Really Need Snow Melt Soon

First crocus seen today in my yard
as the snow retreated
My neighbor had some up yesterday

We’ve had a terrible stretch of ice here. It snowed, then it rained, then it got very cold, and the snow packed down into concentrated ice. It started to get above freezing during the days, but back below at night, softening the ice and making it run down into low spots during the day, then freezing into hard smooth skating rinks at night- and on into the next day, as layers of ice built up.

I go on about this, because from a gardening point of view it shows in detail where the water flows (easier to see when the water is in its solid state), but mostly because it has been hell for Rocky, the aging Very Hungry Labrador. Knowing the cold was coming, I was right out there after the snow and before the deep cold to clean off my front steps and walk. They have stayed dry and safe. But the back yard became a treacherous skating rink for my poor old dog. The first cold morning, I opened the door to let him out and he went SPLAT. He couldn’t get up (this also happens in the house on hardwood floors) and I dashed out in my bedroom slippers and jammies to rescue him. I narrowly avoided a SPLAT myself by grabbing onto the fence. It wasn’t safe for me to try to lift his 75 pounds without leverage. Fortunately, I own some nanospike-shoe adapters - basically they fit on the outside of any shoes, and spike down into most ice. So I spiked up, went back out, and got the old man up and moving. Poor baby- but no broken bones, which given his overall condition might have proved fatal. Over the past few days he has fallen again more than once. I keep his harness on him (for a handhold) and have had my spikes on when I go out with him. But he has grown fearful of the suddenly treacherous back yard. Who could blame him, partially blind and arthritic, weak legged, but determined to eliminate outside because he is a VERY GOOD DOG. He takes my guidance on where to walk, but not completely. And he leans against me when he bends to poop.

The witch hazel is out right on time,
A cheerful burst of color

Bixby, by the way, just skittered across the top of the ice and snow, delighted to be out and patrolling the yard in any weather except rain.

So I am even more thrilled than usual to see grass and other plants poking up through the snow as it melts. Of course, much of the yard is a mud pit, but spring will be here very soon!

February Nice

 This is my living room mantel, decorated for February. The fans came in a box of armchair traveler stuff about Japan (Christmas present from middle boy) along with some loose green tea, a teacup, a book, and other stuff. The hearts may or may not have originated as Christmas ornaments. 

The daffodils I cut outside from the front corner, where they were about to bloom unseasonably early (and perhaps get ruined by the snow).