Nigh is an old-fashioned word meaning “near” or “nearby.” So are snowmen and snow forts old-fashioned? Children and adults of winter countries have created these figures since time immemorial. But, lately — not so much. One can look out any living room window these days and not see one single familiar snowman down any street. In the last several weeks, a few scouts we know went surveying the city and found none. Snow people and snow structures it seems are an endangered species! Except for these two that were finally found! The creator/s can be congratulated for keeping the old-fashioned creatures alive. Notice that they gave them a serious, concerned countenance. They are telling us winter-hardened Saskatchewan people to be patient. For prairie people used to bright blue living skies, no matter the season, it has been a long winter with too many grey skies. Soon enough this dreariness will be converted to a summer season, and probably the weatherman will have skipped spring altogether! Then, we will typically complain about the weather being too hot! Every year, we Saskatchewan people must re-learn the fact that we are not the land of eternal springtime!
We are grateful for the creators of these nice snow people.
Photo credit: Gene Denischuk.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
