Signs of Spring
The snowbanks are melting, although the 17-storey Mount Slushmore in the west end may take until next winter. My five-year-old is delighting in pointing out hints of green among the brown blades where grass is exposed. My seven-year-old is thrilled to be wearing a thin fleece-lined jacket instead of an adapted sleeping bag. Today I saw a robin, and yesterday, when we took the kids for a long walk, we saw a pair of migrating geese (and boy, they looked pissed that their pond was still frozen over).
Best of all, today I took Ms Trudy Phillips out for a (too-short) ride around the block:
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| Happy to be playing in the sunshine. Someday I’ll figure out the art of the panda shot. |
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| Sensible shoes: my shiny black rainboots, worn with thick knee-high socks and capris. |
The sun and cool breeze on my face were absolutely heavenly. I must put more air in her tires and have another go, ASAP.
The residential roads are finally ice-free in my neighborhood, although the margins are covered in a winter’s worth of the dirty sand that makes Americans who visit Edmonton in winter think we don’t have paved roads. These shots are typical of conditions in the back alleys:
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| Skeptical bicyclist is skeptical. I’m wondering if my iPhone camera will get a decent shot. As you can see, there’s a little stream running down the middle of the alley behind my home. |
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| Some of the puddles are fairly deep. |
So, things are improving! Hopefully we’ll be able to come fully out of hibernation soon and announce a Critical Lass date for May…