It's here! Spring, the season we've wanted for weeks every time we were digging ourselves out of icy snow drifts. The country roads still have drifts of snow along the sides and the gravel doesn't appear to be there at all as we fight through, but as the mud flies to the top of the pickup, covering the license plates so you can't even read it, and muddy water covering the windows so bad a highway patrol will stop and ticket you, we know it is Spring. It was exciting when it rained because it wasn't snow! And then more snow came, but Spring has already shown her weather and we know she is still here.

Maybe it's the mud that makes it smell like spring. You know we can smell dirt again. It's exciting to realize the day is coming and we'll be out in the sunshine again. Warm enough to let the children jump in mud puddles! Maybe if you put those old clothes on them, you'll let them get totally muddy taking a picture to remind yourself that Spring always comes.

Driving to town is a sure sign it is spring. The foxes have their spring den ready. You know it because the mound of dirt that is always a fox's den is surrounded still by snow, but you know there are baby foxes in there. Creeks have developed, soon to be the size of rivers. Water falling over rocks after the dirt has been washed away making little tiny waterfalls, but if you take a moment to sit by one it sounds like a water fall. Imagine sitting there in the sun, with a book, or cup of coffee listening to Spring. There are numerous places where the water runoff is running over the roads. Entire pastures and fields are transformed into shallow lakes. Some are getting their kayaks or canoes out, ready for a trip down the coulées to the Missouri River. It's important to realize that it can be dangerous to get out into the runoff because it is easy to tip over and hypothermia can set in easily. Caution must be taken seriously, but celebrating spring this way can be invigorating.

The birds are back. Just this morning Robins were on the lawn and you could hear the Meadowlarks singing. Blackbirds were the first to return and all though they are a nuisance, they are defiantly a sign that Spring is here. The little Nut Hatchers are back, so the loud meow of the cat wanting outside, most likely means they will get their first kill of the season.

The trees haven't started to bud yet, but the tulips are emerging! Flowers will be a welcoming site this year. All those vivid colors, something besides white.

And if you look to the sky you can see summer clouds forming. Not the gray flat clouds covering the entire sky clouds but Cumulus clouds are starting to show up. The puffy, white, cotton candy top cloud that forms shapes. They are low to the ground, but still the sky is once again full of definition, shapes, and variety. You can see blue behind them, spring clouds.