Snow

A record-breaking storm struck on Thanksgiving Day in 1938 across Maryland. While November had started off mild, the storm brought as much as 14 inches of snow in Harford County, with 8.5 inches in Baltimore over two days, according to an article on Baltimore winter storms on the National Weather Service's Baltimore/Washington website. "Hundred of automobiles were snowbound on the highway during the Thanksgiving Holiday travel period," according to the article . The storm still holds the records for snowfall in Baltimore for the dates of Nov. 24-25.

It looks like we might have snow around for a while this year so why not make the best of it? This old fashioned treat is from "Mrs. Sharp's Traditions" by Sara Ban Breathnach; Simon and Schuster -- 1990, $29.95.To make snow ice cream take one cup milk, one beaten egg, one teaspoon of vanilla extract and one-half cup sugar. Beat well until frothy. Place mixture in a large bowl and add enough clean, fresh snow until the liquid is completely absorbed by the snow. It tastes wonderful and has the consistency of sherbet, according to the book.

The threat of a little snow Wednesday afternoon has postponed several athletic events, including all of the regional dual meet wrestling tournaments held locally. By 2 p.m., Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties had called off all after-school activities. The following postponed westling meets will be made up Thursday at 5:30 p.m.: Class 2A-1A West at Winters Mill, involving Middletown, Mountain Ridge and Catoctin.   Class 2A-1A South at Glenelg, involving Oakland Mills, Poolesville and Surrattsville.

For those tired of all the excuses mouthed by elected leaders and bureaucrats over their handling -- and mishandling -- of this month's record snowfall, Ralign Wells is a welcome relief. The Maryland Transit Administration's new chief is willing to admit that mistakes were made, which means he and his agency can correct them. Apparently, Mr. Wells didn't get the memo that must have circulated among county executives, mayors, highway departments and the like to never admit you goofed -- or at least to blame your front-line troops manning the plows and shovels when problems do arise.

Let's face it: When the forecast calls for snow, Marylanders aren't known for their steely reserve. But this winter, with its broken-record forecasters calling for more and more and more and more, Marylanders seem to be, if not exactly embracing the flakes, learning to shake them off in the style of New Englanders, Minnesotans ... Eskimos. Even though at least 3 inches of heavy, wet snow fell across Baltimore on Tuesday night - enough to stop the city on other occasions - on Wednesday morning Baltimore got up, laced up its boots, pulled down its hat and got on with it. Drivers pooh-poohed slushy roads.

Welcome back, snow. We've been expecting you - with everything from brine-covered roads to "shoe grippers" to four-wheel-drive vehicles that can ferry doctors and nurses to area hospitals. With up to 2 feet of snow in the forecast, the Baltimore region was bustling Thursday with pre-storm preparations. People, as they always do, bought shovels and snowblowers and raided supermarkets. At least one entrepreneurial-minded man got himself a plow-mounted four-wheeler to earn extra money.

Postal carrier Jonathan Edwards had nearly finished his route Tuesday afternoon when he made a right turn from S. Curley Street onto Foster Avenue -- or tried to. His small mail truck spun its wheels in the snow before getting stuck in the middle of the Canton intersection. Edwards was philosophical about his predicament. It was the first time all day that he had gotten waylaid by bad roads, he said. And he'd fallen just once -- "my very first delivery, flat on my back." "It's not that bad," he insisted with a weary smile, noting that people had kindly offered him parking spots and had done a good job clearing sidewalks.

N o need to dream of a white Christmas this year. With nearly two feet of the stuff on the ground thanks to last weekend's record December snowstorm, anything short of a sustained tropical heat wave between now and Friday has pretty much guaranteed that snow will still be blanketing the region for the holiday. And while the storm caused no small inconvenience to people - for retailers, losing the Saturday before Christmas, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, is particularly worrisome - it's hard not to view the big storm of 2009 as something of a success.