a picture of much importance

Why is it important? What delights are mysteriously held within? After all, it is just a picture of blue sky, trees, a field, a bit of brown grass...

Wait! What? Brown grass you say? Could it be?!?

Yes. Yes it could.

Spring just might be around the corner after all.

I wonder if it will snow tonight...

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.

spring meanderings

The last few days have seen a fair bit of wandering about by me, my family, and my friends. Spring is here - despite what the snow and ice pellets we are getting today might suggest - and that means that opportunities for taking pictures outside are on the rise. At least, they are on the rise if colour and contrast is something that is of interest.

I just wish this was an april fool's joke

Really weather?
Really?
Snow?
Again?
REALLY?!?

This just about sums up how people around here are feeling about the weather.

Today, we had strong west winds, and white out condition flurries with patchy blue sky and cloud. Temperatures were a full 10 degrees Celsius below normal for April 1.

Sigh.

That said, I managed to get a lot of work work done on my day off, got some errands run, and rode around the city on the bike. Thankfully, the rain we got yesterday and last night washed most of the salt off of the roads and the city managed to resist the urge to salt again today.

Here is hoping that Spring arrives properly this week sometime.

2013 Kona Jake the Snake

Photo Credit: konaworld.com

All I will say so far is that it is hanging on a hook at my LBS awaiting me to come over with the rest of the money for it. I was not planning the upgrade right now, but since Kona is out of stock and the store isn't, my plan for an April/May purchase went out the window. I came very close to getting caught out like that last time I went to buy a 'cross bike, and don't want it to happen this time.

Thankfully, my LBS likes me and is willing to hold it for me.

The bike is lighter, stiffer, and on the surface at least much nicer than my current Jake the Snake (a 2005) model which is wearing out and getting tired.

I am looking forward to spring now more than I was before if that is at all possible.

After I ride it a bit, I will indicate what I really like about it, and what I think might need work.

In the mean time, it is ORANGE!!!  *big grin*