A lot has happened in a week. I managed to try my new bike; taking it to a short trail at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area for the maiden voyage.  It was so much fun that I had to decide whether to go around the loop once more or take the bike to Elk Island.  The day was beautiful and the trails were quiet so I ended up cycling another 12+kms at the national park.  What fun!

On May 6th, a spring snow storm blanketed the landscape.  There was only about 10cm of snow at home but at least three times that amount in town.  What a teaser!  I was tempted to dig out the skis just for the heck of it.

It didn't take long for the snow to melt, leaving some very green grass in its place.  Everything needed a good watering and it didn't matter if it was rain or melted snow.  The leaf buds popped on the aspens and birch trees, adding some bright green to the drab brown forest.

The yard has been roto-raked and the flower beds have been dug up.  The vegie seeds are planted in the raised beds and the barrel containers now hold some colorful annuals to decorate the front yard.

Forty five bags of mulch were added to the naturescaped front yard.  That was no easy feat as the shoulder injury from January is still haunting me but it sure made the yard look better.

While I was completing all the work in the yard, the forest creatures entertained me.  A pileated woodpecker teased me through the day; calling from the trees.  It wasn't until I took a break that it flew to a log on the forest floor just behind me and put on a show.  The garter snakes are awake from their winter naps.  Two of them slithered across the leaves at the back of the yard.  It was good that I had rubber boots on because I almost stepped on both.  Needless to say, we startled each other and there would have been a blood curdling scream if one of them found my pant leg.

On Sunday I had a close encounter with a young moose at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I'm sure it recognized me from a previous visit.  It glanced our way briefly and not only did it continue browsing on the willows, but it came right out on the trail in front of us.

Yesterday morning I drove to Elk Island National Park for a hike.  The bison babies are entertaining all the visitors.  Most are less than a week old; many with dried up umbilical cords still attached.  Their legs are wobbly but they are feisty and trying to run with the herd.

I was the only person on the hiking trail so it was a great hike indeed.  The ducks quacked and the frogs sang.  The muskrats chased each other around in the pond and the sound of the woodpeckers resonated through the trees.  It was a glorious way to begin the day.  

Spring means allergy season but that won't stop me from getting out to watch all the wildlife in action.  In a few weeks, the underbrush along the trails will obscure the view and I won't be able to see between the trees.   I'll be hiding out inside when the temperature gets above 17C because I can't stand the heat.  Until then I'll be taking whatever opportunity comes along to enjoy the joys of spring in the great outdoors.