The signs of spring

The pairing

The robins return

The grass starts growing

One sure sign that spring is on its way is "the pairing."  The pairing is most apparent among all the birds that suddenly appear in pairs.  The geese, that had arrived earlier this year, were frequently sighted waddling around together perhaps looking for a place to build a nest.  The ducks too are notorious for pairing up sidling off in twos to paddle in secluded areas of the stream. The sudden influx of robins is another sure sign that spring is on its way in. Although the robins began emerging in late winter, they seemed to be everywhere by early spring. Bright and alert they are always a welcome sight. Other birds appear too all chirping loudly now that old man winter was on his way out. Then, of course, there are the flowers that cautiously open their petals to the rays of sunshine that stay longer and grow stronger with each passing day.  And so, with all these signs, spring made its way into calendar. 

The flowers 

Thistle

The brave little daffodils

One of the first signs that spring is on its way in, is the appearance of the daffodils. There are a few patches of daffodils along the trail and we always watch eagerly for them to emerge from their winter dormancy. And in their perennial fashion, they always do.  This year was no different despite the persistent winter.  The brave little daffodils made their appearance in early March emerging from the earth in bunches as if huddling together to protect themselves from the elements.  And although they endured a snowfall or two, or three ... they finally opened their pretty yellow blooms in mid-March celebrating the start of a long awaited spring.

The white forest

It's St. Patrick's Day and green is the color of the day
...in theory at least.  Anot
her snow has fallen but alas, all that might have been green is covered once again in white. Despite the deep snow, we ventured down the trail noticing how everything was blanketed in white. "The White Forest" Tinkerbelle called it, where everything is as pure as the driven snow. There was an unfamiliar hush about the woods as if the snow in blanketing the earth had smothered it of its voice.  Nothing moved and nothing sang. We trudged through the snow unaccustomed to this quiet world that despite its state of frozen stillness seemed cast in enchantment.

Ice bobbles

Playing in the snow does have one down-side ... the ice bobbles.  Ice bobbles are the clumps of ice and snow that form in fur covering the lower extremities.  Unfortunately for me, my curly fur makes me more susceptible to the ice bobbles. Topsie with her smooth thick fur is rarely afflicted with a case of the ice bobbles. Contracting a bout of the ice bobbles usually lands me in the bath tub because the only real way to remove the bobbles are to melt them in hot water.  So a soak in the tub was in order today.

Winter games

Tangled

It's early March and more snow has fallen.  By now, Topsie and I are use to trudging through snow on our daily walks. Some days it feels like a drag but perhaps we are becoming "snow pros" because today it felt like fun. Topsie, in particular, was feeling rambunctious and instigated the play. Growling and tussling we darted and dodged.  Around and around we went kicking up snow in all directions until Topsie got tangled in her leash. So we called a truce.  And, tired but happy we set off for home and a nice hot supper.

Homeward bound

Truce

If you can't beat it ...

The snow covered trail

Topsie sulked

...join it

As winter drags on, Topsie and I are getting decidedly weary of walks through the deep snow.  Topsie usually sulks at the sight of the snow covered trail. And today was no different as we  set off on our walk one afternoon. As the setting sun cast long shadows along our path, I tried to cheer up Topsie.  "If you can't beat it, join it" I said.  Topsie looked doubtful at this advice until I showed her what I meant by taking a roll in the snow.  Topsie got the idea and tried it herself.  "Hey, this isn't so bad" she yipped as she rolled around in the snow. And so it was that Topsie made her peace with the snow.