6 Months of Winter and Still Counting

I've had another week where I've not been able to visit the trails.  Work schedules are keeping me inside.  I have noticed that headway is being made with the melt in my backyard.  The paths that I had shoveled in the winter are down to bare ground and the construction clay is unthawed.  If I don't tread carefully I'm past my ankles in mud.

On Saturday morning I woke to the robins chirping and the chickadees singing.  What wonderful sounds to wake to.  I'd much rather hear them than the alarm clock.  It rained on Friday night so when I opened the door to leave for work it smelled fresh and reminded me of a camping morning in the mountains.

Last night it was snowing again.  Huge flakes fell and the wind was gusting.  The trees were swaying back and forth so much that I thought they were going to snap off.  It was looking like a winter blizzard again.  There's just over a centimeter of snow on my deck.

As I waited for my coffee to brew this morning I checked the weather website for the outside temperature.  It is -7C on April 21.  The first snow of the season fell in late October 2012 and it's been falling ever since.

The yard has been under a blanket of white for more than 6 months.  I want to put away my winter boots and the snow shovel.  I want to put on my sandals and dig out my gardening tools.  In 2008 there was still lots of snow on the ground in April but it didn't start falling in October!

I've lived here at the lake for almost 11 years and this is the first year that the snow has been on the ground for half the year.  I love winter and snow but even I have had enough already.  I'm waiting impatiently for a reprieve.

As I'm ranting here about the weather, a blue jay is squawking in the evergreen outside my window.  It sounds like it is scolding me for the snow that is once again covering its seeds and nuts in the tray feeder. 

I'm looking forward to Monday.  I do have to work but only a half day and in the evening so I plan on enjoying some time outside.  I've not had the opportunity to visit Elk Island this week but have noticed that the deer and the moose are out more often on my drive into work.   It appears that my forest friends know this.  They greet me along the roadside as I travel into town.

April 29, 2008.  I can only dream of brown this year.