Spring is Springing

                                       

Early on Easter Monday, I was finishing a blog that I planned to post today. Not sure what happened but somehow, the screen went all blue and then all my words were gone into cyberspace, never to be seen again.  Because I am a believer in that all things happen for a reason, I collected myself and thought let's talk about something else. I decided it would be about spring. 

The reason for the "spring" topic was because as I was writing I noticed that Robins had returned to my patio.  They flitted from eave trough to eave through. Since there is still a massive amount of snow on the ground, I wasn't expecting them.  The reason that they return to my patio is a few years ago, a family was born in one of my hanging flowerpots.  I feel the Robins are descendants of that birth. The story goes like this, one day I went to water my plant and a Robin flew out of it.  We both nearly had a heart attack with fright.  I wasn't interested in having a nest in my plant, and I felt that the interaction would be enough to deter her from nesting there. Was I wrong about that, by the next watering time, she had not only built a nest but had laid one egg. The poor dear was seconds away from laying her eggs and was building a birthing room for herself. Once the eggs arrived, I knew I had to go through with allowing the wee ones to be hatched.  In two days, there was a total of 3 little blue eggs. They hatched right on schedule, and I named them: "Red", "Ro" and "Bin". The little ones thrived with attention from both parents.  Dad fed mom while on the nest and they both fed the wee ones. I looked out one day as they were literally leaving the nest. They were nearly the size of momma, and how they all fit in the nest is beyond me.  The plant took a beating, and the babies were finally gone.  I decided at that point I would never do that again.  Giving up the use of my patio or dodging a Robin attack when they felt threatened, was not going to happen again. I am applying that rule once again this year.  

You can see Mamma bird embedded in the flowers

Other sites of spring are of course, gophers, fat little ones at that. I have also seen a pair of Canada Geese and I am sure they are wondering what the heck with the snow. How is that they can migrate and come back to the exact same place without a google map is beyond me. I heard the distinct "caw" of a crow, so the birds are arriving in full force.    

The deer seem to have wintered well.  Large groups of them are seen pawing in the snow.  Deer are resilient to say the least. Soon those cute little babies will be born and look out for them on the highway. 

Worst flood of 400 years in Brandon in 2011.
They are stacking 21 feet of sandbags to protect the 
flood lands and Corral Centre

They are already predicting floods.  On the Winnipeg news they are telling people where to get sandbags as they are preparing for the Red River to flood. So far, the thawing has been slow, but with the predicted temperatures it will happen more quickly. I have what I call "Mount Simpson" in my yard.  They pile snow on the corner of my lawn, and it seems to take forever to go away. I still believe it is better to have a winter with snow as opposed to one without. It is natural for winter to have snow and cold in the prairies, which makes for a more hopeful spring. 

Another picture of 2011 flood.

A love of mine is pussy willows.  I remember in school, coloring the tips of them with colored chalk. My first introduction to colored chalk was in Grade 1. Miss Burke wrote the word "red" in red chalk on the board. I have been captivated with colored chalk ever since. I think there is so much loss for kids today that use white boards and miss out on the mess and dust from chalk. I feel I should probably free up the colored chalk memory space for way more important things, like passwords.  

As you know, all baby animals warm my heart, especially baby calves.  As I drive by a farm with babies and see them running and jumping, it just brings back fond memories. It is profound how animals can get up and move about minutes after birth. I have developed a new passion and it is following the white buffalo at Sioux Valley.  Buffalo are amazing animals, just like a gentle giant. The Buffalo cows will start to have their calves soon. Apparently, they give birth with little effort, as most wild animals do. The calves that will be white are born tan, and slowly turn white as they don't need the environment to protect them.  

Wildflowers are my all-time favorite flowers. One of the earliest to bloom will be the crocuses, I think they can grow in the snow. Each province seems to have its own flowers, I had never seen a lady slipper until I moved to Manitoba.  If you want to see Prairie lilies in their glory, you have to go to Saskatchewan. It saddens me to think the wildflowers are struggling because of the loss of natural habitant and of course chemicals.  But they are a tough lot, and I am hopeful they will find some little spot to grow.  

Crocuses in Comox

Wild Flax in Alaska

At this point in spring, we are a long way from seeing tree buds, or flowers but it will come.  I hope that spring is as meaningful to each of you as it is for me.  It is the best display of what Mother Nature is capable of. Keep your eyes open for signs of spring, and embrace the beauty of the change in seasons.   

Several years ago my Grandson and I
picked wildflowers for his mom. 
He was captivated by them.