Signs of Spring.....sort of

So we have had one full week of Spring and I suppose, because Easter was so early, we are all under the impression that it should be more springy outside. But lets face it, Its Newfoundland. And even when we do get an early spring, its probably not our best season. Don't get me wrong, I love spring. I love all the seasons and the change in seasons. But I had a real struggle this week trying to find some "signs' that I could share on my blog. So I had to stop thinking about crocuses and robins and green grass and find some things that really represent early spring in my neck of the woods.

Spring is......

Mucky snow....lots and lots of mucky snow.

Which creates...mucky dogs.....very mucky dogs.

And lots of dog muck! Yes, this is a picture of dog poop. Once there is even a skim of snow on the back deck, my dogs feel it is permissable to pee and poop on the deck. Even though I try to clean up regularly, it gets covered with snow.....lots and lots of snow. Then, when it starts to melt, am left with icy yellow snow and lots and lots of poop. If I don't get it chipped out of the snow when its at the "poopsickle' stage, I am left with poop soup....nice.....

But its not just muck. There's also "rrrrrrroll up the rrrrrrrim to win"........Please play again!

And daffodils. Not from the garden of course but I think I am safe in saying that there are no daffodils growing in gardens in Ontario yet either. And lets not forget the Easter Bunny!

And to be optomistic, the ice is melting on Glynmill Inn Pond.

The trail benches are starting to peek through the snow.

And if you look very closely, you can see that buds are starting to swell on the trees. Hope "Springs" eternal.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Cali's sister Mikki spends some time with us when Irv, Marg and Jesse go to Bonne Bay Pond in the winter. Now that she is a senior citizen she prefers to nap on my sofa rather than riding on ski-doo to the cabin. Cali, Tucker and I lover her dearly, but man! What a noisy sleeper!

Its all downhill

Denise was such a good sport. She hadn't skied since she was a little girl and her mother and I dragged her on some of the hilliest trails in the ski park. On day one she had a couple of spectacular wipe-outs accompanied by some spectacular language. By day 2 she had mastered the snowplow and was ready to take on any hill.

March Break

Technically I don't get a March break. In Newfoundland schools are closed for a week at Easter, plus I am retired so every day is a holiday!!!! But My friend Paula teaches in Ontario and she usually comes to the Rock for her March break to see her mother and of course to have adventures with me.

This is Paula snowshoeing on the Lower Pipeline trail.

This is me, on the same trail.

Paula has 3 daughters. This year her middle daughter Denise came with Paula on her March Break adventure. This is Denise and her mom posing for a photo op while snowshoeing on the Gorge trail.

We also did a bit of skiing at the Blow Me Down Cross Country Ski Trails. I go there regularly. There are kilometers and kilometers of groomed trails with lovely names like Sly Fox, Fox Valley, the Lynx, Moose Run and Bog Slog. My favorite thing to do is to ski into the Gazebo. the Gazebo is a rustic cabin 5 km into the woods. On Saturdays the Gazebo ladies ( 4 women in their late 60's and early 70's) cook up toutons, beans and other treats. A dollar will buy you a hot chocolate and for another $1.50 they will add a shot of Old Sam. Paula,Denise and I went in on a week day so we had the place to ourselves.

Paula and Denise are enjoying their lunch.

Denis and I inside the Gazebo. Yes Denise, I know you are waaaaaaaay taller than me!

I miss my skiing and snowshoeing buddies. They are gone back to Ontario now. Did I mention that Denise's name is Denise Deborah? I have a video of her skiing down moose run. That will appear in my next post.