When Florida Froze Over

January 2025 will go down in history for Northwest Florida. We woke up one morning to actual snowflakes falling… and then they just kept coming. By the end of the storm, we had nearly a foot of snow on the ground — breaking every record ever kept in this part of the state.

I’ve never been so grateful for our decision to insulate the house just a few weeks earlier. With the walls finally holding in warmth, we could actually enjoy the snow instead of shivering through it.

The dachshunds were not quite as impressed. At first, they loved romping through the yard, but once the snow piled higher than four inches, their little bellies were dragging, and they decided this winter wonderland was overrated. We, however, were in full snow day mode.

Mike and I built snowmen, and I even got ambitious enough to sculpt a snow dachshund. Chewie immediately marched over and peed on its leg, so that tells you how he feels about an outsider to the herd.

The whole property looked magical. Camellias wore fluffy white caps, the garden seemed to sink happily into its snowy nap, and the pool was so warm that it steamed for days. It felt like we had been transported somewhere far away, yet we got to enjoy it from the comfort of our own home.

Since the roads were a mess and I work from home, we didn’t have to leave. We took the week to hibernate, bake nonstop, and test new recipes for the bakery. At one point, all three ovens were going, keeping the kitchen toasty and filled with the smell of bread, cookies, and cinnamon rolls.

The snow stayed on the ground for almost six days before melting back into the usual chilly Florida winter. It was fleeting, but it was beautiful, and we loved every minute of it.