I'm Dreaming Of A White. . . Spring?

Spring has arrived in the Northwest. At least that's what we thought - until this last weekend. It didn't look like Spring and it didn't feel like Spring. Brrr, it was cold! Snow was predicted at higher elevations and there were possibilities of hail and snow in some lower places, too. Saturday afternoon I suddenly heard the sound of hail. I opened my door and stood to watch the downpour of white from the skies above. My sweetheart was out of town so I reached for my camera to share with him what happened here while he was away. Hail began to slowly cover the ground. It continued to fall, bouncing high as it hit the surface. Soon my neighborhood looked like a winter wonderland. Nothing was spared. The patio was covered and I think I saw the little Spring flowers shivering with the chill. Soon the streets were covered and became like ice. Motorists pulled over to wait for better conditions. As I watched through the storm door a motorcyclist slowed to a stop and waited under a big tree in the yard of my neighbor across the street. Then, as quickly as it began, it stopped. Traffic slowly began to move again. Later it was nearly gone. The local news reported that my town received the strongest hail storm in the area. They said it lasted for eight minutes. That's not what is usually reported for my little town at this time of year. We are often in the news for the beautiful acres and acres of tulip fields nearby. Or the beauty of Spring in our neighborhoods. And flower shows in pavillions at the fairgrounds in our community. Flowers. Beauty. Spring. But not a covering of white. Not this time of year. Not here!