Sorry grass. On behalf of all Edmontonians (except Maggie) I apologize for the snow. On Friday, when it rained, you popped your head out of the wet, fragrant ground, your shiny blades blushing green in the warm spring showers. On Saturday and Sunday, your cheerful arrival was smothered by a sky full of menace. Please take comfort in the knowledge that our souls have also been crushed, and we stand with you in broken-hearted fellowship, and yet…ever optimistic that you will once again rise to the full, green splendour that is you…grass, in the spring.

(Maggie on the other hand, loves a fresh snowfall…especially on her snoutal area. Her message to the grass, and to all of us, is to suck it up. She couldn’t have been more joyful on her walk today.)

2:16PM/-3C

No walk today…

Pretty eventful one & a half hour walk. Saw a bunch of angry geese (dog-haters, all of ’em) on an open pond on the other side of Whitemud Creek. A yellow-winged blackbird in a pussy willow tree, which was probably a red-winged blackbird (+myopia.) Stole a bunch of pussy willows, thus scaring the yellow/red black bird from the tree. Further down the path, a gathering of ducks in the mostly unfrozen water, and possibly some grouse (see myopia.) Most surprisingly (for all of us), Maggie frenched a collie. Right on the lips. Maybe Maggie mistook the collie’s ass for the collie’s mouth. It happens.

2:09PM/3C

25 cm of snow yesterday (as opposed to last Sunday’s 15 cm) and now it’s almost gone. It was gobsmackingly lovely, but extremely hard to walk in, or see anything beyond a few feet. The top layer was snow, but the bottom was boot-soaking water. Yes, it was a VERY BAD hair day.

Once it started to melt off the trees, it was like getting pelted by snowballs. Nevertheless, Maggie was excited to go out, and if my outerwear hadn’t been soaked, I would have taken her for a walk last night. No dice. So, we went this afternoon. Still lots of snow on the field, but it’s melting fast. Our favourite trail is too water-logged to go more than half way. By the time we got home, she was wet to the shoulders. I was wet merely to my shins.

Beautiful blue sky and the knee-weakening sound of recently returned migratory birds wafting through the warm air. Lots of geese around Whitemud Creek. Butterflies. Robins. Very calming. Even the cat was on the deck today, in the sun, and briefly, in the snow.

A bit o’ the chocolate bunny following the walk. A Good Friday. Very good.

5:14PM/4C

Spring is here. Flies, butterflies, geese, shorts, running rivers, running shoes, sun, warmth, and grass too. Speaking of running rivers, Maggie tried to jump in Whitemud Creek today. She was out of site for a moment. All I heard was a yelp. Some ice, I think. She’s OK, but was wet up to her knees, or whatever passes for knees in a dog.

5:26PM/9C

Two hour walk in Whitemud Creek with an off-leash and exuberant Maggie. I was exuberant too. Hard not to be on a brilliantly sunny, beautifully snow-scaped day.

2:00PM/-3C