April's Prank

Day 174: Shame on you, April! Or as my grandmother used to reproach me as a child, "He who fools when Fool's is past / Is the biggest fool at last." My daffodils have collapsed under your humour, the Porch Parrots are in high dudgeon, and the first few venturesome swallows have apparently had second thoughts about their decision to move north, disapproving of the white carpet rolled out to welcome them. While a flake or two is not uncommon here in April, to have snow stick to the ground is not a frequent occurrence. It came in the night, following an afternoon of "snowy mix" and small hail from battleship-grey skies. By all rights, it should have melted immediately, rather than dragging the plow driver from his bed for a nominal sweep of the roadway. Perhaps he was grateful for one last chance to topple trash bins where they were set out for today's collection, or to take another swipe at those pesky mailboxes some contrary people just *will* put up along the roadside. He earned no points for either here, not this time around, but may have found a better opportunity further up the hill where the snow deepens. And here we thought the time for winter sports was done!