This morning, Clif and I had some fun outside. For over an hour, using metal shovels that are not only old enough to vote but are probably old enough to collect social security as well, we chipped away at a wall of ice at the end of our driveway and by the mailboxes. It’s nature’s gym, that’s for sure, when snow is followed by sleet and rain and the plow truck goes by and plugs the end of the driveway.

It is pretty outside, I’ll give it that. The dirty snow is covered up—at least for the moment—and the trees are frosted with white. As we worked, the dog had a blast jumping and barking, and after such exertions, he is taking a nap at his favorite spot by the door, where he can keep track of things as he snoozes.

After my exertions, I felt as though I deserved 2 cookies with my mug of tea, even though it was only 10:00 in the morning. Those cookies tasted pretty darned good, as my Yankee husband might say.

To look at the bright side…at least we didn’t lose our power, and April is only a few weeks away. To my way of thinking, April is not the cruelest month of the year. Not by a long shot. It is a time of warmer weather and awakening, when the water runs and gurgles in the ditch by the side of the road and the birds are in full song and they are telling us that spring is coming, spring is coming.