But still there are signs of spring all around us. At the library last Friday we were treated to a special "farm animals" story time, followed by a chance to touch and feed a variety of baby farm animals. What could possibly say spring more than bottle feeding a baby goat?

Maybe tiny peeping baby ducks?

How about maple syrup? On Saturday morning after swim class Jon took Calvin to a  special Parks and Rec presentation on maple syrup. Yummy. Calvin got a chance to crank the tap into the tree and also to taste some freshly made syrup.

Definitely signs of spring everywhere, even if we are in for at least one more snow.

Towards the end of February it was still two-dog weather, mittens considered a necessity for sledding and snowman building, but tulips for the kitchen and sunshine through the whole first week of March make it feel like spring really is right around the corner. We know better, though, and aren't getting our hopes up. Also this past week, Calvin's first encounter with Mr. Rogers and the paper tree craft that resulted, puzzle capabilities that far exceeded my expectations, and that plastic thing, which is a dumbed down version of a rain stick.

I still don't have any real hope for spring being "right around the corner" (that's more Frog and Toad, in case you're familiar), but when March arrived this year it brought with it sunshine and relative warmth. We have taken walks outside and enjoyed the sounds of birds playing in the yard. I guess it's time to get the summer feeders set up again so that our birds will be able to find us.

Another cat picture, because she's always so willing to sit still; an artist at work is a thing to behold, and something that is seen often around here; local train shows are a great destination for indulging the imagination and getting the heck out of dodge to kick the mid-winter doldrums; speaking of mid-winter doldrums, say hello to February's second snowstorm; shopping, more art, and a late (oh very late) birthday present, handmade and wrapped in little artist finery; finally, the week always ends with a stop at the bakery.

Looking outside to see this same sight on Sunday night was a surprise to us; I hadn't checked the weather in a while—we'd just been enjoying the warmth and the sun—so the heavy snowflakes were a bit shocking. Jon's bosses called Monday morning to tell him not to brave the roads to come in (being able to work from home in the winter is a real benefit), so instead we went out to brave the heavy snow blanketing our driveway.

Calvin is a big help. He actually really loves to shovel, and will shovel everywhere he goes, he just doesn't walk in a straight line while he's at it and we end up with a labyrinth of snow trails.

A foot of snow isn't really all that much, but living on a cul de sac there aren't very many places to put it after it is shoveled off and we end up with snow mountains. I love the snow mountains; they make me feel like there is more snow than there really is.

Snow enjoyment is not limited to human activity; Moose may not like the snow much, but Ollie is true snow dog. Jon likes to throw snowballs for him to chase, which he does with much more enthusiasm than he has ever chased a tennis ball.

Snow angels in the embankment—much easier than on the ground. When I was little we had to get down on all fours, then flip over, getting snow up our sleaves, in our coats, and down our boots, in order to make the perfect angel, which we only did in order to take a rest on our two mile uphill walk to school, a trek we had to make even in the deepest snow storms you've ever seen. Really.

He's not buying it.

Obviously we didn't mind the shoveling. In fact, we enjoyed it so much it we did it twice—once in the morning and once in the afternoon (it was easier that way)—and the second time we also shoveled our neighbors' acreage. Sometimes having anything to do is a good thing, especially when it's something fun that is followed by hot chocolate.

We finished making our heart garland just in time for the weekend; On Saturday Calvin enjoyed lunch with Jon at the bakery while I finished the place runners...just in time to get them on the table for our Valentines party; Getting back to the work week is fun, when your work week consists of running wooden trains on schedule; Day 47, yes, that's a lot of garlic—16 cloves to be exact, and all of them went into our soup; I learned how to make fortune cookies this week, and after library on Thursday we were treated to some sunshine and (relative) warmth.

Spent more time "playing" with pre-K workbooks, then wrote his own Valentines to give to his (imaginary) friend, Mouse; Got a lot of practicing in on the sewing machine and got a lot done, including, finally, pillows and valances for the window seat; Listened to the Lone Ranger on our replica radio during dinner; watched the little dog maneuver through snow drifts during a beautiful February storm; had a very difficult day and were whisked away for a rescue dinner by the (grand)parents; Thursdays at the Dexter Bakery for pretzels before library = love.

Who put that snowbank in my way?