Spring - Early

Even though there are low-lying clouds now, the sunrise was magnificent, and if you looked to the west, you could still see the half moon peeking between clouds above the mountain peaks. We are expecting temperatures in the 60 s and 70 s all this week, with low humidity, which means high fire danger again. The kits have been in and out quite a bit so far, and Lovey is currently sitting directly in front of the monitor, so I can't see what I'm typing. Banichi is crouching immediately under the sunflower feeder in hopes of grabbing a bird. He hasn't yet learned that when he's that obvious, the birds won't come to feed. I'm in shorts and a T, having completed my 5 miles, and I have no plans to change into anything warmer or cooler.

This weekend saw the "Tom Selleck Classic", a moustache growing contest to benefit the fight against Huntington's Disease; and also 'the shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the World", which marched around the block containing the local Irish pub, Conan O'Neill's. This was the third annual moustache contest and the 50th annual parade here in Boulder. - And, if you're driving within the City of Boulder, beware! The police are in search of ticketing dollars - especially for those who don't have their proof of auto insurance on hand.

The robins have returned to Boulder en masse, raptors are being seen more frequently, and the mule deer are plentiful. If we continue this warm weather trend, then our bears will be out soon, too. I love the awakening of spring, but I'm afraid that with all this warmth, we'll get a huge snow storm or freeze that will end up damaging the new growth. Usually March and April combine to give Boulder over 3 feet of snow - so far we've had a half-inch, and no rain. Our snow pack, which we rely upon for water in the summer and fall is now 12% below the norm... which might indicate water rationing later. Me? I wouldn't mind having 4 feet of snow fall next week!