stash! Thanks for the perfect start to a cold, snowy Sunday morn!

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    1. You are welcome, Jill. 😁

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  29. I love your snow meter. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten much more than that in Idaho, and it’s where our water supply replenishes every year. I don’t think the lawn would appreciate beer.

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    1. Actually beer makes a great fertilizer. I ad to get rid of some warm day old keg beer and poared it in the impatiens. They really were healthy.

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      1. Happy, if nothing else.

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  30. Nothing like your weekend tour to brighten my day, John. Loved this one. It reminded me of the last time (that I can recall) it snowed here in Florida. My 49-year-old son was in kindergarten, so that gives you an idea of how seldom that happens. But the result was similar. Except our snow person (after rolling a ball around the entire yard) was even smaller. And grassier. 😀 Still–it was Big Excitement in Tampa! Made the headlines and all.

    Thanks for another great tour to wrap up the week. 🙂

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    1. Thank is a long time, Marcia. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. What do I have to do to get a bus ticket, John? The meal alone is worth the ride. Loved the photos! My favorite was the little one taking a stand up nap. Ha, ha. Great post! 😀 xo

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    1. You have a standing ticket. All you have to do is get on.

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      1. Yay! 😀 xo

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  32. Do you know John, I’ve never, ever built a snowman in my whole life. These are lots of fun.

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    1. Aw you poor chld. You need to get to the North and do that.

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  33. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    Thanks for the snowpeople tour! I never tire of seeing people’s snow creativity 🙂

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    1. Thank you for going along, Denise.

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  34. Hilarious, John! We do get excited when we get a little snow! The ruler says it all! 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Love the Chardonnay!

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    1. Thank you, Jan. The Chardonnay is in the top 20 wine list of us wines.

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  35. Creative snowmen! Too bad the snow disappeared before the kids could do snow angels, that was my favorite as a kid 🙂

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    1. I think there might have been a couple but the snow left so fast it is hard to say.

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  36. I have seen that cute little snowman in a book, I’m sure of it.
    As for the blurry pic . . . bigfoot?

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    1. Might be or a bad photographer.

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      1. Probably that . . .

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      2. Yeah, my bet too.

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  37. What a tour, John! So funny and I smiled at the snow-eating flamingos. I don’t know what I’m making for dinner tonight, so would you mind if I made a care package and took some of this delicious food home? Nothing else sounds good now. 🙂 By the way, that Chardonnay was the best and gotta love Willie Nelson. 🎼🎼🎼

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    1. Here is a carry out with two servings of everything. Hope you have a nice evening.

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      1. The evening was perfect with this amazing dinner spread. Thanks, John! ☺️

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  38. Loved the tour, John. It was SO MUCH fun and you really outdid yourself with the menu. Like a typical tourist, I did a lot of gawking. My favorite stop was the um, erm…blob with the sleeping flamingos. The whole thing was highly enlightening and I have so much chatter to share with the folks at home 😉

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    1. Hahaha. Glad you came along, Mae

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  39. Giggles. Thank you for this post. Loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you did. Thanks for letting mr know.

      Like

  40. petespringerauthor · ·

    Your “blizzard” must have shut the town down for days. We only get snow about once every five years, where we live now close to the ocean. One year it actually stuck to the ground, although it wasn’t more than a couple of inches. Our school was the only one in the county that stayed open that day. You should have seen how fired up some of the parents got about that decision. It was crazy. I had seven resentful kids show up to class that day who wanted to know why they had to be there. To stop a revolt, we spent the first hour going outside and building snowmen similar to these fine sculptures. 😎

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    1. Sounds like the best way to handle those kids.

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  41. So the snow was useful, as I see haha

    ah, the nature of imagination – you never know when it strikes 🙂 cool snowmen 🕺🕺

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    1. Yes indeed. It seems to stike often around here.😊

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  42. These snowmen are bringing new meaning to the last man standing.

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    1. Hahaha. They are all part of the soil now. 😁

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  43. Thought you were never serving rare tuna on the bus? Loved your snow people. Still no snow here.

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    1. Had to make an exception. You get yours well done. Just tell the chef. Or pickthe tenderloin. 😁 Thanks, Teri.

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  44. I’ve been away from WordPress, John, and have missed your commentary.I didn’t know you had a big snow! I’ve been laughing out loud at your descriptions. I love that cute one.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. 😁

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  45. Love the selection of snow people, John! I’m sure the designers and builders had great fun:)

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    1. I’m sure they did too. Thanks, Becky. 😊

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  46. LOL! I loved the Pink Cowgirl hat on the snowpoke, and the two really cheerful ones. Great tour and I’m so glad y’all survived the Blizzard. ☃😀❄

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    1. Thank you, Deborah

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      1. You’re welcome, John. 😀

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  47. So beautiful! I hope that’s ok to say after a deadly(?) blizzard? I just love snow!
    PS: Nice to hear a bit of Willie too…

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    1. All good for sure. Thanks, Jessica.

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  48. […] – #Supernatural John W. Howell, #Pilgrims Noelle Granger, #Southernculture […]

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    1. Thank you, Sue.

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    2. Thank you, Sue. 😊

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