Signs of Spring...
As I’m sure everyone is well aware, it’s been a long winter
- everywhere. Longer than usual in my
opinion. Here in Ontario, Canada “winter”
started a bit later than is typical. Don’t
get me wrong, it wasn’t tropical beach weather by any means for the months of
November or December, but the real “winter” with the snow, blowing snow, ice
pellets, more blowing snow and polar vortexes didn’t arrive until sometime in
January. But since January, it’s been
constant cold, little sun, snow and wind.
It’s been a never-ending story of misery - for me at least.
Having said that, I see the proverbial “light at the end of
the tunnel”. Slowly but surely, we’ve had
a few warmer days, a little more sunshine and only trace amounts of snow. I’m still wearing my winter coat, but I have
now given up my winter boots for shoes. Seems
like a minor detail, but for me, it’s a BIG deal.
There have been other signs of Spring in the air (most of
them literally are in the air). Here are
some signs that tell me, brighter, warmer days are on the Canadian horizon…
Robins and Red-Winged Black Birds
Yes, the birds are back in town! Typically robins return from warmer climates
once the ground clears enough that they can begin finding food sources – worms,
bugs, etc. The red-winged black birds
return once the marshes have begun to thaw.
I’m not a “bird” person, but I can tell which bird is in our yard, just
from the sounds of their calls. It’s a
nice feeling.
Tundra Swans
We are lucky enough to live near a migratory route for
tundra swans. They stop in our area to
rest and feed on the way to their summer feeding/breeding grounds in the Arctic/tundra
regions. Once there are enough open
fields for the birds to feed upon remnants from the previous year’s corn harvest
and enough open water for them to land, the come through by the 100’s. They been late in arriving this year because
of the lack of open water, but they are now here nonetheless. It’s a nice sight on my morning commute.
Turkey Buzzards
These have to been the least attractive bird in our area,
but I will admit, I’m happy to see they have returned – ugly as they are. Turkey buzzards are scavengers and I believe
they only eat dead animals. You can tell when something is dead or dying
as you can see them circling high overhead – waiting for the moment to close in
for their feast. I understand they
overwinter in Central America, so a sure sign of Spring is when the snow cover
dissipates enough for them to return to find what didn’t make it through the
winter.
The Arbor
What is this and what does it have to do with Spring? Well, The Arbor is an institution that I’ve
grown up with. It’s a family owned food
booth that’s been in business for over 100 years. It is located in Port Dover, Ontario, Canada and
is open during the warmer months - typically from late March until mid October. The Arbor serves the BEST foot-long hot dog and
homemade fries on the planet. Yes, I will
stand by that claim. They have the most
toppings you can possibly imagine (pickles, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and mustard,
coleslaw, onions, beets, relishes, lettuce, etc.) and their zucchini relish is
to die for. They are scheduled to open
this weekend, but unfortunately my Arbor dog will have to wait, as I am bound
for the beach – not Lake Erie either.
The Beach
Of course, no arrival of Spring is complete, without my semi-annual escape to warmer climates. I've paid my winter dues and now... a beach in Puerto Rico is calling my name...
What means Spring to you?
I’d love to hear about it…
Comments
Try not to burn in PR