May Snow

Snow on the first weekend in May isn't unusual, but it is always unexpected. Particularly after the early spring we've had, with hot weather and high fire hazard warnings, it was a bit of a seasonal disconnect to find ourselves in the midst of a minor blizzard today!

There is an old English proverb that runs:

"Ne'er cast a clout till May be out" Loosely translated, it means 'don't put away your coat and boots until June, folks... Nature might just surprise you yet!'

Years ago, I recall leaving the start box at the Grandview Horse Trials on May 10th with the snow coming down so hard we couldn't see as far as the first fence on the cross country course. That was a big plus -- it helped to back-off the big thoroughbred I was riding: Archdeacon. Arch, who had enjoyed a very illustrious career as a stakes-winning racehorse, had a philosophy that life would be better if it just went a little faster. At that early stage of his career we were in frequent negotiations about speed over fences. Snow blowing straight into his face encouraged him to slow down and perhaps listen to my suggestions. Of course, that was the up side. The down side was my hands were so cold I couldn't feel the reins, which were a very necessary part of our negotiations... It all ended well.

And it will all end well today, despite the snow sticking on the trees, and blotting out the statue of the otter by the lake. The guests that are here had a wonderful morning in Algonquin, hiking through patches of snow on Peck Lake trail and spotting (as young Alex told me in great excitement) two moose.

Bundle up and get out there... and what a wonderful excuse when you come back in to curl up by the fire with a lovely hot mug of hot chocolate, or tea, or even a rum toddy... After all, having braved the elements of May, you've earned it!