Snowbound

Charming Ski town of Saint Lary Soulan in the Pyrennees, my second home

My oldest memory is a vague image of myself, wearing a hand knit red sweater, a big grin on my face and small wooden skies on my feet...it might be an  actual memory or some recollection of an old photograph. I always dreamed of being snowbound, crying (even as an adult) when the moment came  to turn my back to the mountains and return to school or later in life, to work. I was snow bound for a full week in my college, Babson College, outside of Boston during the most extraordinary snowstorm! Loved every moment of it as I had great food reserve (packages were sent from France on a regular basis by my parents) and skis. I skied out of my second floor room to my friend's dorm at Wellesley college. To this day, I still feel the stillness of the air, the soundless, pure white landscape.

Paris under the snow is a rare and beautiful event. Earlier in january,I left Paris to meet my parents in the Pyrenees for some relaxation time,  skiing and nice evenings chatting by the fireplace.
I woke up to 6 feet of snow ...a dream... a few lifts were open..the french ski resorts are a little more lax than our US counterpart when it comes to safety. Needless to say I was off, in fierce winds, total white out, and deep powder. Heart pumping, lost in the unforgiving landscape, I forgot all the worries and stress of work and life that keep me up at night, to focus on a single task: avoid avalanches, listen for sounds and ski. Made it down the mountain to find out that the slopes were actually closed, the tram shut down and the only road shut down by avalanches. SNOWBOUND!

giving my dad moral support

 The Pyrenees, steep mountain range between France and Spain

I woke up yesterday morning to this magical landscape. In my pjs and slippers, I grabbed my camera to capture the moment. I rushed to the attic to get my Xcountry skis, snow pants and off I went to our woods... blissfull hours, alone in deep snow , skiing along the river, up the hills, following deer footprints...

My dogs are not too keen on the snow..trying to convince how fun it is to play in the snow

I am off for some Xcoutry skiing...

A Bientôt,

Francine