April Snow
Posted on 18. Apr, 2009 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Outdoors
April snow is not something I’m accustomed to.
But this morning I woke up, glanced out the window, and saw our yard covered in fresh snow.
I snuck out of bed, grabbed my camera, and padded around the yard taking photos. As I walked around the yard, the sun began peeking through the clouds.
By dusk tonight, the snow had completely melted. Here I am in a T-shirt in front of my favourite birch tree, which can be seen in the first picture, too.
It looks as though the snow was never even here. But only a few hours ago a white blanket covered it all!
All this in one day!
These weather changes remind me how quickly things can change for good or bad. Such reminders prompt me to make the most of my days and be thankful for the good while it’s here.
When it comes to weather, which one is the good and which is the bad? Now that winter is almost gone for good (for now), I’m getting nostalgic for the good old days, so I can’t weigh in on that debate.
Vicki
Apr 18th, 2009
Looks beautiful. Do you think it is the last snow fall? I started gardening today, well pulled a few weeds. Got to step it up a notch & get a veggie garden started!! Only 137 more days & we will be there in PEI!!
Vicki
Apr 18th, 2009
PS You look beautiful!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Apr 18th, 2009
It’s hard to say whether it’s the last snow. Every time it snows I think, “Oh, this must be the last snowfall,” but I am continually surprised. I can’t wait to hear more about your veggie garden. Have you figured out what you’ll grow?
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Apr 18th, 2009
PS: Thanks!
Freda
Apr 19th, 2009
Breathtaking!!! Absolutely awe inspiring. I love the vivid blue sky with the snow on the tree branches, takes your breath away. Mornings and days like that make you sit up and take notice, more aware of your surroundings.
Most of the time that is what our snow and ice days are like here in Arkansas. Sun making everything glittery and sparkly. Love it!!
CWJ
Apr 19th, 2009
Don’t *ever* suggest it’s the last snowfall…bad luck, like opening an umbrella indoors, or teasing that big black dog. Old Islanders say you should never plant your garden “before the first full moon in June”, and we’ve more often than not found that to be a yardstick both prudent and accurate.
christy
Apr 19th, 2009
love that snow!!! i want more snow here! :(
and speaking of gardens, may 1st is the ideal time to plant those “things” i sent….. so give them away to family, friends, and blog readers (if you want) before then!!
Rain
Apr 19th, 2009
Hi Laura-Jane,
You’re very right, things can change instantly. I am proof of that. I was living as a workaholic for over 10 years, but I had everything I could ever need. Just bought a condo in the mountains, every gadget and electronic, just bought a new car, new appliances, great clothes, just a really materialistic yuppy lifestyle. That’s what I wanted at the time. So in comes the burnout, lost my job, income cut in half, can’t afford my payments, cashed in my RRSP’s and blew through my savings, lost the condo, sold the furniture, car was reposessed and I ended up in a dingy and loud apartment in Montreal for 3 years. I’m still recovering financially, but I’ll tell you, I thought I was on top of the world and BANG! It all turned upside down.
But out of that chaos came a new lease on life and an understanding of what is important to me and how I want to spend the rest of my days. I also feel a great satisfaction living a simpler life. You can’t always be prepared for what life will bring to you, but to feel gratitude and happiness for what you do have is really living.
As for the weather, well…I’m not nostalgic for the huge banks of snow, that’s for sure! Although I may change my tune considering I had my first run-in with some black flies yesterday!!
mom Marjorie
Apr 19th, 2009
snow in April! Valerie, my house-sitter while I was in England, e-mailed me and mentioned we had snow here at sea-level in Parksville BC on April 1st (no fooling). …I mention sea level because of course the mountains around here still have their usual spring snow.
You’ll remember that I planted your vegetable gardens around the third week of June last year … Did everything have time to mature, and would there have been time for say, plantings two weeks later, and then again two weeks later to mature?
I’ve heard that it is better to plant stuff close before a full moon – slightly before because the magnetic pull of the full moon “pulls” the plant energy upwards. Has this moon-rhythm-for-planting been proven, or am I still “stuck” in the flower child world of 1970’s?
(hey, Gilles and I want to plant aherb garden this season, which I aim to do soon!)
Kim
Apr 19th, 2009
In just a few months, it will be all white again, don’t you worry!
Since we moved here, every island friend/acquaintance says that the spring, summer, winter, fall (take your pick) has been the coldest, wettest, snowiest, buggiest (take your pick) they’ve ever seen.
Personally, I think it’s a conspiracy to keep us here.
Kerry
Apr 19th, 2009
I have been here for almost a year now, so we’ve been through one winter. I’ve heard it was a “bad” winter this year, but it didn’t seem that bad to me. We need to celebrate each season and not define one as good and one as bad. I aim to enjoy all seasons, just as one should enjoy the seasons of life!
Gary Gray
Apr 20th, 2009
Hi L-J
Cool!! Snow in the morning and t shirts in the afternoon. (must be Spring on PEI)
Yep, life changes can come quickly! Go for a coffee and change your life.
My stroke date was August 10, 2002 when I had stopped at a local coffee shop to grab a coffee. It happened right at the counter. I suddenly could not speak. Then numbness in my left arm and shoulder. Somehow, somewhere during my life I had learned the symptoms of stroke and I knew when I was losing my voice and when my side went weak, it was happening to me. My voice came back long enough for me to wisper ‘I’m having a stroke call 911′
I blacked out and remained in various degrees of coma for three weeks. In going back and forth between hospitals, I had five ambulance rides and I don’t remember any of them. I was aware sometimes of people being in my room but they had to be right in my face before I could deal with them.
I woke up on Sept 01, 02 around 6:30 pm, just as two nurses were getting me ready for the night. I remember wondering why they were taking my clothes off. I asked them what was going on, and one of them looked at me and said ‘Gary, you’re back’.
For the next 7 weeks in hospital I had speech, physical and occupational therapies. I made good progress and was released on Oct 18, 02. As I was not able to be on my own, my friends Chris and Magie Clarke became my care givers and I lived with them from October 02 until July 03.
On August 01, 03 I moved into a one bedroom apartment back in Montague. It is close to stores, Doctor’s Office, Hospital, Library and bank ( I can walk to them all).
That same month I began going in to my old office job one day a week. In September 03 I drove for the first time post stroke and got along well. It took me a long time to trust my body and my mind again. I expercise every day, no execptions, to keep my Left side mobile. I spend one day a week with friends, doing service work. I have a few toys to assist me with independence such as a one handed can opener, a rocker knife, one handed portable vacuum and a wrist BP/P monitor.
I have also received visits and telephone calls of encouragement from stroke survivor buddies, friends and family during the period of time since my stroke. So I have learned to accept my life change, keep a good routine, set attainable short and long-term goals and keep a positive attitude.
The moral of this story is: Don’t get too comfy because your life can change in a hurry. Make sure that you get the most that you can out of every day and if there is something you want to do, don’t put it off. Love the people that love you back and don’t waste your time doing stuff that doesn’t matter.
Make sure you learn the signs of a stroke. It could save a life and it could be your own…
btw I loved your lobster tale. (great story)
Smiles :o)
Gary
warren
Apr 20th, 2009
Wow Laura-Jane…I cannot imagine going from snow to short-sleeves in a day, though I suppose you folks up north may be a bit tougher than I am. Anyhow, spring is near. I promise! I can’t imagine being nostalgic for winter, but I do understand and appreciate your thoughts on how quickly things change.
Freda
Apr 20th, 2009
Gary
Glad everything is better and you are correct in not assuming everything is just hunky-dory. We all need to be aware of the different levels of our bodies and any subtle changes. So glad you were aware of the signs and symptons of a stroke, makes all the difference.
Good friends and neighbors are hard to come by and must keep them close.
I too, have fantastic neighbors like your friends.
Freda
PS Thank your, Laura-Jane. You have some very special blog readers.
Gary Gray
Apr 21st, 2009
Freda
Thank you, you are very kind.
Life has bumps, mud, potholes and the odd bridge out just like our island roads in the springtime. lol Oh yeah and the weather can change pretty quickly too. There is a saying here on the Island it goes “if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.”
Thanks for noticing…
Smiles :o)
Gary