Spring Walk

Here we are 9 days past the vernal equinox. Today I went in search of spring. When we woke up this morning, the clouds had descended and as we set out for the gym, there was snow falling. By noon, the sun was peaking out. Later it was drizzling. These are definitely all signs of spring, the unpredictability and varied weather systems blowing in and out.

This afternoon, I walked around the block and saw two people. One woman was running down the street with a toque, and mittens. Mittens??? On a runner? The other was shovelling snow in her backyard. The good news was that it wasn't on her walkway. My assessment was that she was moving the snow from one big pile and scattering it about so it would melt faster.

My back lawn as you can see has one leg in winter and one in spring...



Here is the sky to the north, the mighty force of winter not easily receding. I suspect there are some snow flurries in there.



I continued my stroll, and found some new life!



This week, the snow retreated enough that I got to see the garden for the first time in 5 months. As more and more of the back yard is revealed, there is a pulling to go outside and clean up. There are reminders of winter everywhere. Near my patio, there is a coating of seed shells from birds that visited my upstairs neighbour. The compost is bursting. There are two empty bags of Safe-T-Salt, on the ground, 2 of 6 that I sprinkled on the walkway and stairs. If I had not, it would have been treacherous. The fence that was leaning in the fall is now officially useless, having been weighed down by mounds of snow.

Spring is moving in slowly, it appears. The temperature seems to have little effect on the birds, who are very vocal in their appreciation. The cat, who is very keen on birds, is very active these days as she flits from window sill to window sill to see the action. I am grateful each day as we see more and more of the sun. Soon, the sun will enter my living and kitchen room windows, and each day I will rejoice in that specialness. For now, I no longer have to inch my way down the hill to work to avoid sliding, and I wear one less layer of clothing. It is all a good sign.