Honestly, I kinda, sorta enjoyed winter this time around.”

In my humble opinion

Collabonation Productions

I’d bet that those words have been said more than a few times by more than a few people over the last 10 days—because March did indeed roar through the Upper Delaware River region last week. In fact, as of this writing, I still have four inches of solid ice coating the driveway.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the weather folklore stems from ancestral beliefs in balance, meaning if the weather at the start of March was bad (roaring, like a lion), the month should end with good weather (gentle, like a lamb). Paws crossed, Mister (or Ms.) Almanac is correct.

Like many proverbs for the month of March, it can be traced back to Thomas Fuller’s 1732 compendium, “Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs.” I can’t pronounce that, so I’ll just leave it here and insert the words “old-timey” next time I bring it up at a cocktail party.

In addition to spring being just around the corner, (cue drum roll) Daylight Saving Time begins on the 12th of this month, and with any luck, this will be the last time we move the hands on the clock at all.

Although the idea has been bandied about for decades, it seems as if the notion of eliminating the time change is gaining traction. The U.S. Senate recently passed legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent starting in 2023, ending the twice-annual changing of clocks in a move promoted by supporters advocating brighter afternoons and more economic activity.

I recently read that the Senate approved the measure, called the Sunshine Protection Act, unanimously by voice vote. The House of Representatives, which has held a committee hearing on the matter, must still pass the bill before it can go to President Joe Biden to sign. The White House has not said whether Biden supports it. Sen. Marco Rubio, one of the bill’s sponsors, said supporters agreed—after listening to input from airlines and broadcasters—that the change would not take place until November 2023.

It is said by supporters that the change would help enable children to play outdoors later and reduce seasonal depression. Dear President Biden: adults (IMHO) wanna play outdoors later, too. As for “seasonal depression?” Good riddance.

Meanwhile, this winter has been milder than usual, and while the dearth of white stuff irked those who love to play in the snow (including Dharma the Wonder Dog), I wasn’t surprised in the slightest, since I spent hard-earned cash to buy a (basically unused) snow-blower this year. You’re welcome.

And then there’s spring cleaning—something I look forward to (no, really!) every year. After a long winter Camp Fox is generally a mess, and I long to open windows, get out the broom and metaphorically boot Old Man Winter out the door as the days grow incrementally longer. In anticipation of Passover (April 6), Jewish households traditionally begin cleansing the house right after Purim (March 6), which is intended to make the chores a little less daunting, so I’ll get right on that.  

Honestly, I kinda, sorta enjoyed winter this time around. Even though temps were frigid, I spent time outdoors with my camera, snapping pics in tribute to Currier and Ives, the New York City printmaking business that operated between 1835 and 1907. Its lithographs represented every phase of American life, and included hunting, fishing, rural, historical and winter scenes. I’m no lithographer, but I did my best to capture the serenity and quiet beauty that we often enjoy here in the country.

That said, I have nearly a dozen photos included in a new group exhibit debuting this weekend at the Narrowsburg Union, and they have absolutely nothing to do with winter, hunting or Currier and Ives. Swing by when you have a chance to see what I mean. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what the others have to offer in the show, which is titled “Come as You Are,” and opens this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and runs through Wednesday, May 3.

In fact, as the snowdrifts recede and the mercury rises, there are loads of events on the horizon, from concerts to street festivals and (my personal favorite) parades, parades, parades. Check out our fantastic calendar section (riverreporter.com/calendar/) to keep up and make plans. Here’s hoping the month bleats softly winding down. Out like a lamb, baby… out like a lamb.

Ask the Google: Q—How accurate has the “Farmer’s Almanac” been?

A—“Traditionally, we’re 80 percent accurate… some years are better than other years,” said Tim Goodwin, the publication’s associate editor. As for recent winters, the Old Farmer’s Almanac claimed an overall accuracy rate of 72 percent for 2021 and 2022.