Country Drive

Falling snow through my icy window on March 25th

We are still receiving doses of bad weather a couple of times a week...Texas lows, Colorado lows, Alberta clippers. Call them what you want, most people are tired of the mix of snow, wind, freezing rain and ice they bring. One of my patients told me yesterday she took her new walker outdoors for the first time. The sun was shining, but the snow from the previous day had left the pavement treacherously icy. Many people are unable to get out much at all and will be housebound until the snow melts and the temperatures rise. We have had more sunny days in the mix though and a car ride is a warm way to enjoy a preview of spring.


The country roads north of the city are lightly travelled and generally free of the high snowbanks we have in town. The shoulders are soft, but the Mennonite buggies travel through the mud.


The little black lamb followed its mother through the snow. Colts and calves are appearing outdoors during the day near the barns and in protected fields.


I never identified a Horned Lark until this year. That was mainly because I didn't know where to look for them. Every country road that has some gravel and runs by a cornfield has many of these cheerful birds in the ditches and fields. Their song is bright and cheerful.


This bird serenaded the sun and perhaps its mate from a fence post.


The Old Order Mennonites are setting up roadside stands for selling fresh maple syrup. These two young women parked near an intersection and settled themselves comfortably in the snow for the day. I cropped this picture closely to see what they were reading.

Janette Oke...

I have a German Colony OOM patient at the hospital who only reads German even though she speaks English fluently. So I was a little surprised to see these ladies reading English romance novels.

I haven't noticed that spring smell in the air yet as the wet ground is exposed to the wind. We still need a slow thaw to prevent flooding. Next weekend is the famous Elmira Maple Syrup Festival and we all hope that the sun will shine warmly for that big day.