No, this is not a metaphor for the tariffs on maple syrup and toilet paper that went into effect today, adding to the brewing storms surrounding North American relationships. It’s simply a literal observation.
While much of the country seems to be baking, we’ve had precious few opportunities to enjoy the outdoors this Spring. Even when the rains ease off and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, like it did today, the wind picks up so much that anything not nailed down is likely to end up on the back lawn.
Like it did today.
Which is kinda weird for this neighborhood.
I’ve grown up used to incessant wind. Living on a small island, with nothing but Atlantic ocean off our west coast, the movement of air rarely fell below a moderate breeze. When we moved out to the west coast of BC, one constant we remarked on time and again over the years was how still it was here.
It was the exact polar opposite to what I’d grown up with. There was now nothing unusual in sitting on the deck with nary a breath to rustle the trees. A noticeable breeze has become the exception. For many summers we strung up a badminton net on the front lawn and happily played with indoor shuttlecocks, not the heavy outdoor variety.
This afternoon, I braved the gusts making my laptop screen quiver, but I sadly abandoned my seat at the table outside when I had to leap up to stop the parasol lifting off like a dandelion seed.
What’s weird is - this seems to have become the norm this year.
Our weather is right royally screwed up.
Ah well, Happy Canada Day, eh!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
In summer we can have those super-still days. But this year, it's been extra windy here. And I'm a couple hours from the ocean.
Blame it on climate change, it sounds like to me. Oceans are getting warmer, which is probably what's causing increased wind activity in your neck of the woods. If so, I'd imagine it will now be the norm rather the exception. Drat! I so hate wind.
I do hope your summer gets salvaged at some point. I hope you and your family get to enjoy a nice camping trip soon. Good luck!
Hi Ian - windy up here too; today looks like it might be quieter and warmer ... the grandkids when they arrived did get in the pool - but definitely not warm!! We'll see what happens for the week ... cheers for now - Hilary
Alex, we used to depend on getting week after week of those kinds of days, so it's a bit disconcerting to be checking each day whether we need to lower parasols to avoid damage!
David, the thought did cross my mind. With the disproportionately warmer Arctic the jet streams are shifting which causes all sorts of mayhem across the hemisphere.
Hilary, so far, today is better. Sun is out and parasol is up. Table outside is littered with laptop and books ...
I hope you had a fabulous day! You know, people have flipped out over changing weather patterns for the last many decades, but I have to wonder how much of it is a regular hundred year cycle for the earth, or even thousand year. Change is the name of the game, eh?
A belated Happy Canada Day, Ian!I hope your winds calm down and the sun visits more often. :-)
Good save on the parasol, by the way. :-)
Crystal, change has happened many times in the past, but usually on the timescale of centuries or millennia. Only time will tell if the current (rather rapid) warming trend is part of a regular cycle, but we have repeatedly seen the potential for human activity to cause major atmospheric changes so it seems bizarre for climate skeptics to so vehemently reject the possibility.
Teresa, it has calmed down since Sunday, but these days I really don't expect it to last.
I think weather all over the world has become royally screwed up, and denying that human activity has anything to do with it won't improve things any time soon.
Susan, sadly, some people seem to believe in a fact-free diet.
Post a Comment