I woke at the usual time (i.e. dark and early), expecting to see a land covered in white.

They'd predicted three inches of snow through the night, you know.

There was none.

But it was raining, so that still meant I got to go back to bed. And to sleeep.

Always appreciated late in strutting season.

The rain continued all morning. Youngest son called a little before ten, wondering what he should do... the highways were still open, tempting him to come home.

Don't worry about the motel room. It's there as a backup. Just 'cause we've already paid for it doesn't mean you have to use it. What do you want to do?

"I want to come home..."

Then go for it. You can always turn around if it gets bad...

Around eleven the rain turned to snow, but still didn't stick.

A quarter to noon, I turn to the worried wife. Best case scenario, taking the old highway at regular speeds, he should have been here by now. But, figuring 45mph on bad roads, the soonest we should expect him is noon...

Not five minutes later, we hear a car door slam. And heelers go flying towards the door.

Yeah, he's home safe. And the motel (Hotel 8 if you care) let us cancel his room, no charge. I suspect they'll fill it tonight anyway.

So it snowed lightly all day. But everything was too warm for it to stick, and we had nothing but a wet world. And none of the 3 to nine inches accumulation they were promising us.

Around seven, though, things changed. Our world turned cold, and the white began to pile up.

And I got worried about all my plums blooming in the back yard. The little trees were practically white already with blossoms. Promises of sweet and tart fruit in September.

But maybe not, now.

As I wandering in my "grove", I suddenly got the feeling I wasn't alone. And there, in the cherry tree, I spied my companion, trying its best to stay dry and warm.

I noticed it was a male robin, same as the injured one we released in this garden a week ago. Be nice to think it's the same one. He abandoned his perch in the cherry tree for greater safety in the spruces as I continued to take shots.

My hopes lay with the blossoms that hadn't opened yet. Perhaps they might not freeze...

Likewise for the chokecherry

and lilacs

who had yet to bloom.

Funny thing was... even with all the fresh snow on them, the area around the trees still smelt strongly of plum blossoms.

It was great.

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