Usually when this time of year comes along, the roads, sidewalks, yards and outdoor surfaces of all kinds are packed with lots of snow. Lots and lots of snow. Really…lots.

And if for some reason there isn’t lots of snow, there is at least a lot of cold weather and icy road conditions.

Hiking would typically be a difficult endeavor at this time of year unless you have crampons and ice picks.

Not this year however.

That picture above is from a hike we went on yesterday. Do you see any snow?

Me either.

Now usually I’m someone who doesn’t want massive amounts of frosty weather to punctuate each day. It can be tiring and troublesome to get around in. It makes for slippery walkabouts and traffic accidents. Not to mention it’s very cold.

But when there are only two weeks until Christmas, I really must insist we get at least a small sampling of a “Winter Wonderland.”

To date, we have had only two examples of snowfall in Denver (the mountains – much to the relief of all skiers and snowboarders and mountain resorts- are not in this predicament). Both of these times haven’t yielded enough snow to even outlast the day’s sun rays.

Even sans snow, the temperature itself hasn’t been even remotely accommodating to my perception of “winter.” Today we hit about 50 degrees out there. Tomorrow we’re expected to get to 63 degrees.

63 degrees. That’s outrageous for December 13.

So, on behalf of all Denverites, I must ask:

Snow, where are you?! Please come quickly.

I wish to prance about in you, drink hot chocolate, and make snow angels.

I want to sit in a warm and snug house, wrap some Christmas gifts, and listen to holiday tunes as you fall gracefully to the ground.

Snow, I even have a shovel standing by to clear my walkway. I’d like a chance to use that shovel. It’s looking quite lonely and desolate right now. Give that little shovel a purpose.

Help us out, Snow.

(Lacking a wished-for wonderland, a photographer must still work with what she’s got, so I give you a few frames from the hike of yesterday.)

(See poor, snowless Denver up there? Looks much too toasty for December.)

This is sadly the only bit of iciness we encountered. A tiny bit of frost upon the (shaded) part of ground. The Colorado native in me is weeping.