Reader here, and am I the only one that’s more than ready for Spring?
I know that OFFICIALLY, Spring arrived on March 20th, but living in this neck of the woods, we all know that it’s Spring in name only, as the sub-seasons, known as “Second, Third, and even Fourth Winter” usually hit us before Old Man Winter is done with us.
It’s kind of like Old Man Winter and Mother Nature went out for drinks one evening and got a bit silly…
Mother Nature says “All right. I think it’s time for sunshine, green grass and flowers.”
Then, Old Man Winter says “You know, I know it’s Spring and all, but I’m drunk with power (and maybe a few too many beverages), and I loooooove messing with everybody in the Prairies. Just when those nice folks in Manitoba and Saskatchewan get their hopes up, just for fun… let’s dump another foot or two of snow on ’em! Keep ’em shovellin’ until May long!”
“But why? What’d they ever do to you?”
“Nothin’! I’m just a bit of a jerk that way, and it’s funny to me!”
Because who doesn’t love a never-ending Winter?”
Don’t get me wrong. Extra snow does have its advantages.
Ski hills can stay open a little bit longer. Rip around on the snowmobile for an extra few weeks.
On the farm, the extra snow puts some extra moisture in the ground before seeding, and it helps to fill dugouts, to make sure cattle have lots to drink.
But beyond that, the snow can take a hike!
After spending 15 years living in an apartment downtown, and not having to worry about shovilling snow, I moved to a basement suite on the south edge of town, and part of my duties involves keeping the driveway and sidewalks clear of snow.
I’ve shoveled more snow in the past five months, than I have in the past 15 years!
In the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, we were forecasted to get another big ol’ dump of snow. Fortunately, we haven’t been hit to hard in Yorkton, but we do have lots of wind and freezing rain, which makes driving less than fun.
But temperatures are supposed to be back up into the pluses by the weekend, and I’ve made the executive decision… I’m putting the snow shovel away. It’s a decision made both for my piece of mind, and my back!
I’m content to let Mother Nature take care of business, let the sun shine, and melt the snow away.
I figure she owes us a solid by now, right?
Enjoy this video about the science behind snow melt!
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