As Canadians and TPW'ers we love to talk about, respond to and plan for the weather. And indicative of our collective resolve and resilience we have all walked in some nasty weather, including recent downpourings which prompted much discussion on rain gear (waterproof??) and very messy hair. And lest we forget, all those wet feet! But the payoff is that once we are fully drenched and dripping, we get to share a hot beverage, treats and great conversation with our friends.
Given our (or my) fixation on the weather and forecast, I made the mistake of looking up the weather predictions from the Farmer's Almanac for Ontario. Hope you're sitting down:
In southern Ontario and the Great Lakes area, snow and slushy weather are predicted to stretch into early April. In mid-to-late April, the province should expect more showers than usual alongside periods of stormy weather, the forecast predicts. Rain is in the forecast for both Easter weekend, which falls on April 9 in 2023, and Victoria Day long weekend from May 20 to May 22.
And no, this is not an April fools' day joke! In Canadian author, Louise Penny's April newsletter, she wrote:
This is the challenge (I am tempted to write "problem" but resisted…) with April in Canada. It is a tease. Full of promise, and lies. Warmth and snow. And rain. And sleet, and freezing rain. And yes, slush. And buds. Tiny little miracles you need to search out to find.
However, those of us that walked this morning in the cemetery were treated to true spring like weather - with even some of us removing layers of clothing! The joy of the sunshine, warmth on our newly exposed skin, and dodging all the people that wanted to share in this long awaited weather and enjoy being outdoors served as a much needed tonic for our weary, fed-up-with-winter souls. And instead of people watching we were transfixed by the new green shoots taking a peak out of the sodden earth. Another affirmation of the cycles and rituals of life. And let me add being blessed, and comforted, by our own rituals of walking together, being sustained and uplifted as we hopefully say goodbye to a long winter and welcome spring, in all its contradictions and promises.
