May 5: After record snowfalls in central Ontario and elsewhere, Winter ended with a sucker punch of wind and ice that devastated large parts of the Province. Many homes were left without power for several days, and clean-up continues for many. There will be more work to be done as seasonal residents like myself return to their summer homes and discover the extent of damage.
To put it mildly, Spring has seemed somewhat reluctant this year. Some warmer days have yielded to stretches of colder and wetter periods that feel like late March rather than early May. But Mother Nature is a persistent old lady and in time, her usual patterns will win out.
I have been waiting for that eventuality while the temperatures remain close to zero overnight on Regatta Island. Call me an old, soft city-slicker but the possibility of an overnight stay in a wooden cottage with no insulation or central heat has little appeal.
Still, it is only a matter of time before the rain and cold release their grip. There are signs – like the magnolia at the bottom of my street – that Spring can’t be that far off. So I suggest digging the shorts out from the bottom of the drawer, and putting the rose wine on ice, just to be ready. In the meantime, keep the umbrella handy.