Putting the boots away

It is always a wonderful day when the winter boots get put into storage. Suddenly our feet come off the ground easier, we walk with a little spring to the step and we’re treading on solid soil. The city sidewalks are clear of ice and snow and the roads that have been for a time fraught with slush and slop that turn the bottom of our shoes a grimy salt stain.
Out come the running shoes, the wellies and the sandals and it’s spring.

There has been a delay in spring this 2008. In this first week of May the last of the snow is tenaciously hanging around in all the shady spots and the weather has been far from warm. It may be well into May before we’re finally clear of the white stuff and the break-up on Lake Laberge could well be historically late.

For the migrating swans and geese that use the lake as a pit stop it has been a harsh spring. The birds normally putter around the in the shallow, shoreline water but this year there is no open water for them and no clear skies for extended flights. .  One morning towards the end of April we found a flock of geese camped out on the ice in front of the house. They must have made a dark night landing, as there was no evidence of them when we hit the sack.  Most of the 25 or 30 birds were curled up in a ball of feathers, fast asleep.  Only the sentinel bird was up and vigilant making sure that the rest of them got some undisturbed rest.  That must have been a tough flight!

The aromas of spring are in the air but the usual signs are missing.  No robins or other notable arrivals, no greenery, just grumpy people wherever you go all waiting for spring to arrive.

Really all they have to do is put their winter boots away.