Here is a photo of my winter face:
Other signs of spring - and this is the one that had me convinced - April first I saw a pair of not-ravens on my way to school. I was tentative in my jubilation of the little brown bird sighting, it being April Fool's Day and all, but I saw four of them later in the day. Four days later the flock had grown to eight birds! Tra la! I haven't seen a not-raven in at least 5 months! Yesterday, I ventured onto the tundra and spotted my first ever McKay's Bunting. The migrators are returning! Sorry about all the exclamation points, but despite thoroughly enjoying the winter here, I am also splendidly enchanted by the idea of spring!
I don't want to mislead you, however, into thinking everything is coming up daffodils, as it does in the Willamette Valley.
Here is a photo of my house taken last week:
Just look below to see a photo of my house the first week of March. The blowing snow filled my stairs and porch most days while I was at school. I eventually stopped trying to clear it and just hiked over the hill to get inside.
The snow sliding off the roof scared me a little last weekend as it made surprisingly loud noises. I was happy to figure out the reason. I don't know - but to me the spring photo just looks springier, doesn't it?
Another sign of spring (we take them where we find them) are patches of asphalt showing up beneath the previously inches-thick ice on the roads! Very exciting, considering the day it melted we had a high temperature of 3. I took this after attending a movie at the Heritage Center so maybe 8:30 p.m. or so. Note how high the sun is. That, my friends, is a big sign of spring.
We have only 28 school days left, and I am happy to report that I have accepted a contract for another year at Kotzebue Middle High School, home of the Fighting Huskies!