smells like spring

We are at the part of the winter when it smells like spring outside.

In Southern Ontario, every winter, sometime in January, we get a thaw. Birds sing. Snow and ice melt like mad. People run around in light weight clothing. Temperatures soar to two or three degrees above freezing. Ice peels off of the sidewalk with ease.

There is hope.

Real hope.

A looking forward to spring.

I don't mean that winter is a time of depression and what not, but I will say that for those of us that live outside once the temperature gets above freezing and the days lengthen, the smell of spring which comes during a mid winter thaw is a sign of hope for warmer days to come.

Sadly, this will be short lived.

I count at least eight more weeks of winter before the smell of spring becomes the real deal.

Until then, I will breathe deep, and enjoy the smell.