It's time for....

April 6, 2025

 ...a cease and desist order against Old Man Winter. 

We have been riding this weather roller-coaster of snow, melt, snow, melt...and are preparing for more snow this coming week. Out in the open, a sunny warm day melts the fresh snow down rapidly, and the winter snow pack recedes a little bit more. There is still a foot of snow in the bush in most places, and walking is treacherous, on trail or off. One never knows when a foot will plunge into hidden melt water, or step into snow over the boot tops, so rubber boots are a necessity. 

Thankfully, we were north of the ice storm that came through Ontario last weekend, the worst of it landing south and west of here.

There was a layer of ice on everything, and sun light was reflecting off of the shining, ice-crusted snow.
 

Central Ontario is still out of power in places, as the ice weighed down lines and broke poles. On Thursday afternoon, the wind grew suddenly strong here, and walking anywhere on the road or in the bush would have been suicide, as branches and whole trees were coming down. A later drive down the hill showed it littered with large and small branches, and in several places, the township had had to chainsaw big trees off of the road. 

So, more winter is coming... we re-filled the porch wood box this morning, got another pail of kindling up from the barn, and refilled the bird feeders.

But, there are signs of spring advancing. Maple sap is running well, our maple syrup collection is growing, (pancakes and fresh maple syrup for breakfast yesterday), and we heard a warbling/cooing Sand Hill Crane fly over this morning as we were moving wood in. 

In the sprigs and sprouts department...

Crocus colour, daff shoots, and tulip nubs.... Yes, I know...you have to look hard!

Of course, under lights, my peppers are doing well and tomatoes have just emerged.

 Over the past week, the deer have been dispersing from their winter yard, and the migration trails are well tramped out. Last night we saw the first deer in the yard at dusk, and there will be many more showing up to graze, as the grass greens up. This doe wandered by a trail camera.

This wild canine has shown up again, checking out one of the deer trails that cross our trail, but in daylight this time.

This is the back yard and pond this morning.

Who knows what it will look like after tomorrow night's forecast snow?