It is possible that spring might come after all.
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| The temperature at 1:30 p.m. today |
The glacier on the path to the chicken coop has finally
melted. The ground is still frozen, so I expect there will be ice again in the
morning. The melt water ain’t going nowhere, as Terry would say.
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| Ice-free (for the moment) trail to the coop |
It was such a warm and sunny afternoon that I invited Hilda to
go for a walk. Where the snow wasn’t deep, the melting snow revealed the maze
of mouse trails that had been hidden all winter.
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| Mouse trails, left; human trail, right |
I neglected to consider the 4” of snow we got Tuesday
morning when I thought about walking. I figured that the trail I had made two
weeks ago would be melting down. Not so. It was hard going. Hilda went as far
as the creek and turned back.
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| View of the homestead and our five oaks from back by the creek |
It was pretty back by the creek with the shadows of the
trees in the snow. The sky was bright blue and completely clear.
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| Shadows on the snow |
I am always amazed at how the sun can heat up objects on top
of the snow so much more than the snow itself. Even a bit of light-colored reed
canary grass will melt down an inch or more.
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| Reed canary grass melting in |
The whole west side of the property was more of a trudge
than a walk. The snow came up over my boots. The south and west sides were
clear, making walking a good deal easier. Even though it was more of a workout than
I anticipated, it was wonderful be out on a day when the sun felt warm on my
face. Finally.
Before I went in the house, I took some
portraits of Gracie and Nadia for two of Hilda’s artist friends. In the
process, I observed that Gracie has a lot more white on her than Nad does.
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| Gracie |
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| Nadia |
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