A Northern Spring

The day started out well. We were greeted by sunny skies and invigorating air… that means COLD! We brushed the light layer of snow off the Jeep and headed for the local Tim Horton’s. Bob rolled up the rim and discovered he had won a free cup of coffee. The day is getting better. We continued our drive home on Highway 97, the old Cariboo Road, and then west on Highway 16. We are spending the night in Burns Lake.

Winter has not released its grip on the north. Canada geese walk around on frozen ponds looking a little confused – we could imagine their wondering if they had left the southern climes a little too early. Listening to CBC Radio, we heard Brian the garden expert describe current conditions as “mid-April goofiness – when people experience the desire to put plants in the ground.” I doubt anyone around here is tempted by that desire. They would have to shovel the snow off first. The Cariboo is cattle country, and on southern slopes where snow has melted, herds of cattle graze on the winter brown grass. It is here that we saw the first sign of spring… small calves at their mom’s side or snuggled down into a patch of sunny grass. They were sprinkled across the hillsides like new daisies.

... P. L. Morningstar
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