dilly-dally

It is currently -13°F at 10:00 am.  We're seeing some of the coldest temperatures on record in Anchorage of late.  The upside is how sunny it has been.  The downside is that it's uncomfortably cold to go for a neighborhood stroll even with multiple layers, thick socks in thick boots, an ear-covering hat, fleece scarf, shin-length down coat, and snow pants that loudly swish with each step.  A few months back, a cow moose gave me a look while wearing said snow pants.  As if to say "darn, lady.  Those pants are ridiculously noisy!" 

Winter lingers on.  Or you could say it is dilly-dallying along.  As this season does in Alaska.  An email in my inbox today suggested March is the time to start prepping your garden for spring planting.  Well, our garden is under several feet of snow and will remain so for many weeks to come.  I suppose I can daydream about it for now.  Imagine how our ferns will start out as tightly curled fiddleheads that will later unfurl into tall and wide explosions of green.  Wonder what annuals will be available to buy come June.  Hope that a local nursery has another great crop of geraniums in every hue to plop into pots.  

Meanwhile, we will get out when temps allow us to explore and move.  Last week at the spot above - Baxter Bog - we saw loads of Black-capped Chickadees and Black-billed Magpies, several sets of animal tracks, and a few heaps of moose scat.  It was a gorgeous day, and it was around 30° warmer than this morning.  Today feels more like an indoors kind of day.  Letter writing, laundry, baking, and lots of hot beverages kind of day.