Saturday Slightly Springy

I could see hot pink to the west this morning. It showed up in some cloud openings up Schweitzer way. Pink ski runs today for their Hawaiian shirts--that ought to be colorful. Schweitzer closes tomorrow with some of its best spring snow ever.

I've heard numerous grumblings about it closing with such wonderful conditions. In one letter to the editor, the writer suggested the close has to do with a movie being shot at the resort over the next couple of weeks. The writer was concerned that if Schweitzer will close for a $75,000 movie offer now, what would happen if another offer happened to come in the middle of Christmas season?

When I read that comment out loud to Bill, he simply said, "Well, for years, they've always closed the last weekend of local spring vacation." This is the last weekend of local spring break, so that makes a little sense.

Besides, Bill suggests that most of the folks skiing up there at this time of the year are season ticket holders so they're not exactly raking in lots of extra money to pay the staff for a longer season. Finally, people are leaving skiing behind for other pursuits associated with spring.

And, that may just be possible with the climate change we're seeing this next few days.

Whenever the snow has melted during the intermittent pattern of late, I've seen a very abundant crop of volunteer spinach growing in my kennel garden. Seems I was kinda wasting my time planting some in a pot, but one can never have too much spinach.

I moved almost all my young seedlings to the greenhouse Thursday. And, it's amazing how tomato posture improves once there's light on all sides. Even the cucumbers are making the transition without much trauma. One plant has a little blossom and a tiny cuke forming.

The blankets have come off the horses. That's good news and bad news. The bad news is that Lily has become red, white and green. With no blanket, her sleep time in the box stall means some nice big manure stains to go with all those red spots.

Their extra hair is falling off at will, and yesterday Lily didn't mind one bit when I swept her off with the broom. I was outside brushing off several mud clods that have gone splat on the white fence as the two-year-olds have raced past numerous times, kicking up the mud. So, Lily came over and happily stood while I removed some of her winter hair with the broom.

I might load her up in the trailer---if we can get the trailer out without it getting stuck on the soft ground---and take her over to Barbara and Laurie's today for a spin in the indoor arena.

We've decided that Lily will go back to school in Spokane with Monty during the month of May. We're hoping to put her in several shows this summer. Meanwhile, the two-year-olds can just play for the summer.

Yesterday was a good day for yard work. It's amazing how fast my west lawn dries once the snow leaves. I dug up some more sod to add space to my garden and, on each return trip with the garden cart, brought back well-aged, rich horse manure to build up the soil. That sort of toil, all the sudden, takes a toll, and one starts feeling one's age.

So, I interspersed the laborious tasks with moments of sitting in the sun, leaning on the fence, watching the horses, sipping coffee from the back step, and just reveling in the fact that we can finally feel fully alive and happy again rather than cooped up and grumpy.

We joined Mother, Barbara and Laurie last night at a packed Blue Heron Restaurant to celebrate Laurie's upcoming birthday. The conversation turned to clothing and how many times we changed our clothes during the first day of apparent spring.

This is definitely the chameleon season cuz if you're working outside, you're constantly taking off layers. If you're working outside in any kind of mud, your pant legs are wetter than sops, so you have to go change your jeans if you're going make a run into town. If you step near a horse, you take on new layers of horse hair, and since you don't want to eat hair all day, you go inside, take that sweatshirt off and grab another for the next outdoor project.

Yesterday I wore three different pairs of jeans, put coats on and off at least half a dozen times, and washed my hands probably two dozen times after different projects. It's definitely the beginning of the hard season on my hands. Doesn't matter if I wear gloves or use tons of lotion, my hands take a constant hit from outdoor work.

That doesn't stop me though, cuz the rewards of working outdoors far surpass any discomfort from chapped hands.

I found my first crocus yesterday----two or three bright yellow blossoms poking their way above the ground in the front yard. Nature's spectacular show will all come fast from now on, and I wish I could slow down the time a bit to freeze every single frame of a beautiful spring.

Guess that's enough upbeat thoughts for now. Work is calling, and I'm happily answering.

Have a great Saturday.