I think winter might officially be behind us.  My assumption is definitely NOT based on the weather, since as I write this we are forecast to receive the brunt of a “spring” storm that is supposed to bring another five to ten cm of snow to our area… if it were truly the “spring” weather I imagine in my head, that snow would be rain.  And, selfishly, I hope we don’t get the snow that’s predicted.  My joints are protesting the weather we are currently “enjoying” and I wonder about how the animals that have arrived already are fairing in this humidity filled cold.  Although, to be fair, it isn’t likely a Canadian Goose with wing joints enflamed with arthritis would be flying back home for a season of procreating and dodging bullets in the fall, would it?  No doubt said goose would have settled into a permanent residency in Florida or Hawaii, having hitched a ride in the luggage compartment of some airline that is becoming reacquainted with establishing tourist flights again.  Fortunate bird.  For myself, I’ve been hobbling along with a cane, requiring support as my knee has grown to twice it’s size and I’m struggling to keep my mind on the silver lining of the challenges that come with arthritis, namely the warm and dry weather that follows. And also, thanks to the cloud formations declaring warmer weather IS coming, soon the snow will be gone and with it, the humidity affecting joints too.  Until it rains and is chilly out too.  But there’s no need for me to reflect too deeply on that - one challenge at a time!

Over the past number of weeks, those who know me well have been reporting spring sightings to me.  The squirrel at the bird feeder, who is making a mess as he searches for choice nuts and seeds.  I don’t know if the children telling me about the squirrel was supposed to brighten my day whilst the report of bird seed spilled on the ground was supposed to be the bad bit of news but both had about the same response from me… meh.  The birds will clean up the spilled food.  Have you seen the way Sparrows eat?  They fling seed out of the feeder onto the ground using their beak and feet.  They don’t care that they assault incoming birds and I’ve seen more than one Nut Hatch coming in for a blind landing at the feeder, guessing where the foot hold is as they squeeze their eyes shut so as not to go blind as seed rains down upon them.  The Chickadees don’t mind feeding off the ground and, although I can’t swear to this as I had just taken some medication for pain, I did think I’d seen at least one Chickadee on the ground who was carrying an umbrella, as he ate the seeds bounced off of him and didn’t seem to bother him at all.  And as for seeing a squirrel, they don’t truly hibernate but they do sleep through most of winter.  So, although I enjoy seeing them, they aren’t really a sign of spring for me.  A friend did post a skunk in her yard in Saskatoon a couple of weeks ago.  The only sign of skunk I’ve detected in my area has been someone smoking pot in their vehicle… even then it only smelled of skunk.  It was enough to make me sick, and skunk doesn’t do that to me.  Again, not a sign of spring for me.

I saw a moth the other day.  I can’t imagine they’re hatching already when it’s so cold outside but there’s a fly driving me crazy in my kitchen.  And rather than slap it upside the head with a fly swatter as I “welcome” it to spring, I’m tempted to catch it and throw it outside.  But is that a form of animal abuse?  Do flies having feelings?  Instinct has taught them to avoid rolled up newspapers, and anything else, that may harm them but is instinct the same as feeling pain?  I don’t know.  And I’m not sure I want to know as killing one would bother me and then my thoughts would turn to mosquitos and it would just become a vicious cycle where the insect would win.  A fly outside, exploring before moving along - that’s a sign of spring to me.  The spiders in the basement, not so much.

I mentioned the geese before, they’re here and some are already sitting on a nest.  In Regina someone posted a photograph on the Saskatchewan Birds page I follow.  They asked what, if anything, should be done about the Canada Goose nesting in a planter outside their work.  The goose is clearly hunkered down and protective of her space, even though she’s sitting in a snow bank and the ceramic planter keeps her nearly three feet off the ground.  Once her little ones hatch and start moving, they’re going to have a traumatic first flight to the ground… without feathers.  People responded that she should leave the goose alone and the family would relocate to nearby Wascana in no time.  But what an interesting “birds - eye” view she will have watching this goose brood her eggs and hatch them, before they leave.

Other “signs of spring” animal sightings I’ve been told about include Crows, which I’ve enjoyed listening to since the third week of March.  It was about then someone said they’d seen their first gopher sighting and a couple of days later they shared a photo on social media.  I never get tired of seeing those sparkling brown eyes full of mischief and intelligent little faces peaking out from their hole.  In their own habitat, I find them cute.  When they find their way into my home, not so much, and I just want them out. Pronto.

A mother bear and her yearlings have been spotted up and about after their hibernation.  And one of my boys has reported there’s a spider living on our big evergreen in the back yard.  I’ve seen a couple in the house and they‘ve disappeared thanks to a shoe or piece of paper towel.

My brain understands the usefulness of insects, and I get it as a fellow living being and a gardener, yet, as a human being I find myself unable to deny these same benefactors give me the creeps and make my skin crawl when they’re in my element.  I’d prefer they keep themselves hidden rather than show themselves where I live.  Spiders, as an example, tend to follow me and they like to bite me.  I’ve grown into the habit of climbing into bed, turning out the lights for a minute or so and then turning the bedside lamp on.  I do a nightly spider check.  Last fall, on one of my nightly checks, I turned the light on and there was a massive spider, caught mid stride as it moved toward my bed.  It had come out from under the base of the lamp.  In that moment, it was him or me - I chose me.  I haven’t had another spider sighting in my room since.  And I didn’t make a sound when I saw it, disposed of it’s body in the garbage nor did I tell anyone about it.  But my eldest twin must know spiders bother me.  This past week, while the lamp is on and we’re reading, he points at the ceiling and announces, “spider.”  It’s the reflection of the inside of the lamp shade on the ceiling.  But my body stiffens and my skin is chilled every time he says it.  And i keep an empty jar by my bed to “catch and release” it, should there ever be a spider.  I’ll be damned if i teach my children to be afraid of an insect just because I am.  My seven year old nephew/son is afraid of all things insect, inside or out, because of my sister’s aversion - she won’t even go camping because of her fear.  I don’t want that kind of vulnerability suffocating my little boys.   

Soon enough, it will be a spider, an ant, a bee or a caterpillar, a butterfly or moth or any other type of creepy crawly insect which will be in “my space”, whether it’s inside my home or in the garden.  I wonder if the hornets will be as aggressive as they were last year?  All of my boys and my Mom were bitten, attacked really, randomly and out of no where.  I looked for faux wasp nests everywhere and couldn’t find them.  I ended up making traps and they proved effective however, they can’t be up for long before new ones replace the old trap - due in part to the fact the trap consists of meat/bones being used to draw the hornet or wasps inside the trap.  Eventually they fall to the bottom of the trap, into water where they meet their demise.  Hornet traps - now there’s a true sign of spring.  And I’ve seen enough photos of Hummingbirds feeding at feeders while snow is on the ground that I’ll keep a feeder for early arrivals starting the first week of May.  I’ll hang it from a shepherd’s hook where a sunbeam can hit the homemade nectar and the bird can have a warm drink while feeding.  

Wherever you are, I hope you’re enjoying the signs of spring in your area and that it’s a comfort to you while we endure yet another “spring” storm.  Soon enough, the sun will come out and the snow will give way to spring showers … that’s the stormy weather I’m looking forward to now!

Take care and have a great week, everyone.