Despite the eight-hour snow storm on the first full day of spring last week, Lac des Roches residents are convinced that winter is over, as the signs surround us.
Some are obvious; some are subtle. Following are some of the observations from around the lake, some sure signs of spring, otherwise known as mud season out here.
Snowplows have been removed from the front of trucks and ATVs.
Frozen gutters and downspouts cause daytime flooding everywhere.
Warmers are no longer needed inside mitts and winter boots.
Otters are feeding at natural ice holes appearing all over the lake where the snow has melted.
Woodpiles have dwindled to narrow stacks and bark debris.
Snow hoodoos along the road change daily as ice formations outlast the melting snow around them.
Moose have returned and are pruning the Saskatoon and willows in all the yards.
Very noisy crows are building nests high in the spruce trees we wish we had taken down last fall.
Cold weather boots are being replaced by rubber boots, better to repel the relentless mud.
Snowshoes are required on the lake to stay on top of the growing layer of slush under the snow.
Coffee talk is focused on topsoil, manure and seedlings, rather than the weather.
Extra effort is required to keep the sand and mud from being tracked in the house on pets' feet.
Yard clutter is appearing beneath the melting snow, as are missing items lost during winter.
Ice grippers on boots and shoes are on and off, depending on the time of day.
Most snow has slid off the metal roofs, showing some signs of damage, especially to gutters.
Several pairs of eagles have returned and are scouting out potential nesting areas all around the lake.
Long icicles hang off north-facing eaves, still posing a threat to people and animals should they fall.
Flocks of swans and geese are flying overhead although they're much quieter than they were on their southbound journey.
Area snowmobilers are trailering their sleds up the mountain to enjoy the remaining days of sledding.
While many of these signs of spring are inevitable and welcomed by most, there are a few ladies who share my dismay that with the loss of our days of sub-zero temperatures, we have lost of our excuse not to clean the outside windows.
Pole walkers
An instructional course on pole walking, hosted by the Bridge Lake Community School on March 12, has led area walkers to commit to this popular sport.
Kathy and Peter Crawshay provided preliminary instruction and the nine attendees enjoyed a new experience around Webb Lake.
The group walks will now be co-ordinated by this writer, and are initially slated for Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. Walkers will meet at the Cottonwood Corner postal boxes where North Bridge Lake Road meets Highway 24 at the southeast corner of Bridge Lake.
Location, dates, times and frequency are subject to change, depending on the participants, but exercise, conversation and some good laughs are a guarantee and everyone is welcome for this free, drop-in walk.
Book club
The next Bridge Lake Book club discussion will be held at Lac des Roches on April 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Phone Wendy Dubbin at 593-4538 for details of the finalized location. This month's discussion is on Muriel Barbery's book, The Elegance of the Hedgehog.
