Spring Snow Walk: Carondelet--March 24, 2013

 Spring Snow. Epic Snow. 14 inches in O'Fallon. Snow walk at 5 after grading papers for an hour or so--on the way back home, I pass the thrift shop on Virginia. . ..Clock on St. Cecilia's struck five just as I was starting and struck 6 just as I was returning, snow covered and invigorated.

The  morning starts out innocently enough--Oreo in her raincoat around 8 a.m. in the gentle rain.

Visibility at 5:20 at BelleRive Park: next to nil.

 The only buds I see on trees--scanty sign of Spring. The cold has kept most everything else from germinating.

 Always looking for Christmas card potential in the snow.  For two years, it didn't snow, and I had to use the pictures from 2010.  So much has changed since then. Mostly because of the loss of people I never thought we'd actually lose. . . .

 At least the river is back up to manageable levels. Snow covered barges, silent and still.

My favorite tree in all of St. Louis, at Belle Rive Park

Hiking in the city or the country. Only the light standard is the clue. This is at Sr. Marie Charles Park.

 Walking along the river at Sr. Marie Charles Park.  No one else around. Blowing snow. About 36 degrees, so not that cold. Utterly invigorating and beautiful.

 The famous tree from below in the snow.

 Spring snow. Pansies outside of Really Cheep and Iron Barley, proving that it's March 24th. Compare to last year when daffodils were blooming mid-March and I went on 13 hikes during this month.

 Check out the little fat robin. . . .

Back home that night after wine with Paul at Sasha's.  Sam in front of a warm fire. Candles lit. Turntable playing old Stones, Morrisey and the Who.

Sunday, March 3: Pat and Lynn's Farm in Mt. Sterling

The old tree stand.

The view behind the farm house. . . .

Pat, just as we began hiking around 5:40 p.m.

Getting dark, around 6:30

This was an excellent time. Haven't been to the farm in at least two or three years.  When we arrived with Lynn and Dad, it was around 36 degrees inside and out, maybe even colder inside the farm house. Dad jumped back in the jeep and turned on the heat, ready to head back to civilization after being there maybe 45 minutes.  Marty called in the interim, and I strolled around the living room while talking to her. Pat and Lynn packed up what they wanted to take home--and unpacked a space heater.  Because Pat wanted to hike, he stoked up the fiery furnace in the basement of the farmhouse. Then we set off, leaving Dad and Lynn in front of the flat screen in the living room, watching old episodes of Deadwood.

The hike was not strenuous but awesome. Pat showed me the deer stand where he encountered two bobcats one night while hunting. We walked the perimeter of the farm in the snow. Ending up on a flat road that runs up to the back of the farmhouse. The silhouette of the house was just visible in the distance, a tiny window of light shining out into the night. The road was still snow-covered and pristine, with no visible tracks. We heard coyotes in the distance, getting nearer, so we decided to go back to the house.  Amazing! We'd only been gone an hour but it was absolutely toasty by the time we got back.

The evening ended with dinner in Hermann at the Concert Hall and Barrel Bar. Pulled pork, a couple of beers or a glass of wine. Country music, a tin ceiling, kind waitress.

Lost Valley, Fire Road to Katy Trail, Saturday, March 2

 Dena at the Heck-Roth Cemetery.

Where I found my camera, unscathed but muddy the next day.

The Heck-Roth Cemetery in the snow

Saturday morning hike. About 28 degrees, so perfect weather for a hike in the snow. Intermittent snow and intermittent sunshine. Dena's home on sabbatical, so I picked her up around 8:30, drove out to Lost Valley, and we hiked an old road that leads to the Katy Trail. We discovered a new trail--called the Willow Springs Conservation Area, but Dena's ears were cold so we turned around there and headed back to the car.

Unawares, I dropped my camera right next to the car when we got back to it, but miraculously found it the next day on my way back from MABA.