Spring-winter

Days are getting longer. The day lasts longer than the night now, finally. Down in the valley, by the railroad, the first flowers have sprung. Close to town the snow is slushy and rotten. But at higher elevations, above timberline, there is still dry, cold, white snow, and good skiing. The sky is blue, the sun is warming. People are digging out a bench in the snow, to sit down and take a rest, drinking coffee from the thermos and eating a chocolate bar. It's spring-winter, the very best part of the winter.