Filler February

We’re closing in on the end of the shortest month of the year and it’s time for February’s version of Changing Seasons.  I know it’s been said by many people before me, but the best part of February is the fact that it is short.

Credit goes to Ally Bean for the inspiration for this month’s title.  In a comment exchange one day she said that February was just a filler month until spring arrives.  I rather liked that description.  It fits February perfectly.

This month’s story is all about the weather and its radical swings.

Warm. Cold. Snow. Rain. Spring-like temperatures.  This has not felt like a normal February at all.

I suspect Mother Nature has been dipping generously into the grape juice and then randomly spinning the old weather wheel for her amusement.

How crazy has it been?  These 2 photos were taken exactly 7 days apart.

Sunday Feb 12th

Sunday Feb 19th

One day I thought it would be a great idea to venture down to the lake to capture some photos in advance of a huge oncoming ice storm.  High winds had whipped up Lake Ontario into a frenzy and much of the surrounding vegetation was already encrusted with ice.  The roar from the wind and waves was deafening.

It was a brilliant idea … at least until the freezing rain started much earlier than I expected.  By the time I got back to my car, I was wet and half-frozen.

When sun came out, the temperatures soared well above normal and Lake Ontario took on a completely different look … enticingly blue and inviting.

From gray days of ice and snow …

Gilles with his new toy

…. to days of brilliantly blue skies.

Even Theo seems overwhelmed by it all.

Changing Seasons is a monthly photo challenge hosted by Max at Cardinal Guzman.  It’s never too late to join the challenge and capture nature’s changes from month to month where you live.