Something like spring arrived last weekend bringing warm sunny days that softened the snow on this long meadow. A three day rain storm followed to wash much of it away. Today I’m left with an unstable snow machine track for skiing. Last year winter held on to the meadow until Mid-April to offer fine days of skiing. Tomorrow I either head for mountain trails or hang up the skis.

How can I break it to Aki, who is sitting out this trip? She who loves any expanse of snow. She’d be soaked by now on this thawing trail. That would not stop her from checking out these fresh tracks of a newly risen bear. I appreciate Aki’s absence when spotting my first robin of the season. Oh why don’t you sing plump bird with red breast? it won’t be true spring until you do.