It's Coming

Spring, that is. 

It seems we are being blessed with an early Spring and I couldn't be happier. The last two winter previous to this one have been so long and so brutal, that I wasn't ready to face it again. 

This morning I ran up to Swords, and paused by the marsh. Even though it's still locked in ice, it is alive with sounds. Red winged blackbirds,  geese,  and the sound of the ice breaking and cracking filled the air. 

Soon, with a rise in temperature, that same air will be filled with the sound of spring peepers. 

I love early spring. Hope, anticipation and so many beautiful things to come.

 

ICE OUT!

And just like that, the ice is out.  

It went out yesterday while the rain lashed and the wind howled. When I woke up, there was about a third of the ice left. The wind had jammed it hard up against our shore. 

It was completely gone when I got home at 3:30. When Henry noticed, he shouted, jumped, danced, and hugged with joy. "We have WATER, mommy!"

I am equally thrilled. After a long, difficult winter, it's good to see warmer, easier days coming. 

From the Weather Book

It's been a long time since I've updated the weather book.  Truth be told, I've been avoiding it because the end of winter and beginning of spring this year have been so depressing.  Instead of going through each day and reporting on the glum, tedious and repetitive weather, I'm going to make it easy on everyone.

March

It snowed.  It was really cold.  It snowed some more.

It usually looked like this:

April

It snowed.  It was a little warmer.  The ice went out April 29.

It often looked like this:

 

 

 

And now we are all caught up!

Ice Out

As I mentioned in my last post, while it SEEMS we are quite far behind last year in terms of Spring getting started, we really aren't.  The ice is out, only 4 days behind last year.  Now, we do still have a small pile of snow in the front, and there is still some in the deep bush, that is only because of the vast amount we received this year.

 

I took a hike through the bush last week and was struck by how quickly everything changes once the snow is gone (or almost gone).  The air was permeated with the smell of wild leeks sprouting and the sound of ephemeral streams.

 

 

 

Onward Spring!

Not By Much

Everyone is talking about how late of a Spring we are having.  To be honest, it  FEELS different, but when I look back through the weather book I see it isn't much different.

 

April 23 and 24 of 2012 saw snow, as did April 20 - 25 of 2013.  Granted, 2012 was a weird year, and we already had trilliums blooming by now, but snow this late in the season is not uncommon.

 

The ice on the lake is still holding strong, but I imagine it will start to break up soon  It just started turning black today, but is open in the smaller bays.  Last year the ice was out April 25.

 

We are all looking forward to warmer days ahead.

 

 

 

 

Compare and Contrast

Early April 2012

Early April 2013

Early April 2014

Same

At the moment it is pouring rain outside.  It' a dull and dreary day, and I don't mind it one bit.

 

Why?  Because it's something different.  We have had endless strings of gorgeous, sparkling days, but enough is enough.  This winter and early spring I have learned that, while beautiful, the same weather day after day gets monotonous.  Boring.  It seemed we were stuck in a rut of winter.

 

I crave the change in seasons.  It is so nice to see the great wheels of the seasons turning once again as we creep ever closer to warm weather.

 

 

Bright, Bright

Today was an absolutely stunningly bright early spring day. 

 

Perfect for strapping on snowshoes (and a baby) and heading out for a hike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiatus

I'm sure you've noticed my posting has become quite infrequent.  Being 39 weeks pregnant, I've had other things on my mind and on the go.

 

I'm still here and I will be back! 

 

But for now, I am enjoying my last few days with only one child and finishing many last minute tasks.

 

See you soon.

And the Sun Returns

After a week of rain and ice (yes, ice) the sun has returned this morning. 

The blackflies are still nagging us with their presence and temperatures have been less than favourable for getting rid of them.

I really don't mind the rain - and we needed some, and the cooler temperatures don't bother me, but I am pleased to see the sun this morning.

The Longest Weekend

I'm sure what I'm about to write won't go over to well with some readers.  That's fine.  I'm sure I sound like a grumpy old man who is shaking his fist.  I've come to terms with that.  Maybe I just hate fun.  Maybe.

The first long weekend of the summer is upon us, and once again I need to complain. 

Cottagers.

Cottagers punctuate my perfect peace and congest my daily activities.

Once again, I long for the work week to return, and better yet, Labour Day.

Three

We are commencing our third year on Maple Lake and it still seems to me as if we've just arrived.

 

It never fails to surprise me how much faster time moves as I get older.

 

There is still much to be done around the house and property.  There is still so much to be explored, as well.

 

My exploring days are on hold for the next little while, but I think I can get by with the view from my deck.

 

 

 

From the Weather Book

April 24
- snow all day
- part of the dock got away - Rick rescued it in a canoe and snow
- tree out floating back and forth on the lake on an ice floe

April 25
- woke up to snow 
- sunny in the morning and rain in the afternoon
- ICE OUT

May 1
- warm and sunny
- daffodils blooming
- 21 C

May 2
- warm and sunny
- 22 C

Mud and Stuff

Finally a lovely spring day.

The marshy area in the lower feild is full of water and pussy willows.  The spring peepers are calling from the other side of the upper field.

Go Home, Mother Nature...

...you are drunk.

 

It snowed last night.  It's snowing again as I write this.

 

 

 

In early spring, I had patience for the cold, snowy weather while those around me moaned and complained, but my patience is now wearing thin.  I am ready for warm temperatures!  Gentle breezes!  Open windows!

 

I feel like I should be gearing up for Christmas with the weather that we are having. The only hints of spring are in the bulbs coming up, some early perennial growth, fat buds on some trees and, of course, puddles.

 

 

 

I keep telling myself that when the warmer weather does arrive, I will appreciate all that much more..but when will that be?!

From the Weather Book

April 1
- rain overnight
- plenty of snow during the day

April 3
- cold and windy

April 4
- rain and snow

April 5
- snow

April 8
- rain

April 10
- water up
- rain

April 12
- SNOW

April 13
- snow all day

April 14
- finally some sunshine

 

 

April 20
- SNOW
- -5C in morning
- cold wind

April 22
- sunny
- 13 C in the afternoon

Change

Now that the temperatures are consistently above zero, we can see REAL changes start.

 

The lake is blackening, robins are singing and the snow continues to melt.  Soon, the fields will begin to green, amphibians will be active - spring peepers will start calling and the roadsides will be studded with turtles on the move, and the first leaves on trees will pop.

 

This time last year, daffodils were already in bloom.  Not so this year, but very good things come to those who wait.  Anticipation can make the reward that much more sweet, and the lush, green spring and early summer that is coming will be sweet indeed.

 

 

A Spring Day

New life.

Mud.

 

 

Sun.

MINE

My son Henry has very recently internalized the concept of "mine", and he often walks around the house holding a favourite toy saying "mine, miiine" over and over again.  This is, of course a normal part of toddler development, and an opportunity to teach about mine, yours and sharing, but it also reminds me of the way I feel about Swords.

 

 

 

I woke up the other morning with a desire to visit "my" Swords.  Now, I know there are many people in the area and beyond that can lay more claim to it than I, but I still feel a strong connection.  I feel drawn to the place, and when I see footprints or evidence of other people at the site, I think "no! Mine!".  Just like Henry and his toys.

 

 

 

This time last year my interest in Swords was just beginning to spark.  With the snow melting, my desire to be up there has returned. My goal this year is to find out more about the personal stories of Swords.  When I look up at he windows in the old store, I can feel the lives that have gone before.  There is a strong presence  there.

 

 

 

Our neighbour has many things to share with me, and we spoke at Christmas about getting together sometime to chat.  I think I'll have to pay a visit soon.

Not Complaining.

While the temperatures we have been experiencing so far this spring are still in the realm of normal, I will admit that the weather has been somewhat of a tough pill to swallow. 

 

I'm not complaining, though.

 

We had snow last night and again this morning.  The ice still booms on the lake through the night - not because it's breaking up, but because it's still forming.  We have had temperatures well below 0 overnight during the past week.  The lake has shown no signs of melting ice yet.

 

We have lost a significant amount of snow, due to rain and some warmer daytime temperatures, but much still remains.

 

I'm not complaining.

 

Hopefully one day soon, we will wake up to the robins singing, and the first green shoot emerging from the earth.  That day is not today, and probably not tomorrow...or the next.

Still not complaining.