The dreaded Polar Vortex (what we used to call a cold snap) has once again descended on Minnesota. It heralded its return on Thursday by dumping close to a foot of snow on much of the state (including the Twin Cities), and until it slithers out of here we are looking at below zero temps every night this week.

Here in the Twin Cities, we had our first measurable snow fall the first week of December. But unlike  other parts of the country that have gotten a lot of snow, ours doesn’t melt shortly afterwards. With each successive snowfall, it just gets deeper and deeper and the snowbanks get higher and higher.

It is absolutely gorgeous here now, so yesterday, despite pleas from “authorities” to stay off the roads, I took a drive around town to get some pictures. Never wanting to miss out on a road trip, my mom demanded to be allowed to ride shotgun. Herewith, then are some snapshots of the Polar Vortex in the Twin Cities.

Can you see the park bench? I had to stand on the back bumper of my car to see over the snow bank to catch a glimpse of the park bench. You can see the park bench, right?

The road in Long Lake Regional Park.

This poor fellow was sent out to “blow” the sidewalk along Old Highway 8 in New Brighton;  he got stuck. The snow deposited by the plows was too deep and packed.

The Mississippi River is frozen solid this year.

In Lilydale Regional Park, we came across these intrepid painters.

This is the scene they were painting.

Downtown St. Paul. Brr.

My mom (aka “Gracie”) standing in front of the snowbank in the cul-de-sac where she lives. Anyone care to predict the date that snow bank is GONE?

Minnesota winters may not be for the faint of heart, but they certainly are beautiful!