Friday, January 12, 2018

The Visit.

Spring came to visit, I suppose she sensed our feelings of desperation and hopelessness. She dropped in suddenly, I would never have believed you if you told me such a tale three days ago. With temperatures in the minus insane regions, freezing our nostrils together and beating weather reports from the arctic, it seemed impossible to me. Yesterday however; it began to warm up in the evening, a steady warm rain started just before dark but I didn't think anything of it. This morning as I pulled up the blind to my bedroom window, I stood dumbfounded. There before me was empty brown fields, no snow, no ice, no icicles hanging from the roof. I quickly got dressed and went outside, it was warm and had that early spring smell to it. "I didn't know you were really coming" I said to her, sometimes the news will say warmer weather but it usually doesn't happen like this. "Did you miss me" she asked, I wanted to say something but she said, "now hurry and enjoy your day, this is only a short visit to let you mentally recharge". I did enjoy the day, there was a lot I wanted to do outside without the worry of freezing fingers, snow down my boots or chills up my spine. First though I ran to release the animals, your free, your free I laughed as they ran out. Even the wild birds were chirping in such an excited way, that they made me think of little kids giggling. It seemed unreal, I was moving stuff around with my wheelbarrow where only twenty four hours ago, I would have been up to my knees in snow. January thaws do happen, I don't however remember any being this dramatic so I'm not sure if it's just the common occurrence or something worse. There was a light south wind, then for about an hour everything was really calm, watching the chickens picking through the grass it was almost hard to believe winter even existed let alone just a day ago, maybe it's still October and I only dreamt we had winter. .............................................. "I have to go now" spring looked a little sad, she said her work was done for today, she told me no matter how bleak winter appeared, that she would be back soon enough and to hold on to thoughts of warmer days. Suddenly she faded, they had warned of flash freezing. There was a sound like a train coming and I realized it was the north wind, it hit the buildings and all the doors started slamming shut, the animals had already come in, the outdoor thermometer was dropping like an elevator. In about half an hour it dropped ten degrees. Winter was pissed, we are not on speaking terms, I don't like winter, it immediately hit hard with stinging sleet and then started snowing like crazy! As of now everything is covered with snow again, the temperature is dropping well below freezing, they are asking people to stay off the roads. I don't care though, a visit from spring was just what I needed.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. You really capture those fleeting warm moments before winter's return. I walked my dog tonight and it was 66 degrees F. Tomorrow night the low is 15. What an abrupt change!

Mistress Maddie said...

Summer is my favorite season by far....but I have to say I enjoy the change of season and can enjoy the beauty of each of them. It got warm here too....almost 70 today!!! But the Snow Queen isn't giving her throne up yet. Monday is plummeting into the teens again here.

Tomass Hawkke said...

A lyrical account; most enjoyable.

The warmth arrived yesterday, and stayed the night. The rain didn't wash away all the snow, but enough to expose the ground under trees in the yard and offer welcome glimpses of springy moss.

I'm fond of the returning sights and scents after a long period of snow cover; they are wonderfully intoxicating. It must have felt incredible, gazing out upon the day's surprise greeting.

Winter is breathing back now, but as you wrote, the fleeting kiss of spring was a treat.

Walter said...

What a lovely post...and so happy you had a reprieve from the arctic blasts you have been enduring. I remember long winter days when I lived in NYC. It was such a long haul to spring. I'm glad you had a taste of what's to come.

Old Lurker said...

Spring isn't kind. She is a cruel tease. All we got was rain for a day straight. Then Spring spurned us and everything froze solid.

Ur-spo said...

I too thought this lovely. You have an eloquent way with words.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Michael 54, that day was insane with it's temperature drop. The morning started out with a plus 10°Celsius, by 2 o'clock it had dropped to -1°Celsius, by ten that night it was -14.4. There was also one of those wind chills that make you look down to be sure you are wearing pants!

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Mistress Steven, I like spring, summer and fall, winter is kind of mehhhh for me. I would enjoy it if it was only for three months max. Winter is good for Christmas and killing mosquitoes, plus there are some fun outdoor sports but we are never sure of the length here. Sometimes it can run from middle of November to the very end of April and that is too long.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Tomass, ugh it's this constant below -20 temperature that is getting on my nerves. Yesterday it was -14 here and I was excited by that. It's very sad when you start to think of -14 as warm! ;)

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Walter, thank you. Yes at least we can imagine a light at the end of the tunnel, just at the moment hopefully it's not a train!

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Mr Lurker, no it was winter that was ruining the fun, winter is like that, a real party pooper.

Sooo-this-is-me said...

Dr Spo, like lying down in a meadow amongst fragrant wild flowers on a warm summer sunny day, is the joy I feel from such kind words you write to me. Was that too thick?