A Reluctant Spring

Back at the end of March the weather got nice enough that I made it out on the first bike ride of the season. It was a glorious day, a wonderful spring ride.  The roads had dried out pretty well, most of the snow had melted away, the temperature got above 50 and the wind was down. It looked like spring was here for sure.

Before

Then, just three days later it snowed and the lovely spring we were getting so excited about was gone.

Snow all over everything.  It was a fickle spring, to all appearances. That's not all that uncommon, however, that we get spring started and then have a storm go through that dumps a few inches of snow.  But spring usually comes right back and melts it off pretty quick.  It was okay.  I actually wanted to get back out on my bike again but there was too much rain and wind.

But then, like a small set back to your plans, it snowed again a few days later.  This storm left a few inches of snow again, a little more than the last one.

No worries, it melted pretty quickly again.  A pretty reminder of winter and then gone.  But it stayed cold and rainy again.

Then, as we were thinking it really ought to get serious about spring, it snowed some more.  Nine inches this time.

This time we had to dig out.  Up to two or three inches this time of year you can be lazy and let it melt off, not having to shovel.

But nine inches is too much.  Had to dig out.  Schwartzbeere started in the back yard, digging out the deck and into the yard so the animals could get out away from the house to do their business.

I got the snow blower out and got started in the front yard.  That much snow begins to be a problem with being able to get the cars out.

Especially at the end of the driveway where the snow plow goes by and turns so much snow into the driveway.  Heavy, packed snow.  I had to go over it a couple of times with the blower to get it all gone. And the mailman won't deliver the mail if he can't get to the mailbox. Funny man.

Schwartzbeere did the finish work, getting up close to the cars where I couldn't get with the big snow blower.

Looked mighty fine when we were all done. I really like the look of fresh snow and a clear driveway.

Then we had to scrape all that snow off the car so we could run some errands.

Nine inches of snow on a car takes a few minutes to dig out.  But it seemed like a good idea.  Partly because this was a Saturday and we needed to get to the store to make sure we could get through the Sabbath without needing to go to a store.  But also because the weatherman was predicting another big storm coming right behind this one.  Oy vey, you mean its not over yet?

But as it turned out, it was not over by a long shot.  It was just a lull in the storm.  When it started p again it really went to town.  All Sunday it snowed, at times pretty heavily.

We had to get out again to dig out, trying to keep up with it so it wouldn't be insurmountable when it finally stopped.  It was predicted to go all day and into the night.

Himbere's truck, which has been parked on the front lawn all winter, was really buried.  Nevertheless, Himbeere insists he could drive it out any time he wants. Forward, even. Well, maybe, maybe not.

When it was all done snowing we had over 20 inches of snow, all from this one big storm system.  Took it two and a half days to dump it all on us. But we did get it all dug out so that we could get the cars out and go about our activities.  Once again, a nice looking, cleared and shoveled driveway and walk way.

After

Back out on the road, this is the street I had ridden my bike down just a week or two before, now all snowy and white, snow banks up to the windows of the car.

After

The contrast was quite amazing.  This was a record breaking snow storm.

Before

Now, you would think that we could set about being done with winter and finally getting on to spring.  Unfortunately, there is more snow in the forecast.  Bummer.