weekend; drip thaw melt freeze

Mike and I got all
dressed up this weekend.
A friend's party,
faux diamond earings,
high heels (just me).

So rare for us
to look so glamorous.
So much fun. The girls are so impressed
and pleasantly surprised
to learn their mama is in possession
of real princess shoes.

The rest of the weekend
was a bit less glamorous,
but no less dazzling. Our great snowfall is shrinking,
bowing down
to these bluebird days,
initiating the inevitable dance
of winter in Montana;

Drip, thaw, melt, freeze
repeat until April.

Oh, but the sun
feels so good.


Which of these geese is not like the others?

This little chicken was the first one to the top.

I cleaned the coop
and carried water
to the horse
in just a sweatshirt
today.  I have to stop myself
from counting, or thinking
that the first day of spring
is exactly two months away

because they're calling
for new snow
and single digits later
this week, and we know

it's true what the farmers say
to make hay while the sun shines.

Soak it up, my friends.
And stop looking
at the calendar.