Winter's Last Gasp

 I woke just after 5 am to the phone beeping and telling me the local schools were closed. Got up, looked out and saw a world that had turned white overnight. We had 3.5" of snow when I measured it at 7 am but we're probably now at 4" for a storm total.

 At 7 am the air was still full of light snow settling to the ground. The bulk of the storm was about over, though.

 The pine in our south yard looked ready to fall over with its heavy load. The snow was very wet and extremely dense. Good snowman material.

 The wisteria looked a bit mysterious in the dark, like thin fingers reaching out to grab you.

 It was too early for the birds but I suppose a few of the houses are already occupied. I've watched nesting materials being carried inside.

 The garden (just this side of those buried bales of straw) is invisible beneath the white. I should have had it tilled by now. Had I wanted onions and potatoes (I don't) they would have already been in the ground.

 After the sun rose I looked towards the henhouse from the north second floor window. After temperatures near 60° just two days ago, this view will take some getting used to.

 Our back yard presented a cold, windy vista. It's hard to imagine that spring has already begun.

 The white pines that line the meadow are heavy with last night's snow.

 It's a wonder the branches can handle the weight. White Pines seem particularly delicate as it is.

 Peering into the meadow, it looks impassible. This is a favorite spot for a family of rabbits who lust after my garden in the summer.

 And looking back at Pinehaven, you'd think this was a January view, not one from almost-April. But soon my mowers will be back from the serviceman and the grass will green and I'll be wishing that things could again be winter-quiet.