Hardware stores ready to switch seasonal equipment

TOLLAND, Conn. (WTNH) -- While many of us woke up to snow this morning people in Northern Connecticut began seeing it come down last night.

It has been said there are two seasons, winter and baseball, and yet, if we are thirsting for America's national pastime, frozen flakes won't quench that thirst, for we must wait a little longer.

"This business is about disasters, it's uh, snowstorms are good, snowstorms are good for us," said Chris Ouellette.

At "Star Hardware" in Tolland, General Manager Ouellette has all the materials for growing a pitch-perfect lawn, but for now seed surrenders to salt.

"It's a weird part of the year, we're in transitional seasons. As you can see, we have some fertilizer set up, got a big order in yesterday of fertilizers. We were actually going to take down our snow removal stuff this week, and here it is, big storm," said Ouellette.

Tolland was slammed, deep snow, and it seemed as if winter was mocking the promise of spring. One could almost make out a Bing Crosby Christmas carol being carried on the wind, stronger than the want of hearing a wind chime on a warm day but afterall, this is New England, and Oullette stays in business by promoting all seasons.

"Nothing compares to two years ago, we had lines 50 people long, lining up for roof rakes and this year it's a little bit more mellow. We don't have the huge huge rushes we had two years ago," said Oullette.

Great Yankees catcher Yogi Berra once said baseball is ninety percent mental, the other half physical. Soo too, perhaps, is a winter in Connecticut. The grass seed will go down eventually.

"Ready to play some baseball, ready to cook some steaks, drink some beer, let's go," said Oullette.