Ice Out on Pine Lake

Spring has been a long time coming in Minnesota this year.  Finally on Mother’s Day the last of the ice landed on our shore and then melted as the day progressed.  We have lived here since 1992 and it is the latest ice out I remember.

It’s hard to keep a positive outlook when you don’t like winter to begin with and it stretches out into May.  Last evening I went for a walk near our home and it was great to hear the birds singing.  As I left the yard two loons flew overhead with their familiar calls.  I love sleeping with the windows open and listening to them as I go to sleep.

The frog chorus has begun in the nearby swamp and the pussy willows have come and gone already.  One of the hard parts about a late spring is the things that usually last for at least a few days are hurried by a quick warm-up in temperatures.  It seemed like the pussy willows lasted only for a day and then they were gone.

Tomorrow morning I will begin my annual search for the wild flowers in bloom.  ‘A friend said last evening that she saw cow slips and bloodroot blooming, two of my favorites.

Have a blessed day!  I know I will as we will experience our first over 80 degree day today. 🙂

 

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Going, Going, and Gone…

It’s one of my favorite days on Pine Lake. For me it officially marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Today the ice went off the lake. Yesterday afternoon it was about half gone but not all gone.

Ice Out Pine Lake March 31, 2010

Last evening I walked down to the lake for one last look before it got dark to see if the ice was all gone. Nope, not yet.

Ice Out Pine Lake March 30, 2010

This morning before I left for my flying lesson I took another look to see if the ice was all gone yet. Not quite but I was able to observe a beaver swimming along our shore before I left.

This afternoon when I got home from flying the ice was gone. Yeah!! Even if it snows after today it won’t matter because there is no ice on the lake and just watching the waves and listening to the birds makes it seem like spring. Today we are supposed to have unseasonable highs of 70 degrees. I love that. When I drive home from work each day as I crest the hill before I turn into our driveway I love to watch the trees turn from brown to a lime green as the leaves start to develope on the branches and eventually open up. Today is a good day no matter whatever else happens. Spring is here in Central Minnesota.