April…

The old saying is “April showers bring May flowers”. Well lately I’ve felt like calling bull on that saying. Each year April seems to be more and more confused. Shall I snow today and bring heat tomorrow? How about a ton of snow and then sudden melting resulting in flooding. Hey, let’s have 20C by 5pm and drop below 0C overnight.

Honestly, it makes me dislike “spring” even more. I could have sworn that there were April showers while I was growing up and that lilacs bloomed in May. Nowadays I think there are showers (that aren’t sleet or freezing rain) but not until the end of April and through May. We used to say never plant before the May long weekend because you could still get a frost overnight. I think it’s almost guaranteed that we will get cold nights into May. And yet, I passed a garden centre driving home today and there were lots of people buying their annuals and hanging baskets.

I’ve decided heading to the garden centre as soon as it opens is about the desperate need we have of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. A couple of years ago my pool cover was off and I was working on the water in April. I’ve only just taken my pool cover off this year and haven’t done anything yet to the water. (By the way, it’s pretty gross and right now I’m praying it doesn’t take much to turn it around!)

The world is a crazy, chaotic place these days. We need the warmth of the sun to feed us. We need to get our hands sunk into the earth and sit outside with a cold drink, soaking up the vitamin D. We need to get walking and biking and sitting on patios.

In particular, as much as this is my least favourite season, I find it interesting how much I look forward to it. By the time March comes around I am done with winter. I’m done with bitter cold that hurts my face. I’m done with heavy coats and clunky boots. I’m done with long hours of dark and short daylight. So, why is spring on the bottom of my seasons list? Well, it’s dirty. The leftover mess of winter - all the garbage that gets caught under the snow, the gravel from cars and trucks, the dust and brownness of our grass. I don’t like it but I appreciate that it signals the return of life and hope. And that hope is what I felt was played with this year. April would give us a little taste of the sun and then take it away, replacing it with freezing rain. We’ve already had thunderstorms but without the accompanying heat of summer! That’s just unfair. It’s been just miserable enough that long work days have ended and the desire to be out in the fresh air is gone. It’s been wet and cold and blah.

And suddenly it’s May and hope returns. People are out walking their dogs in shorts and t-shirts. The birds are singing their songs and riding on the breezes. My porch is habitable once again and I believe that summer warmth is possible. Our little village streets are packed full of cars and visitors enjoying the return of the sun. Life is picking up. All of my trees and bushes have sprouted fresh greenery and I know blooms aren’t far away. There’s a change in the air. It doesn’t hurt to step out first thing in the morning and breathe deeply. It’s so much easier to give gratitude for a new day when it’s bright and holds the promise of warmth.

I’ve been feeling very out of sorts lately. Without my uncle, my hometown doesn’t have the same welcome feel. With about six months left of work, I feel overwhelmed trying to get all of my goals achieved. I’m working as hard as I can on my next projects and with them I feel a sense of hope and anticipation but it’s kept in check by practicalities. If I sound blah, it’s because I am and maybe that’s another reason why spring isn’t on my hit parade. I can survive winter but spring is my stress season.

So, in an effort to write it out and maybe feel a little better about it, I decided to list out some April and May events that remind me of my blessings. A short but wonderful visit by my son, his girlfriend (first time meeting her) and my grand puppy made Easter perfect. A team that is a dream to work with continue to challenge and delight me. The bird book my mother gave me for Christmas has produced an interest in birds that has been quite surprising and I am loving my bird app (Merlin, as recommended by one of my team) and the multiple (I might have gone a little wild) feeders I now have around my yard. A little flirtatious behaviour with someone has put a smile on my face and a laugh in my heart. (It’s a special feeling to look upon yourself without all your insecurities shining through and I’m thankful for that.) A brilliant oldies rock concert with my sister took me back to my teen years. Knowing the songs, singing along and dancing in the stands was an awesome way to spend a night. Visits with my mom are always good for my soul. Spending time with my niece and having those special conversations about fashion and makeup make my day.

See? I made it through another winter and it looks like spring has settled in nicely. I’ll have a beautiful mother’s day next weekend with the best mom ever. The grass is green, the trees are budding and I’ll get the pool looking good shortly. I can always find hope in life if I just look. It’s a short blog to say we’re getting through the blahs and warmer, sunnier days are on the horizon. Happy spring everyone!

Not my idea of spring! April snowstorm.

My grand puppy being measured in caramel bags at the village shop. By the way, best caramels ever! Look them up at Pickle and Myrrh - they deliver!

Newest addition to one of my trees - we’ll see if anyone likes it!

A return of some colourful birds - cardinal, blue jay and my first downy woodpecker!