We've had a week of bright , warm, sunny weather. We are calling it spring.
Spring here is a little different than warmer areas because of our winter. I've told you often enough about our cold and that residents here don't really mind the cold. What happens with the constant cold is that the ground freezes. That causes some difference in our spring. Sometimes the ground will freeze down to a depth of 8 ft. Frozen ground is rock hard. Before the days of heavy equipment very little excavation was done in the winter. In the country at one time, graves were dug by hand. One thing they did was to light a coal fire and this would thaw the ground.
Okay, because the ground is frozen the water from melting snow and ice has no here to go. The frozen soil can't absorb moisture. So as a result my street is a slow moving mess of water , slush and ice. We talk about spring run off when water from melting snow and ice drains into small creeks.
We also have a problem with dirt and gravel roads in the spring "when the frost is coming out". There are soft spots and hard spots because of the uneven thawing of the ground. So holes form in the road and then when rain comes these holes fill with water. We have road bans which keep heavy equipment off the roads for a few weeks. Most activity in the oil industry ceases in the spring because the heavy equipment is not allowed on roads.
So my spring has pleasantly sprung. But do you know what is in my forecast three days from now? 5 to 10 cm of snow!
Yo-yo weather
ReplyDeleteGreat term to describe weather.
DeleteRed - after writing my roday's post I promise never to complain about weather again ((if I lived where you do I would endeavour to hibernate! If I couldn't manage it I would try to develop a good thick coating of fur.))
ReplyDeleteYou would get used to it here and love it. We have many Africans here and they walk around just like us.
DeleteWe can be surprised by the weather, warm for a few days and then a snow shower. Winter is not over yet. Take care, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteYou've got it for sure. Winter is not over yet.
DeleteI'm glad you don't mind the cold. I think the melting time must be the worst.
ReplyDeleteWe are warming up for a few days. We might hit 70 F over the weekend. We are dong extensive yard clean up.
Spring break up is pretty messy.
DeleteIt is the same here. Snow almost gone when more arrives. Yuck,
ReplyDeleteThat's typical spring weather. The mixing of warm air with cold air.
DeleteWe enjoyed a very nice walk in the park today, but when I poked the ground with my cane, it still seemed frozen.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a while for the frost to come out here.
DeleteRemember, Red, no flower planting until mid-May!
ReplyDeleteOkay , I've got it. You really are from ND.
DeleteIt sounds like spring in my township in the '30's. Roads were country roads, unpaved and subject to all the weather you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteSpring was certainly a messy time of he year.
DeleteIt's an education learning about your spring. So good to read that your spring has sprung.
ReplyDeleteIt's different but, I would find your spring just as different.
DeleteOn the drive home, we admired the fields greening up, and the buds on the bushes, and it just felt like spring had truly arrived. If you can just keep that darn snow up there, I'd appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take long for plants to get going.
DeleteIt is mild in Toronto
ReplyDeleteYOUR WORLD IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
DeleteIt wouldn't be Spring without a little snow. We need moisture very badly or it will be a fire season all summer:(
ReplyDeleteBut we usually get lots of snow in the spring as do you.
ReplyDeleteThe method of using a coal fire to thaw the ground for necessary work is a fascinating glimpse into the practical wisdom of the past.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a very different spring here this year!
ReplyDeleteWe were never confident about freezing temperatures or snow until mid April when we lived in Illinois.
ReplyDeleteawe that was very informative for me because in my simple mind the idea of spring in your area particularly is enchanting .
ReplyDeleteyou are amazing at describing because i could see almost how it happens .
end of the story that nothing is perfect in this world and every thing has it's flaws as well
nature is strange distributer indeed