And then came the snow. Early Saturday, the scene beyond my bedroom window did not look like spring. In fact, the sight smacked of late January. More than a foot of new snow fell in the Western Mountains, the big news up here. Last year, Shawnee Peak closed early, but this spring, skiers will have at least two extra weeks to enjoy the slopes before spring finally ends the season.
Meteorologists agree that the pesky arctic air pattern has swung back up north.
The snow hasn't done much to deter avian activity in these parts, though. Our grosbeaks are surviving well, along with feisty robins, chipmunks, and yes, even houseflies are waking up. A brilliant male cardinal showed up Friday morning after the snow. He seemed quite unaffected by the recent weather, an inspiration indeed. The week was miserable.