A Bayou Type Snowman

  Living on the Bayou, we very rarely see snow.  Last year, we did have ice storms but not snow.  This is all fine and dandy except if you want to make a snowman.  I think in my entire life, there was only enough snowman-making snow days maybe three times.  Once when I was young child, Pop took all of the kids out and made a huge snowman!  It was not particularly round but it was tall! Pop being over six feet tall still had to use the ladder to put the head on for us.  It looked a lot like one tall, skinny tower but it was THE SNOWMAN!  We were elated to say the least.  Mom....not so elated.  She wanted the front lawn to stay pretty and white for a little while at least.  Poor Mom..the kids and Pop overruled and the snowman ate the snow from the yard in large swaths. Afterwards the yard was an unsightly mess of brown trails where Jack Frost had once laid a beautiful carpet of white.  The other couple of years were not more than a "heavy frost" by most standards but down here, you take what you can get.

  My "Bayou Snowman" is one that my sister gave me years ago as a Christmas gift.  She has a knack for finding the perfect gifts to fit everyone's list.  This snowman is not the typical "made of snow" type.  It is constructed from tree bark.  I know, I know.  You can find these in most department stores nowadays but back when she bought it, the idea was a novel one.  This "Rustic Christmas" idea was just starting to catch on as a trend.  She knew that the Little Bayou House is and always has been decorated as such.  Most of the decorations are handmade or found items...all are rustic.  It is very fitting.  Even this new trend of using burlap is nothing new here.  I have been resorting to the stuff for every use possible for decades now.  Burlap was easy to come by and cheap..both being requirements in my book.  (It is not cheap any more since it has become quite chic which in itself tickles me.  I see the most elegant of houses decked out in burlap and wood now.  Sort of seems out of place when you think of it.  I mean, come on, Folks..either you live rustically or you live elegantly.  The Little Bayou House is rustic...definitely rustic.)  Anyway, the little snowman sits beside two wire and grapevine Christmas trees.  He holds a brown paper snowflake with a few more scattered about around him.  Since the Bayou rarely sees snow, this little guy with his wooden top hat and moss scarf is perfect.  He does indeed look like he belongs on the Bayou where style is rustic every day.  It just goes to show....rustic is not just a trendy idea, it is a lifestyle and not every snowman is made of snow. Frosty has met his match and his name is "Woody"!