It can feel pretty miserable here in Oregon these last few days of Winter in the run up to Spring. But the signs of Spring are all around. Spring officially arrives Friday, March 20th. Right now we have just four minutes difference between night and day, sunrise at 7:22 and sunset at 7:18. The light is catching up and the vernal equinox is right around the corner.

We have had one atmospheric river after another and have broken some rainfall records on a few occasions, March 12th was one. But despite the heavy downpours, the snowpack levels on Mt. Hood are somewhere between 31% and 45% of normal/median, depending on where you look.

https://projects.oregonlive.com/weather/hood-snowpack/

This has been my first full winter back in my home state, and it is a reminder how optimistic and hopeful it makes you feel, after a few months of cold, wet, windy weather, when you see the flowers begin to poke up through the soggy dirt and the green leaves and buds burst out on the bare branches of the shrubs and trees.

For now, many but not all dog walks are carried out in full rain gear, but you have to love the rain, because it brings us the flowers.