As I have been referred to many times as the older one on minti,geeesss why can't we just be experienced or mature...there mature sounds like you have accomplished something,done something of value..were old just is,you've managed only to hang around enough to age...cheese does that. Anyhoo ...point is... I know spring is coming. Partly because of maturity and the signs! Us old timers(mature) see the signs each year and it gives you hope of the seasons turning. I see that the dear little squirrels are nesting. Even though the landscape here could pass for some where high in the alps, they are toteing nesting material here and there. Our resident third generation squirrel is back in the shed.  I guess by now he does have squatting rights. As much as we have tried to encourage him to go else where he loves to chew up the sheds things into a big sloppy ball and nest there. They are rats you know,just with furry tales. So there is that activity to note that spring is coming!  Also the chipmunks are busy,so that's a good sign too. The chipmunk asked me for a shovel the other day,could figure no other way down four feet through the snow to the ground.  The smart ones are tunneling through the sides of the shovelled areas to reclaim their hidden nuts. They are also rodents but are darn cute!  The bunny now has the top of bushes and trees to eat,all while standing on top of the snow. He had chewed everything from the bottom and now he gets to eat from the top. Geeesss there is an other rodent!!!  It won't be too long until the spring birds appear,I spotted a few a couple of days ago. Their songs are so beautiful. So I know spring is there,just around the corner. Too bad you can't see the corner for the rodents and snow!