A sure sign of spring - or maybe not

My last post of a few days ago came before the huge storms that swept across North America. Tornadoes in the Central U.S. (for which I send out heartfelt prayers for the welfare of all who were affected,) and in my neck of the woods, sleet, snow, rain, high winds that doubled trees over. And me too - I felt almost blown asunder by many blasts on my few short walks with the dogs.

They were disappointed I'm sure when we returned the house after a brief expedition outside. They were covered on one side with a coating of icy snow crystals and glad of a towelling off.

So when my friend who lives near Hastings, a tiny community in central Ontario, sent me this photograph of a robin, I remembered that my brother in Toronto had spoken of robins that his son's dogs had spotted in the ravines. Spring we all said enthusiastically! Then.

And as I look outside today at the beautiful white blanket that has been refreshed again during the night, immaculate in many places still (not for long after the birds and dogs have been about) I wonder.

Again I think of climate change. Is that the reason for this untoward severity in what has been till now a mild and grey winter? No say the weather specialists - it's common to have storms in March. But the well below freezing temperatures, frosty breath of dogs, cats and me when outside say, oh please, let's have spring sooner rather than later.

It's been an unusual season - this not quite winter. And while I don't mind, actually I quite enjoy getting out the snowshoes and the skiis and moving about the property like that for a change (much easier than walking believe me) - I am now longing for planting season, to get my pond re-dug, re-lined and my fish back into it. To see the flower and leaf buds that keep swelling, open, not drop off the trees because it's been too cold and they have to start again. That would be so sweet.

But we get what we get. So today I'm going to put my skiis on again and enjoy what sun there is. And hope Mr. (or Ms.) Robin was safe during the winds and will be able to find something to eat (sumach, berries, something) for the next week or so...and then maybe? Possibly? Spring?

What do you think?

Be careful what you wish for

This past couple of weeks, I've been longing for snow, hating the miserable dead brown grasses - unprotected by their usual wintery white blanket. On Friday I went into town and enjoyed a long leisurely and totally decadent lunch in a restaurant with a dear friend - (I seldom eat in restaurants any more so this was a treat.) When we walked out the door mid-afternoon. The white stuff was well underway.

I sped home, not wanting to get caught in miserable driving.

And then the sun came out and graced us all with the loveliest clear skies, no wind, not even a tiny breeze to chill me through. I took the above photo at sunset. Because the sky was cloudless, there was no great colour, just the peace and calm of some snow on the pine needles, a beautiful evening sky and hardly a sound. Not even the call of a late bird  fetching a last minute snack.

Later, I took the pups for their last walk of the day. Snow had started to fall again. My tracks of earlier were filled in. Little did I know what would be waiting for me this morning:

(Taken out my front window) I could barely see the house across the road from me, the road is white though it's been ploughed a few times already, burying my already cleaned out drive. The trees and shrubs are laden.

Two hours later the snow continues, more heavily than before and instead of coming down, it's blowing horizontally, whistling off the drive shed roof, curling in around the eaves and piling up in deep drifts. It was already at least a foot and a half deep when I went to put the feeders back out at 7. It was still then, quiet, the times I really enjoy when it's as if I'm alone in the world with just the dogs and the birds... oh and the cats, but they refused to make an appearance this morning.

The skiers will be happy, the birds have tons of seed and suet, the dogs love the snow and had a great play while I shovelled the driveway and cleaned off the car. That I'll have to do it again shortly, didn't occur to me, I was still pretty dozey and hadn't had the first of my coffees.

But I got my wish didn't I? No more complaining for me and I'm going to be careful what I wish for in the future. Sometimes it seems that Mother Nature does listen. Enjoy your day wherever you are!

Reminders of summer

Every time I drive by a row of round bales of hay or straw I'm happily reminded that though it's been a chillier than normal spring, it will eventually warm up. We will get summer and with it haying, growing gardens, fresh local veggies - all the things that are traditionally linked to North American spring and summer.

Reminders like this are needed this year. At least for me. I'm getting awfully tired of cool temperatures. I know we may even get another snow storm...we've certainly had a few in April over the years. Friends have arrived back from winter homes in Mexico and Florida, Texas or Arizona, sometimes even island holiday destinations to find themselves wading through a foot or more of snow.

I remember one winter when the boys were young and we had gone to Pensacola for a stay. We drove up to our lane in shorts and sandals to be greeted by three feet of snow blocking access to our home. My husband ran up the driveway to get boots and jacket and the tractor to plow a pathway to the house. Funny to think about that so long ago, but it stuck in all our memories.

Maybe we'll get a break this spring and winter's last gasp will be gentle and spring will arrive with hummingbirds and warm breezes before too long. Reminders of winter well behind us.

Crossing my fingers and wishing you a warm spring-like day!

And before I forget - thank you to each of you who visit my blog once in a while or regularly and thank you for your comments. I enjoy each and every one! Kind of you and much appreciated that you let me know in person, by email or by comment that you're visiting.

A little colour can change a day

There was something sureal about yesterday morning, looking out the window through the petals of my beautiful orchid to the snow laden branches of a Scotch pine - the one where I usually hang my suet blocks and a large bird feeder.

The fuscia blooms made the outside seem more real in a way as if the colour was in my imagination and the real world was outside the glass.

I didn't use a flash on the flowers pretty faces,, and they sort of look like dragons to me in this light - luminous where the light is shining through and dark and almost threatening where their mouths are... or maybe they are ladies dancing with huge headresses.

Whichever, I'm enjoying them... I haven't counted recently to see how many of the buds have blossomed, but more than half of the 47 are open and it seems like more will pop every day. Watching one unfold throughout a day is a rare privilege - what I get for working from home I guess.

May you have a beautiful day wherever you are, and a terrific evening.

Winter returns!

Well what a pipe dream that was! It was just as if old Mother Nature thumbed her nose at me and all the rest of us who are ready for some green grass, sweet smelling flowers, colour in the flower beds, or at least a hint of green poking through...

Guess we have to wait - here anyway.

Most of southern Ontario was hit first with rain, then with snow. It was raining yesterday morning, but switched to those big fat wet flakes that are so beautiful as they come down. Cold and drippy as they slip inside your scarf and down your neck. I didn't try to catch them on my tongue yesterday, I kept my head down so I wouldn't slide on the slush underneath.

By this morning - well you can see it. Bliss and Spirit quite love it - they definitely live up to the original history of Labrador retrievers who were bred to pull post office sleds and workers along the Labrador coast from fishing village to fishing village. Maybe this spring I'll get harnesses for them and teach them how to pull - put them to work hauling the wood in from the drive shed instead of watching me do it.

So I guess we have to wait a bit for spring - and no doubt we'll get many more storms before it really arrives.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday - and that it's pleasant wherever and whatever you do.