Coldest night to signs of spring

It's a grey day again at 2C. Yesterday, it got positively balmy, although it came with a real pea-souper of a fog and thunderstorms. One clap was so loud it shook the farmette house!

Hard to believe it was only a week ago that Sandy and I completed our Coldest Night of the Year trek. It was COLD, but not the absolute coldest. Bundling up and chatting with my sister made the experience warmer and more pleasant. We both received the official toque, as you can see. It was a success, with more than $132,000 raised in Grey-Bruce across four communities. Nice.

Today, there are all kinds of signs of spring at the farmette.

First, we got up in the dark, again, with the time change. Spring forward is a bit discombobulatingand distressing for felines and humans alike at the farmette.

On a more positive note, I found a blooming snowdrop tucked up against the toolshed. I always get a big charge out of finding the first of these nodding beauties. So hopeful.

I mooched around more of the yard in search of further signs, and, sure enough, there were tiny sprouts in a couple more spots. Mostly close to the buildings where the sun warms the soil.

The bushes suffered some damage from the weight of the massive quantities of snow. Our wee lime green sumac on the south side of the sun room cracked really close to the base. There's another shoot, so hoping I can salvage it later on.

The bunnies were obviously starving through the winter, by the look of my bridle wreath spirea. Chomped within a foot or so of its life. Good thing it's a hardy wee bush. I've worried about bunny damage other years, but it has always come back stronger and more beautiful than ever.

Finally, I fired up the Merlin app (identifies birds from their song) on my phone while I was wandering around and it picked out a robin!!!!!! I didn't see it, but Merlin heard it, along with a cowbird, a cardinal, a house sparrow and a blue jay. That's good enough for me. Bring on spring I say. Until next week.

Gratuitous cat photo courtesy of Bea (in the box) and Fred, who's patiently waiting in line for his turn.