Thursday, March 31, 2011

PARTING SHOT


Snow in late March isn't any big news. It always snows this time of year, even if it was 70˚F a few days ago. That said, I was mildly flabbergasted when I looked up from my desk yesterday afternoon and saw a blinding fury of jumbo snowflakes pouring from the pewter sky. A really intense early-spring squall pretending to be a blizzard. 

I might not have been so startled if I'd have witnessed the start. But just glancing up and seeing the storm already in full force, the ground almost covered, and the island across from the cottage obscured behind a swirling curtain of white—well, I didn't know whether to laugh with glee, start praying, or dash outside and began gathering armloads of firewood in hopes of surviving until disaster rescue workers dug me and Moon-the-Dog out at some future date.  

What I did, in fact, was grab my camera and hustle to make a few pictures before the whole shebang fizzled away. Anyone who's lived in Ohio for any length of time knows these early-spring snowstorms are really tempests in a teapot…over as quickly as they began. 

The weeping willow took the flakes in stride, as did the lilac and spirea. But I thought the daffodils looked a little confused, or at least a bit chilled. In the end, however, the snow petered out and soon melted away. The day remained gray and cold. Moon and I went back into the house and I returned to my desk and work.


I guess March simply had to get in a parting shot—one final lick to say…I may be all-but-over for this year, but I'm currently still in charge, and I can snow on you any time I want. 

Okay. I got the message.
———————     

10 comments:

MorningAJ said...

Well it looks pretty with it! I hope the snow's over soon for you though.

Grizz………… said...

MorningAJ…

It was pretty, in a jarring sort of way. And, yup, I'm ready for spring to remain spring—which means NO MORE SNOW!

KGMom said...

Bittersweet photos of snow-capped daffodils (or jonquils--yes, I remember your earlier post).

It is very cold here. And tomorrow there is a forecast for a winter storm. Shouldn't it be a spring storm. And, I do get that such storm would be an April fool's joke.

Kelly said...

Hahaha! I got the message too and rescued a few of our daffodils--putting them in the kitchen to remind me warmer days are coming (and...I hate to admit it, but whenever I see snow I get happy. The white of winter is fab--i just get tired of the Great Grey Expanse). I'm very much ready for spring.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-
Lovely pictures that so capture Winter's message about still being in charge as Spring color bursts through the challenge. It is so passionate - the struggle and all. We are brcing for a 'nor'easter tonight in to friday with a foot of snow predicted further north from us and we will get three to six inches of heavy wet snow. We will get more wood in later. My poor guy had oral surgery Tuesday - they actually used a hammer and chisel at one point to get the protruding bone out. Can you even imagine? So he is taking pain meds which make him kinda loopy :-0> and this too shall pass as will the snow event.
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes, we have got the message here too Grizz with a howling gale.

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

It's sunny here at the moment, but still cold, 30˚F, and apt to cloud over again most any time. For the record, it's my considered opinion that March intends to toy with us on this, its last day…just showing us a bit of sun so we'll miss it more when it gets taken away this afternoon. March is like that.

My daffodils (yeah, I've finally decided they're daffodils and not jonquils…probably) are rather droopy after being ravished by yesterday's snow and frozen by last night's mid-20s temperatures. The ones by the cottage, which are a bit more protected, look slightly better than the rest of the lot scattered in plantings all over the yard. But none are what you'd call perky.

Rain is said to be in the works for tomorrow rather than snow—so no April Fool's Day weather joke for us April fools. And since you asked—I say winter storm is correct whenever conditions fit, regardless of the calendar. Did you know that the astronomical start of spring (as well as the other seasons) which is what you see on calendars and almanacs, is in no way "official?" There are several alternate ways of calculating the seasons. And certainly no calendar ever influenced nature in any way whatsoever.

So, if it snows on you tomorrow—and I hope it doesn't—you can call it a winter storm with perfect accuracy. Moreover, that smug satisfaction of being right, along with a heavy coat and perhaps a hot drink, will keep you toasty warm. Enjoy!

Grizz………… said...

Kelly…

Hey, I loved your daffodil painting. And I love snow coming down, too. I'm not even usually put off by gray, blah days…since for whatever reason, I seem to work better during such times.

But those really lovely days a week or so back—the 70-degree blue-sky weather, getting out to work in the yard, taking some photos at a nearby woodland garden, feeling the sun of my face and aching bones, even managing a few casts for smallmouth in the pool in front of the cottage…all that put me in a true spring mood and I don't want to go back to winter.

I'm probably turning into a whining geezer, huh?

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

Winter's last hurrah…let us hope. Guess nature thought we needed reminding about who was in charge.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I apologize for my whining. Things could obviously be worse. Compared to you, we ARE having spring hereabouts. Sometimes the view to the other side of the fence is not greener, but whiter—and given a nor'easter and six more inches of snow, or the grassy yard and sparkling river and tiny buds on the roses I see out my window this very moment…hey, I'll shut up and be grateful for what I have.

I expect Skipp needs and deserves every painkiller he can lay his hands on; better loopy than agony.