Well, we had a week of spring-like weather… and now it’s gone.

We thought we might include something in this weekend’s newsletter about spring, and share some photos of the sunny weather and the “big thaw”. But now we’re back to winter and it just doesn’t feel appropriate anymore.

A few warm days, a little hope,
and winter reminds us who's in charge.

They call it the “Spring of Deception”, and us Muskokans (like most other Canadians) are not surprised. But we never quite get used to it, do we?

The feel of the sun’s warmth after five months of cloudy skies and frigid temps…

The rain after what feels like never-ending snow…

More daylight hours…

It all just feels like hope. Brighter days ahead.

And we flock outdoors. We shed a layer or two and start sweeping off our porches. The snowbanks, once bright white, are now shrinking into sad little mounds of dirt. Somehow, even that has its own kind of beauty, because it means the end is near.

We don’t dare put away our winter gear so we don’t jinx the precocious spring weather, but we do start planning ahead, checking long-range forecasts and wondering, “When?”
We do love this time of year.

And perhaps it’s the unpredictability of it all that keeps us more present. More awake to the details and open to what comes next.

Even though “open” isn’t usually the word that comes to mind when you walk outside and that cold wind picks up again… and the tears are rolling down your cheeks as you wonder how it can be so face-hurting cold when it was +15°C just two days ago.

Ah, Muskoka. Your seasons string us along… but we love you anyway! :P