now Soup

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Lilliland is a beautiful place in which to live and visit year round. In the summer it has sailing on Castle Lake and other water activities, and in the winter there is skiing and skating. In between seasons, the mountain trails are ideal for hiking, camping, and picnicking. Family life is very fulfilling most of the time.

The only time when family life gets hectic is when the schools are closed due to an extraordinary amount of snowfall. Lilliland is fully equipped to handle a lot of snow but sometimes that snow will continue to fall day after day. Businesses and schools close and everyone must patiently wait for the sun to come out and melt some of the snow.

The parents have a little game they play with their children to keep everyone happy and busy. Someone will say, "Let's have some snow soup today." Someone must fill a large kettle with freshly fallen, very clean show and put it in the fireplace to slowly melt. Another member of the family must peel some potatoes to add to the melting snow and someone else must cut up some onions. Milk and parsley are added, with a touch of pepper. Then everything in the snow soup is left to simmer in the fireplace for hours while everyone watches and takes turn stirring the kettle. The aroma of the snow soup is very pleasant and builds up everyone's appetite. Some families add sliced carrots and celery to the pot. Some others add fish stock.

After a few hours of family participation the snow soup is ready. The family gathers together and the soup bowls are brought out. Crackers and pretzels are on the table. The snow soup is gently poured into each bowl steaming hot. While the snow in the snow soup has fully melted many hours ago, it is still referred to as snow soup.

One does not have to be a master chef to know that the soup would taste the same if plain water had been used instead of snow, but when a family is snowbound for a few days, some entertainment is just what is needed. Instead of the snow stopping the normal everyday activities of business and school, it is brought inside and thus brings the family together in the preparation and eating of the snow soup.