These are the times that try dogs’ souls.  After a month of being unable to play fetch because the backyard is covered in ice, it is finally almost melted.  So what does Mother Nature do?  She’s sending us more snow!  Now don’t get me wrong, I love winter.  However, I also love spring.  And Mother Nature has been sending us mixed messages lately.  Summer-like temperatures in February, followed by a rain nor’easter for the start of March, had my hopes up that winter was over and spring is here.  Yet later on today another nor’easter is heading our way bringing with it over a foot of snow for most of Maine!  Winter is definitely not over!

Perhaps this is my fault?  I may have antagonized famed groundhog meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil, with my taunting that his prediction was incorrect and we were in for an early spring.  I should have known better than to mess with Mother Nature’s friend.  Of course she’d take his side, and bring back winter with full fury just to prove him right.

Well the good news is with that much fresh snow we’ll be allowed to run again in the back yard because the remnants of the icy layer will be safely buried.  Finally we’ll be able to play fetch!  However, the bad news is we’ll no doubt pack down the snow again, thus forming another icy layer.  So once that happens, no more playing fetch until the ice melts again.  See the problem here?  If you think watching paint drying is boring, try watching ice melt!  But it is a small price to pay I guess to enjoy (hopefully) the last big snowstorm of the season.  Besides, what’s the rush to get to spring?  Every season does have it’s positive attributes, and I really shouldn’t be in a rush to move from one to another.  In fact, I can guarantee that during the dog days of summer I will wish it was snowing.  So bring it on, Mother Nature!  I’m ready for more snow!