Spring is definitely here!

Spring announces itself in so many ways. The birds at the feeders are usually chickadees, bluejays and the ubiquitous woodpecker swaying on the suet feeder. Suddenly, hordes of grackles appear. Robins flit about as do some other as yet unidentifiables. Crows are seen flying overhead, even seagulls. Then we see the Canada geese on the fly yet again even though the fields are full of snow and the ice is still on the water, be it river or lake.

Dolly-cat, as I've said, is struggling mightily with her "spring fever" - sudden spurts of energy drive her pounding, bounding down our long hallway (she sounds like a mini-pony race); she swerves and verves along the edge of the patio door, the verticals flying out of her way! Incredible action and speed for a geriatric cat! It's really a miracle. If you could see her getting off her chair every day in slow motion, you'd think she was half-way dead. But no, there's lots of spice in the old girl yet!

I leave the patio door open for her; it's so sunny and warm. Where can she go? And as we all know: rules are rules and no one is supposed to leave their cat on the loose! Heaven forbid!

The stone deck is still surrounded by snow as is the hot tub. But she finds a way, making herself thin and crying a little in complaint as she brushes in between the squeeze-space twixt snow bank and hot tub. Where in the world is she going? I drop down to see...the snow has melted a foot of yellowed grass along the south side of the house and she's headed for her favourite spot: the cat nip plant.

She pauses along the way, to look or maybe sniff at the purple crocuses which are already in bloom. But alas, the cat nip is barely breaking through the ground. She sniffs the budding plant longingly, then returns - reluctantly - at my call. Yes, spring is definitely here.