Lest we felt a trifle too smug that we've reached mid-March and spring cannot be too far on the horizon (officially a scant week's time on the seasonal calendar), nature as usual has more tricks up her sleeve than we care to contemplate before permitting the arrival of the Spring Equinox.

Yesterday's boisterous weather system was a reminder that it is nature that dominates and we who quiver and quaver under her malicious influence giving us all the more reason to appreciate her spurts of magnanimity when she decides to relent and provide us with relief in anticipation of spring beneficence.

High, blustery wind gusts weaving a tapestry of white, starry flakes into a semi-opaque veil as it swooped off rooftops and created hills and valleys wherever the snow gathered as it fell relentlessly throughout the day and on into the night time hours, was the order of the day, yesterday.

Necessitating tiresomely frequent trips out to the backyard to free up roaming space for Jackie and Jillie. As soon as they re-entered the house after a joyous run-about in the snow, liberally sprinkled with those frozen little stars, the wind whipped snow back into the swept-up areas.

Last thing before going up to bed last night, after eleven, a shovelling of the backyard walkways, in hopes that the wind and snow would die down during the night. That never did happen, so up at seven in the morning to dress and once again tackle the buildup of snow, this time much deeper. The wind remains ferociously aggressive, and light flurries have replaced the steady snowfall.

And Environment Canada informs us of ongoing snowfalls later in the day and overnight. These cold temperatures ensure that the accumulated layers of winter snow will not be melting any time soon. I visualize the arrival of April into a continuing white landscape, much the worse for wear.