Awaken: It's Spring.

Sunshine. Like bears from a den, people around these parts are beginning to blink and rub their eyes in anticipation of impending spring. Verdant buds have even begun to tentatively poke their soft noses up through the soil, sniffing for the call that comes to them on the breeze. The crunchy frozen ground has been replaced with the squishiness of mud between exposed toes. And everywhere else. Of course, a couple days from now and we could again be shivering and cursing at the cruel taunt that is the warmth we're experiencing this week.

The nice weather has afforded SCS and me the opportunity to get out for a couple of beautiful hikes, including one two weekends ago in Komoka when the ground was still frozen enough to not be muddy, yet still warm enough to enjoy the stroll. And it's early enough in the season the paths are still relatively quiet.

Last weekend, too, SCS was kind enough to surprise me with a fieldtrip to Springwater to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Mmm, a maple syrup festival: fresh taffy and a horse ride into the bush, followed by a 5km hike in the foggy woods. All quiet except for my ankle, chattering like a squirrel at every step. And pileated woodpeckers, blitzkrieging their way through enormous trees. Spring has sprung and put a pep in my step.