Good-bye Ice

Today, on the river, most of the ice was gone. This is not to say that there will not be more tomorrow, but the Red River is flowing quickly, the ice is melting and what has not already melted is being carried northward, dissolving as it goes. Last year at this time, the river was still solid ice - four feet thick - no visible cracks. This year, the slabs of ice that remain, are no more than a foot thick. When it is winter, I never think about how thick the ice is once it has frozen solid. Ice is ice. But, apparently, that is not so - degrees of thickness makes the difference between an early spring and a late one. This spring is definitely an early one. Even if it should storm tomorrow (which is could) it would still be early. Today, in my backyard, (southern exposure) the tip of one tulip is visible. March 22 - one visible tulip.

A Classroom of Cats

It has been such a long time since I posted anything but this weekend's weather and these cats are so fine that they both need to be recorded in some way. On the left is Scooter the Snow Cat painted by Troy who is six years old and his friend, Michelle, who is older. On the right is Miss Riley Fancy Cat by Anne and Lexxus, both six years old. She is a spring cat, all dressed up for flowers and sunshine. And at the bottom, is Tiny Cat by Raphael. The wind is blowing his fur. These cats are all friends, and they have many more friends on the walls of their classroom - a whole classroom of cat friends who visit each other in the pages of stories. A nice place to visit. You might even want to live there.

After a week of wonderful weather, the snow in Manitoba is nearly gone. No more snowmen for now. Yea! It is mid-March, (The Ides) and remarkably mild. Thank you, Sky God or El Nino or whoever you are. And tonight we had an extra hour of light before night. One more reason to say thank you and celebrate.