Spring might be here - for a day or so . . .

Nice sunshine, warm, low 30's, snow and ice melting - pretty typical March weather until we realize it's February and there's still a long way to go. Nice to have a break, though.

Woody started off his day enjoying the sunshine and being able to walk on the snow. He went immediately to the lilac bush where the squirrels usually play, but seemed perplexed, probably because there were no squirrels and he couldn't find their holes where he usually stands guard. He gave up and rapped at the back door to come in, but as Fred opened the door for him, a weasel (ermine this time of year) bolted out of the wood pile. That caught the cat's attention and he's still out there looking for the ermine, not knowing that he had gone over the snowbank and we watched him scamper across the lawn and disappear into the woods between us and Henretta. We got a good look at him, but had no time to take a pictures. This photo came from the borealforest.org site, but could be a twin. Woody's still searching the wood pile for him.

After that excitement, the town grader went by, winging back the snowbanks. Again, we didn't have time to get a picture - Dave moves right along when there a straight stretch with no driveways or mailboxes. We waited until his return trip and then Fred was ready and got several pictures. In the last one you can see how that right wing is leveling the snow and pushing the bank out of the way. So bring it on, Mother Nature, we're ready for the next snow storm, or if it rains, the water should be able to get into the ditches ok. Nice job, Dave!

I walked a bit yesterday on West Shore Road. It really wasn't bad walking at all, although I did keep close track of where my feet were because under the gravel is glare ice, and there were bare spots. There wasn't much activity on the road, and I could walk comfortably in the center most of the way.

The dogs at Pupino's were outside in their pen. They gave me a rousing welcome and I wondered why one of them didn't just jump over the few inches of fence showing above the snow and come to greet me, but they behaved well and stayed within the confines of their yard. By the time I got to the new Rouleau place, it began to rain a little, so I headed back home.

I took this picture from the lookout above Gardner's. I had to climb onto the snow bank, but wanted to show you that there was a bit of water on top of the ice at the lower end of the pond. Lots of snow everywhere, as you can see. A few more days like this will settle the snow, though.

Tucky Sancibrion writes that yesterday they had rain for the first time in a while, breaking the draught where she lives in South Carolina. She also said her daffodils are in bloom. By the way, thanks to the efforts of Pat and Mo Gardner, under all that snow in the foreground of the above picture is a wonderful assortment of tulips and other spring flowers just waiting for the chance to see daylight.