NOT FAKE NEWS ---- SPRING ARRIVES!

On cue, spring arrived on Monday with the sunrise/sunset splitting the day/night equally ---- it's the
equi-nox, right?

But there's still some of that famous Canadian ice whine. The feeder looks like an icebox. The pond was still covered in ice, even though the poolboy tried to help it along. By yesterday the hard coverage had melted a bit and the fishspotter imagined orange swimming things.

A quick trip to Toronto to check on things because a new tenant is moving in April 1, no foolin'. We got to see the Winter Installations, an annual Beach event. Artists from around the world surround lifeguard stands with quirky creations. Best-In-Show was this solar-powered, wood-fired, soak-your-feet outdoor hot trench, inspired by Japanese "ashiyu". "I-see-you", get it??

Even in the continuing cold, Mother Nature insists that it's time to grow. No snow for the snowdrops, no croaking from the crocus...

Meet the flockers! Rafts of seagulls dot the bay like sapphires on blue velvet. The turkey fan-dance goes on ---- don't tell them about the spring hunt coming soon. And hooray, the first robins of spring! Odd thing is they arrived in bunches of 5 and 6, not the usual singles...

But the REAL sign of spring? Putting the battery back in another car and going for a cool, and I mean cool, cruise!

SPRING TEASE, WINTER LEAVES

The first full week home was welcomed by a gorgeous full moon. The cold winter had caused one plumbing problem, but a lightbulb went on in my head! Outside the bay still showed waves of frazzle ice and the shore got pounded with east-wind surf.

Mother nature faked us out with some spring-like sunny days. Gangs of turkeys strutted their stuff, with red-puffed males fanning out among the girls, like highschoolers looking for a prom date. Male cardinals also arrived, whistling for that same annual spring dance.  Snowdrops emerged, droopy at first from a long winter's nap. And the annual how-to-deter-the-turkeys-from-the-birdseed frustration starts again.

March 17 was Pat-Rick Day (no "Saint" here) and a lucky shamrock appeared in the frost. A good omen for a warm day, so the first laundry got hung. Note the wearing o' the green... And the car got soaped-up, not souped-up.

Then winter returned with a vengeance and 3" of new snow. Very pretty and dramatic scenery, but even the squirrels were confused! Turkeys tried to come in the windows, and that same cardinal said OMG. The newly-washed red car got a coat of white. And the guy with the gloves pushed the shovel up and down the hill like stripping white wallpaper off concrete.

Can you explain this optical illusion of the moon last night (it is not a multiple exposure)? Another try at turkey-proofing the bird feeder seems to be working so far. And the last sunrise of winter boldly came up exactly east-west before tomorrow's equinox --- see you later, alligator...

And farewell to one of my all-time music icons, Chuck Berry...

HOME A LITTLE TOO EARLY?

In the last few days in Daytona, weather was mostly pleasant but with windy days and high tides that swept in shoals of jellyfish. It's the start of high tourist season with lots of shops re-opening. This crane was still working, parked right on the busiest walkway in town --- don't break the Spring Breakers below! An oldtyme heritage movie house was showing all the Oscar-nominated Live Action Short films --- a real treat sitting in comfy chairs with only 10 others. (Best In Show? --- uplifting from Denmark and Switzerland. Most gut-wrenching? --- France..)

Because a hurricane ruined last October's Bike Week, this week is expected to make up for it with 100,000 motorcycles and 500,000 biker-folk. Interestingly, the Welcome banners used to say "Bikers", now it's "Riders"...hmmm. Riders from New York brought leaf-blowers to dry their Harleys! For us four-wheelers, we just wanted to wash off the salt-air scum and then give the car a waxjob in some shade. (Clean and shiny ---- remember that when you see the last pictures below...)

Main Street was already clogged with bikes two days before the official start. Thousands of beauties lined up like a Miss America pageant. All accompanied by a constant 130-decibel roar!

But we're very ambivalent about this country. The flag-waving divisiveness, the ominous gun culture, and especially the so-called president are all disturbing and distressing to most Canadians. We'll be happy to roam our own more peaceful country this summer...

The drive home started with glorious signs of spring such as daffodils and fruit trees in full bloom and sunshine. And look at that red horse heading north ---- to my barn?? The road was so smooth the Eos put on over 1600Km (1000+miles) before the temperature dropped to brutal freezing in northern Ohio.

Full-on winter returned at the Canadian border next morning. Blowing snow, blinding white-outs, and creepy-crawly conditions. The car that was so shiny yesterday (remember above?) is now coated in ice, salt, and sand (but not from a beach!)

Still, even after hauling necessities up the hill, it's great to be home. Fortunately the electricity, water, and propane all came back to life without much grief. The house and everybody in it is warming up. Thanks to our angels, never too early to be here for the morning sunrise!