Brave Tulip - Missoula, Montana

My wish for more March snow has been granted - hurrah! Such keen delight to see full-on fluffy stuff blizzarding sideways past our office windows. Of course, being that we live under Montana's mercurial sky, another glance not much later displayed a serene blanket of snow. And later still, the snowing and blowing up bushels of fun had recommenced! And the tulips soldier on toward eventual blooming.

Brave Crocus - Missoula, Montana

"Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every Grace; throws out the Snowdrop and the Crocus first." - from Spring Flowers by James Thomson (1700-1748)

More Like March - Missoula, Montana

Aah... snow-dusted mountaintops and early morning roadways (not shown here), brisk winds quickening your step, precipitation shifting any given moment between sleet and snow and rain - THIS is more like what March in Montana ought to look like! And also the reason why studded snow tyres are allowed right through until the end of May.

Snow-Capped - Missoula, Montana

Same view as yesterday, but snow-capped overnight - hooray! 
Stopping at the grocery store on my way home from work, I spotted a young-ish fellow sporting long basketball shorts and flip-flops with a bulky pullover  hoodie (flashback: remember when we called them thongs and kangaroo jackets?!), despite the biting wind and just-freezing temperature. These are not uncommon  Montana wardrobe options for this time of year. But today, he best layer up his toes and beware the ides of March!

Lingering Ice - Clark Fork River, Missoula, Montana

The ice you see along the riverbank is not from my 'I wish it were still visibly winter' photo stash; this was one beautiful view yesterday during my stroll beside the Clark Fork River. The outside temperature, per my car, registered 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Egad! As you can see, mountaintops are bereft of snow. BUT, on my weather app, a little digital snowflake marks every hour of today. So, I have expectation. We will see what remains to be seen.

Speaking of seeing, check out basic eye clinic stats in yesterday's update post  at JourneysWithGod.com .)

Tulip Promise - Missoula, Montana

"This I saw on an April day:
Warm rain spilt from a sun-lined cloud...
A flash of blue in a cool moss bank,
And tips of tulips promising flowers
To a blue-winged loon."
-  James Hearst (1900-1983)

(Sorry - bursting tulips won't wait for me to hold this poem for an April post!)