You can always tell when the spring thaw has arrived.

All the mud that has been frozen to your rig becomes suddenly unfrozen.

The chinook winds this past weekend did a number on the snow.

Hard to believe the highway was closed on Saturday because of blowing snow. But average wind speeds of 45 mph with gusts up to 60+, coupled with temps in the low 50s, can change things in a hurry.

Where we had 10-15 cm of snow covering all the yard on Friday, now there are only the small piles left by the driveway and on the north, shady side of the house. All other white stuff is gone.

Where the country had been 95 percent white on Friday, it is now 98 percent brown. At least on all the low places. The hills are still white on the downwind sides.

And there is mud everywhere.