Thursday, or Thereabouts - May 18, 2023

The first long weekend of summer sits perched on the doorstep. Traditionally (like in my childhood!) this was called the Victoria Day weekend and officially it still is. However, more often than not one will hear it called the the May TWO-FOUR weekend in Ontario with the Two-Four subliminally suggesting a case of beer not a birthdate.

This is the weekend that the winter weary break free! Garden centres, home centres, grocery, and beer stores stand ready for the onslaught of eager, perhaps even at tad frenzied customers. Even if one is not a gardener, cottager, golfer or outdoor projects person, this is still a weekend that comes with a sigh of relief and a smile or three. We made it! It's safe to come our now.

This year, the weekend will mark the one year anniversary of a devastating storm which struck on a sultry Saturday afternoon, May 21.

Described by meteorologists as a historic derecho and one of the most impactful thunderstorms in Canadian history, winds up to 190 km/h (120 mph) as well as around four tornadoes caused widespread and extensive damage along a path that extended for 1,000 kilometres (620 mi).

Here's what it looked like outside my front windows at 1:16pm:

Although we had no significant damage, neighbouring communities did not fare so well and are still recovering. Twenty-six days later another wild storm ripped through and this time we did not escape unscathed.

Looking out the kitchen windows

Another tree down

And in the back of the house, trees had snapped but got hung up and four more were semi-uprooted and leaning toward the house.

This year I'm hoping that this great first long weekend of summer is much brighter and gentler and kicks off a season of  warm days and starry nights along with enough rain to keep it all beautiful. It's a big ask I know, but the ice in the bird bath this morning has melted and the sun is bright, so I'm feeling optimistic.

Whatever your plans are this holiday weekend, be safe out there folks, especially those of you heading out on the highways and byways on your way to open up cottages. And Please, don't drink and drive.

See ya back here on Monday.

©2023 April Hoeller