The VEHA can truly be a winter wonderland. The neighborhood is still calling out to you to enjoy it, only sometimes the snow muffles the call a little bit.
My cross country skis, after three loops of the boulevard on Vinsetta on a snowy January Saturday.
Even on days like the Ground Hog Day Blizzard, there's fun and adventure in the VEHA! After shoveling our walks and driveways, my family (l-r: Juli, Doris, Amanda) and I "hiked" to National Coney Island at 12 Mile and Main, just about a half-mile from our house, for lunch.The blizzard 1-2 punch that nature delivered to the VEHA first on Ground Hog Day, then again on Saturday (February 5), drove a lot of friends and neighbors deeper into their “burrows,” longing for spring.
If you only experience winter in our neighborhood when you scrape off your car, clear the snow from your walks and driveway, or negotiate the snow-lined streets on your way to-and-from work, you’re missing the best part of winter in the VEHA.
For three Saturday mornings in a row in January, I cut (and re-cut) cross country ski tracks along the boulevard of Vinsetta; for my family and myself, I thought; but on Saturday, January 29, a neighbor from Webster stopped her car along side me as I was renewing the track and said, “Thank you so much for cutting the tracks – my family and I have been using them too, and we wondered who set them!”
I smiled and said, “Well, I’m glad all this work is getting more use than just for my family and myself – have fun!” As she drove away, I was reminded what a great place this is to live year ‘round; it’s just that at some times of the year, you have to look a little harder for the fun and fellowship.
You can always meet neighbors on a snowy weekend at “Bicycle Hill Park” which, at this time of year, becomes “Sledding Hill Park.” Adults gather and catch up on neighborhood news while the kids enjoy the snow-covered hills with sleds, saucers and even snowboards. Sometimes, against their better judgment, the adults give the hill a run too … and it’s seldom pretty!
On “Blizzard 2 – the sequel” Saturday, I decided to strap on my snow shoes, instead of my skis, and as I set out down the center of the boulevard on Vinsetta, what did I see? Snow shoe tracks! Some other neighbor had the same idea but managed to get out just a little earlier than I did.
I know most of the VEHA neighbors are eagerly looking forward to our signature spring events – the annual Park Clean-up, and our VEHA-wide Yard/Garage Sale, but don’t overlook all the neighborhood has to offer until spring gets here – and even if you’re not up to skiing, show shoeing or sledding, take a walk through the winter wonderland that is the VEHA. No hibernating, friends … the neighborhood is still calling out to you, the snow just muffles it a little bit!
Neighborly Surprise
One of the nicest things to discover after a big snowfall in the VEHA, is to find that a neighbor has gone an extra 50 feet or so with their snow blower and cleared your sidewalk.
For guys like me, who still shovel, it’s a spirit-lifting surprise; especially on those blizzard-like days when it takes two (or more) outings with the shovel to keep the walks and driveways clear. I have two drives to shovel – one on Potawatomi, and the other on the back of my lot on Vinsetta. When I finished the front drive and sidewalk on Saturday, I made my way through my yard to Vinsetta to repeat the chore and found that the walk was already done by my neighbor and friend Dennis Ellison! Dennis and Karen are typical of the kind of caring neighbors who make the VEHA such a wonder place to live.
Just a few weeks until spring, friends; but until then, I’ll see you in the snow!
Dan Saad, VEHA Editor
d1saad@aol.com
If you only experience winter in our neighborhood when you scrape off your car, clear the snow from your walks and driveway, or negotiate the snow-lined streets on your way to-and-from work, you’re missing the best part of winter in the VEHA.
For three Saturday mornings in a row in January, I cut (and re-cut) cross country ski tracks along the boulevard of Vinsetta; for my family and myself, I thought; but on Saturday, January 29, a neighbor from Webster stopped her car along side me as I was renewing the track and said, “Thank you so much for cutting the tracks – my family and I have been using them too, and we wondered who set them!”
I smiled and said, “Well, I’m glad all this work is getting more use than just for my family and myself – have fun!” As she drove away, I was reminded what a great place this is to live year ‘round; it’s just that at some times of the year, you have to look a little harder for the fun and fellowship.
You can always meet neighbors on a snowy weekend at “Bicycle Hill Park” which, at this time of year, becomes “Sledding Hill Park.” Adults gather and catch up on neighborhood news while the kids enjoy the snow-covered hills with sleds, saucers and even snowboards. Sometimes, against their better judgment, the adults give the hill a run too … and it’s seldom pretty!
On “Blizzard 2 – the sequel” Saturday, I decided to strap on my snow shoes, instead of my skis, and as I set out down the center of the boulevard on Vinsetta, what did I see? Snow shoe tracks! Some other neighbor had the same idea but managed to get out just a little earlier than I did.
I know most of the VEHA neighbors are eagerly looking forward to our signature spring events – the annual Park Clean-up, and our VEHA-wide Yard/Garage Sale, but don’t overlook all the neighborhood has to offer until spring gets here – and even if you’re not up to skiing, show shoeing or sledding, take a walk through the winter wonderland that is the VEHA. No hibernating, friends … the neighborhood is still calling out to you, the snow just muffles it a little bit!
Neighborly Surprise
One of the nicest things to discover after a big snowfall in the VEHA, is to find that a neighbor has gone an extra 50 feet or so with their snow blower and cleared your sidewalk.
For guys like me, who still shovel, it’s a spirit-lifting surprise; especially on those blizzard-like days when it takes two (or more) outings with the shovel to keep the walks and driveways clear. I have two drives to shovel – one on Potawatomi, and the other on the back of my lot on Vinsetta. When I finished the front drive and sidewalk on Saturday, I made my way through my yard to Vinsetta to repeat the chore and found that the walk was already done by my neighbor and friend Dennis Ellison! Dennis and Karen are typical of the kind of caring neighbors who make the VEHA such a wonder place to live.
Just a few weeks until spring, friends; but until then, I’ll see you in the snow!
Dan Saad, VEHA Editor
d1saad@aol.com
