Golf With the Grandsons

Although we live close by it is not often that we have the opportunity to play golf together. The other day was such an occasion. Theresa, myself and the two grandsons played 18 holes at a Oakville golf course. The two boys are rivals,age 16 and 25 they compete at most things. Theresa and I love the game because it gets us out in the green  acres of the golf course together but the boys take it more seriously.

Each of them is capable of hitting the ball 280 yards on a regular basis. However they sometimes hit a stray shot and at that great distance they have a problem as their error causes grief on the score card. Good humored conversation and frequent checks on the score card makes the competition keen.

The younger of the two has great potential as he is also an all star catcher for the Oakville baseball team and with his gained strength he rivals his older and much taller brother. The weather was perfect and as the day wore on it was evident that the eventual winner would be Adam the older brother.It was also evident that we all just enjoyed playing the game together.

It is always a good time when you have the good fortune to share over four hours of time with your children or grand children. This day was no exception and we completed the game with the wish that we would be able to repeat the joyful experience in the near future.

Persistence Pays Off

Our monthly golf tournament was held today and it was a straight game score minus your handicap. The weather was iffy but we had some 60 golfers register and pay their $15. In my category there were 24 people. Most of the people in my group were better golfers than I but they were not used to playing in less than perfect weather.

As the game proceeded the rain came and three of the members of my foursome decided to quit. I took my bag and waited on the seventh golf tee. Soon a group came along and I joined them. After nine holes two more quit and I was keeping pace and playing my usual game. By the time I finished the eighteen holes there were many men in the clubhouse having a beer.

As I finished my game and added up my score and deducted my generous handicap, I was convinced that I was out of the money. I joined my group and we laughed about the quitters and some said I had a chance since about ten from my division did not complete the game.

As the prize money was announced and handed out, low and behold  I came in third. I won good money and realized that persistence does pay off. Last man standing theory won out again.

Missed Opportunities

Being laid up with my battered right leg caused me to miss the club championship golf games. I would not have had a chance of winning, but all of us have a chance to win in our own class. With a 22 handicap and a bad leg I had no chance at all so I cancelled out. Instead of playing I bought a ticket for the club closing which is a dinner dance for Theresa and I. This saves me the embarrassment of having to be at the bottom of the list that evening and just enjoy the fellowship.

This week alone was not a very happy one as I missed Theresa; we are rarely apart. The regular trip to the market, grocery shopping, and other routines which we follow are not really as good without your friend. Being alone is a very good exercise for married people. It gives you the chance to evaluate your relationship and meaning and value in your life.

I was happy to see Theresa share a week with her friend and recapture that spark that keeps the friendship alive. When she returned it was refreshing to hear the special moments she experienced with a person she has known for all her life. Her week was filled with activities, good food, long walks and many laughs. I was happy when Theresa came off the.plane at nearly midnight and to hear here excitement about her adventure as were drove home.

Many of us miss opportunities for an enriched life . We have to be able to discover them and act with complete confidence. The rewards are fantastic.

Privacy Trees and Golf

A very few years ago Theresa and I planted some small {1 gallon} trees in the hope they would grow and give us some privacy. Well they did grow and grow and now I am faced with a big task every six months to keep them under control. They do their job very well and along with the sea grapes make a nice separation between our home and the road. Already we have put out 8 barrels of cuttings and several piles of branches.

In our back yard we have the same situation where the White Bird of Paradise grows so quickly that on our return we have a massive cutting. The city picks up this garden waste every week and turns it into mulch used for the landscaping in the city.

I like the work involved but feel guilty cutting away beautiful branches and sometimes flowers. It could be very easy to find yourself overgrown if this task is not completed every six months at least. Our gang played golf yesterday and I was amazed at the improvement in the look of the course after their fall cleanup. Palms had their dead branches cut, all the grassy sections were trimmed preparing for a tournament and the greens were perfect. People at the golf course were doing what Theresa and I were doing but on a much larger scale.

Sunday Golf

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Theresa is always looking for new deals at golf courses close by. Palmetto Pines is a private, members only golf course about 5 minutes from our home. We have driven around it on our bikes and loved the layout. Because it is private you have to have a member invite you to have a game .

Theresa saw an advertisement whereby private citizens could play. It was an exceptional deal as the cost was only $25 for 18 holes with a cart. Theresa made arrangements and we played this beautiful course yesterday.

I heard talk of this course being in some financial trouble as its membership had fallen. The people in charge wishing to keep the course in good financial shape decided to try to attract new business and members have restructured their membership to include several new types of service. It seems to be working as the course was well attended and we were made to feel very welcome by the staff and players.

This course was by far the best course we have played since moving to this area and we will play many games there over the next months. The weather in November is probably the best during the whole year for golf as morning temperatures are generally around 60 and afternoon reaches the low eighties.

With Daylight saving our early morning golf will begin at 7 am so we will finish before 11am leaving time for more activities in the pm.

Golf Tournament

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN OCTOBER 30, 2012

Once a month we have a tournament among our Tuesday golfers and today was the day. Seventy two  men broken down into 18 teams playing for big money. This morning I had great expectations until I met my team. One fellow was gulping down pain killers as he had surgery on his back and he fell while trimming one of his trees.

Another was a retired doctor who was 85 years old and couldn't see beyond his nose. We had to keep an eye on his ball after every drive when he would shout, "where's my ball"? The third was the leader and decided that every member of the group should follow his instructions when playing, especially when putting. Then there was me. I decided to be a humorist and take everything in stride until he started to tell me about my stance when driving the ball.

The wind was a steady 30 mph and under these conditions we all had difficulty but with his help we managed to keep the ball out of the water some of the time. Most teams when playing best ball would end up 5 or 6 under par. We were three over par after 9 holes. Our leader was a good golfer and managed to keep us in the game on some holes  but the look on his face when we did not meet his expectations was something to behold.

Our pill-taker broke out the beer after the first nine and offered us a choice between a Bud or Perrier water. We decided the offer was well meaning but wouldn't help our game. We managed to do a little better in the second 9 and even had two birdies but it did not make up for the boogies on the other holes.

I couldn't wait for the game to end and as we shook hands and said what a great time we had he ,the leader offered to buy us a real drink. We took him up on the offer and found him to be an OK guy at the bar. It is amazing what golf will do to some people. By the way we came second last with a score of five over par.I was not happy but will be back next Tuesday.

Perfect Fall Weather

This past week we had the perfect fall weather for outside work or just for playing golf. Several times a year we get together with old friends that we share time with both here and in Florida. With the temperature around 24C and not a cloud in the sky we thought of playing golf but a call from our friends confirmed our thoughts and off we went.

We only play 9 holes on a course that is kept in perfect shape and it is a social outing rather than a serious game. We do however keep score as our friends like to know their score. This day went perfectly until the seventh hole when my partner thought it a good idea to look for golf balls in a place where he always has luck.

This time he did find five balls but dropped his Tilly hat in the water and came out of the trees looking much the worse for his search. After some good-hearted fun poked at my friend we ended the game having experienced another perfect day provided by Mother Nature.

Golf With The Grandchildren

On two occasions this past week I had the pleasure of getting out to play golf with three of my grandchildren. The Friday 18 holes of golf was with two brothers who are very competitive. We played a difficult course and Theresa played along with us and to be the referee on disputes. My youngest grandson is fifteen and he had being telling me of his feats of strength on the golf course.

Troy is a baseball and hockey player and I was anxious to see if his skill was as he boasted. Well on one hole he did just that. On a 389 yard hole he ended up three yards inside the hundred yard marker. We carefully marked it off and we granted him a 292 yard drive. We will never hear the end of it. Adam is a good player as well and every hole was a competition among we men. At the end of the day realized that it was so much fun that we had to do it again sometime in the future.

On Sunday my grand daughter and he father and boy friend invited me to be a fourth on a team to play in a tournament to help pay for a trip to Europe for a minor hockey team from Pickering. Darcy was a novice at golf as she is just beginning but ended up making some great drives. She was pleased with her showing and had fun.

We did not win the tournament but played a couple over par. We had much fun and laughter could be heard all over the course as many people were engaged in a skill game for the first time. It was also a dangerous place to be as the course has been called the hard hat course because of the layout. Balls were flying all over and many became near misses.

During the two days with the kids and friends on the golf course I became aware that our grand children are growing up far too quickly. It was fun and we plan to do more of the same in the future.

Golf

Tuesday is golf day and my friends were there to welcome me back from surgery. I felt good and after a first day with all kinds of trouble I had high expectations for a good game. I am not supposed to use my driver so I used my #4 wood to drive. As I could not bend I dropped my ball and attempted to hit it like a driver. Water won and I had a second chance to drive from the bank of the lake. Another water ball and so on. In 18 holes I lost 20 balls, had one par and three bogie's for 5 points. My average is 17 points  so I had a bad day.

My friends wanted to tee my ball but I said I was better off the turf. I was happy to play but I was a little embarrassed with my performance. Golf is a game but when you play for money it is more than that. Today was the worst game I ever played but I had a good time in spite of the  poor play. Next week I will be better and it is only a game ...I think.

Take Your Time

When I was cleared to continue with my life after surgery I was told that it would take up to five times more to complete simple tasks. I smiled and nodded my head just happy to be released from the bondage of in activity. I am finding out that the Dr was correct in many ways and indeed it does take much longer to perform the simple tasks like dressing and working in the garden.

Today I was cleaning up a part of the garden where I covered the soil so weeds would not take over. Trying to bend and perform this task was difficult and took so long. In fact I only completed part of the job. I tire easily and have to rest every hour or so. It was a little frustrating at first but since I have all the time in the world I am adjusting.. Thinking that I have another three months was a shock at first but as time goes on and I see some improvement every week I am just thankful to have this opportunity.

Just as the price of housing had to make an adjustment I suppose this is my adjustment. Tomorrow will be the first time I will play golf with my pals. My adjustment will be to play without a driver or any heavy iron clubs. I must use the old senior wooden clubs and play my ball off the ground as I cannot reach to use a golf tee. My score will be higher and my effort made without much extra energy but I will be playing . I will not share the rewards from the money pot but it will be fun. I will be embarrassed if I hold up the foursome so I will have to pick up some time if I fall behind.

So take your time and enjoy and be thankful you can play at all.

Shameful Bragging

We  just arrived home from Florida after a few days at our winter home.We were being cautious about the security of our home as we left in a hurry and maybe less attentive than usual. Everything was in order so our journey became a holiday. Every day the weather was perfect if you call over 100 degrees acceptable. We were in the pool many times and with the humidity being OK we had a wonderful week.

While there I was talking to one of my golf partners and decide to play one game. Without my regular clubs and equipment I gathered up some irons which I kept from bygone days. I had no woods so I borrowed a driver from the club where I played during the winter. No glove or golf shoes made my chances of having a good day was slim. Jokes were made about my clubs as I had 10 clubs but three of them were 5 irons. I just grabbed any left club and was off. The jokes ended on the first hole as I had a good drive and chip and ended up with a boogie.

We play greenies where the person who gets closest to the pin on par three's and pars the hole gets a dollar from all the players. If you win all the greenies you are rich as you come away with $12. In regular play I won a few of these and won some money with the regular game. My score to win had to be 12 points. This day I collected 21 points and nine tenths of the pot. My share was $36 and was the best I ever did. I was plus 9 and with that score it became my best recorded score for all time. I ended up with 7 pars and a birdie with a gross score of 83. My best score up to that time was 89.

Since this will probably be my last game for at least a year I suppose I can say it will be the best game for my life. I will have my back operation on the 30 of June. This will put golf away for a long time and maybe forever. To have this last game in my mind will we reassuring and I am sure the score and descriptions of this event will get better with age. I kept the card and the cash and hope to invest it in my next game sometime in the future. Forgive the bragging as it was one of the only times I had anything to report in a positive way about my golf game. For me every day of playing golf is great...even when you don't keep score.

Woodstorks and Brown Pelicans

Golfing is just a game to give me the opportunity to observe wildlife. Our area in Florida is home to several large colonies of wood storks. Our golf course was home to a couple of hundred of these birds today. It is mating time and this year there is enough rainfall to support the fishery which feeds these birds after hatching. An endangered species which is ugly while wading in the shallow waters but absolutely marvelous while soaring high in the sky. They can soar like eagles and during their aerial mating dance in the sky they perform acrobatic maneuvers unlike no others.

Brown pelicans were badly damaged during the oil spill crisis in the gulf and it was a treat to see a pair on the fourth hole today. They do not frequent our golf course often but are a treat when they do. Wild parrots were out in numbers as were all the Florida wading birds. Our golf course takes precautions to make sure the birds are not harmed by dangerous chemicals.

When we hear of the recent bird kills during the migration this year it makes you wonder. At least four massive kill were reported and the numbers of dead birds numbered in the thousands.The exact cause of death was not determined but you can bet is chemical in nature. Many of the golf courses are given special tax considerations if they qualify as conservation  areas.

My friends on the golf course accept me now as a environmental nut and some even comment about the natural beauty as we engage in competition. It is the main reason I golf in Florida.

Winter Golf

Since the weather is extremely hot during the summer months in Florida, winter golf is the way to go. The days are shorter so we don't start until 7am. The coolness of the morning sometimes requires a sweater or light jacket but by 9am you are back to normal with temperatures of 75-80. The snowbirds usually crowd the courses and of course the prices to play go way up.

In the summer and fall golf is an inexpensive sport but come December to May prices double or triple. Our 27 hole course is minutes from our home and is kept in mint condition. It is home to hundreds of birds and some snakes and alligators. The eagle and osprey nest nearby and the shore and wading birds abound in the shallow lakes which are a feature on nearly every hole.Since we are creatures of habit we play with the same people every week and socialize with the whole group on the 19Th hole.

Very few of our group could be considered great golfers but we manage to have respectable scores.The more serious people manage to stick together but for us the exercise and fun is the main purpose.We do play for a small financial reward every week and the money is usually spread around. On a good day you might win $30 but on most days you will not be in the money.Golf is a wonderful way to use three or four hours every week and our wives encourage us to attend to get us out of their hair.

Florida is a good place to live during the winter months but golf makes it a great place to live anytime.

Golfing In the Arctic

Golfing may be the last sport you would expect to be played in the Arctic. I was surprised to find that because of one event, golfing became popular with the Inuit. For years the chief communication with the outside world was through CBC Radio Canada. One man who was the host of a morning radio show was also an advocate for world literacy. He had the idea of having the most northerly golf tournament in the world to support his cause and to raise money by having a golf tournament on the Arctic Ice.

After years of talk and organizing, the first tournament took place in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay). People came from far and wide to take part. A golf club in Edmonton donated clubs and a barrel of balls and the airlines provided transportation for some of the more notable of the participants. Coloured balls, solid ice fare ways, hula hoops for cups and thirty below temperatures made the game a challenge. Wind chill factor drove the temperature to 60 below.

The course was laid out on Cambridge Bay and nine holes were constructed. The CBC carried the game on radio and everyone up there listened as the game was played. Most Inuit never heard of golf but they were close to their radios to hear the news of the game. Much fun was had and records broken, fingers frozen and hot spiced rum drunk. It was decided on the spot that another game would be played in the future. Of the 25 hamlets in Nunavut and 25 in the NWT nearly every one wanted to host the next game.

This was billed as the most northerly game of golf in the world and attracted many visitors. In our hamlet where it all started a movement was begun to build a summer course. A committee began with plans for a 9 hole course to be built on Inuit land between the village and the airport. There was a DEW line radar base there and with pooled resources a course was laid out. The holes were long over rockey slopes and the greens were made of sand. There was a rake at every hole to leave the green nice and flat after play.

The course was called the "Course of Many Pebbles". On opening day a special gift of over a hundred clubs and many ball was received by the same Edmonton Golf Club. Golf became a factor in the life of many Inuit. Since there is 24 hour sunlight in the summer the game was often played throughout the night. Inuit like to gamble and rarely was there a game played without a little wager. I played a few games there and can claim to have had a 400 yard drive downhill with the golf ball hitting many favourite bounces on the rocks. It was fun.

My friends from Pembroke thought I was joking when I took them to see the golf course but they were believers when they surveyed the rocky slopes for themselves. I don't know if the course is still operating but while I was up there I enjoyed golf above the Arctic Circle.

Golf At Royal Tee

On returning to Florida I was excited to get back playing golf with my friends. At this time of the year the group is small as most people come down after the Thanksgiving Holiday at the end of the month. However a small group who live here all year got together every Tuesday and played through the hot summer months.

The first day I returned to the golf club there was only 7 people in our group. We did however get to start our game at 7.2o when the sun just peeked above the horizon. As I played little golf this summer I apologized before hand for my poor play. The opposite was the reality and I had a great first game and actually won the pot of money. Every putt seemed to find the cup and at the end of the game I had the best game I ever played. Many comments were made saying I had taken lessons and so on. All in good fun but as the money was given to me I detected a little bit of humorous banter as everyone there knew I played over my head.

During the game I observed so many birds and water creatures that my fellow players said I was back. I constantly point out different natural wonders like alligators, eagles and egrets. This annoys many as they are there to play golf. After nearly 8 years they are beginning to appreciate the golf course as a habitat of Florida"s wonderful creatures.

The second week I played I was back to my norm and the money was not going to my pocket . This week the guys made fun of my left handed swing and my poor style. On the second hole of the second nine I drove the ball down the center of the fairway but the club head had another idea and made my friends duck as the head became free and glided past them and ended thirty yards out on the small lake. It floated but could not be retrieved at the time. After a few laughs and so on we played with me having to drive with my 3 wood.

Needless to say I did poorly and ended dead last this week. The errant club head ended up on the shore of the lake and was retrieved by my partner. I brought it back to the golf shop where I bought it and he fixed it up and gave me a new grip without cost. Golf is a good game and most people associated with it are OK as well.

Thursday Golf

I don't play golf on Thursday unless I get invited to a game from a friend or just about anyone. Today was just such a day. I had planned my day before I received a call from my grandson for a game. We usually have a day each summer when we do something special but this time golf. I was surprised as we have not played before but I heard he bought some Callaway clubs, new shoes and a rain jacket. This sounded like a challenge.

This summer was rather strange as I played only 7 times. We travelled and were busy and I just needed a break from the game as I play all winter. I made tee times for 7.45 at Saw Whet and I knew Adam liked to sleep so I phoned him at 6.30. He did not answer but called back right away. I boiled the water and made green tea and poured two cups in a thermos to get the lad awake. I told him I would pick him up at 7am and try to be on time.

As I drove the three kms to his home I wondered how good he was. Would I be embarrassed or whatever. I was early as usual and Adam showed up at 6.59 am. We were off to a good start. He liked the tea and as were drove to the course I was struck by the fact that he told me he was exactly 50 years younger than me. If that was not a signal to hedge my bets nothing was.

We checked in but these young people are slow on the draw so I treated him for the game. I actually owed him a game and we warmed up. He was so fast, swinging like Tiger. I was still at the trying to stretch time. We were unable to have a few puts because we we were up and we were able to play without partners. From the first I knew we were going to have a great day and the game went on and the conversation became more important than the golf..

We kept score but the score was not important. All through the three and a half hours we were able to exchange ideas and talk of his courses at university. I love the contact with the grand children and this was no exception. Every senior has this dream of connecting with their grand children and we are so fortunate as we see them often. It was golf Thursday but for me it was pure pleasure playing golf with Adam.

24 Hour Depression

Any year that the Detroit Red Wings do not make the finals for the NHL Championship I suffer 24 hour depression. To get out of this problem I do not turn to drugs or alcohol but work. Today I bought one of those one meter by one meter bags of triple mix and over seeded the front lawn. I added 8 bags of sheep and cattle manure and that fixed the depression.

I was so tired and sore after the wheel barrows of soil and animal soil that I did not have the strength to think of The Wings. Every three years I try to over seed the lawns but I have a clover problem and since we do not use those terrible chemicals anymore, I live with it. From the curb it is green and looks OK if kept cut short.

Crossing the border with a new rotor tiller was no problem but it cut my spade work in a quarter. Everything is so early that I have to hurry to catch up and this little 10 inch tiller does the job.

Tomorrow I go to play golf with the Old Masters of Oakville and it is supposed to rain. I will attend and meet the group and begin the cycle all over again. Life really is good and the Wings will return with new vitality next year. Who said that winning was everything. Doug and I just want to compete.....believe that and I have some land for sale in the everglades of Florida.

Tuesday Golf

For the last five weeks my golf was terrible. I managed to bring my handicap down to 16. This is not the normal handicap but a special handicap whereas you get points for a boogie, a par, a birdie and an eagle if you are very special. My handicap runs around about 18. This means I am a boogie golfer.

This morning I was free from the pain of arthritis and was ready for the challenge. The weather was perfect and our gang of golfers were eager to go after seven weeks of 40 degree weather at starting time. We tee off at 7am. Today the temp was 64 and we were hot to play.

Bets were made and away we went. Since this was a personal experience and there are no challenges to their truth I can say as I wish. However every golfer has a code that dictates telling the exact score. I started off with a par, a boogie and a par. My companions looked at me and said I was in for a good game. All my golfer buddies know that I can be real good for three holes but not for nine or eighteen.

For the next six holes I had two more pars, two bogie's and two others. There is water on the course. At the end of nine I had my best game so far this year with 11 points. At the turn I managed another par, two others and another par. With five holes to go I was focusing, something I forget to do on nearly all occasions. The next five holes give me two more pars and two bogie's and another. There is still water on the course.

I end up with 21 points, my personal best. I was so happy and everyone gave me credit for a game well played. I paid $61.50 to play the game and I made $16.00 for the effort. Golf is a game of bragging rights and for one week and one week only I have them. This was the first and only day I had this honour and I was so proud.

We had a glass of wine and I returned home to tell Theresa of my success but she was telling her Mom about the bargain she received at Kohls so I was quiet, realizing that golf is for the golfers and not the shoppers. In any case I was content to play over my head for once. This will not happen many more times I am sure.

Golfing With The Critters

Our Friday night golfing tee times gives us an opportunity to meey people and have a good time. We play nine holes and have dinner. After this there are draws for prizes and Theresa always wins. Last Friday we arrived early and socialized with the 70 other people who have the same idea, have fun and meet people.

We were paired up with a couple who seemed very quiet. As we played a few holes Theresa entered a conversation about where we were from and so on. She exchanged answers and found we were not only both from Ontario but from Oakville. Then to our surprise we discovered that they lived about eight doors down on our street.

Our friendship went into high gear and we really loved the game and conversation. On the 6th hole I made an errant shot and bounced a shot off the water and up on the bank. It happened that it was the best of our four shots so we proceeded to the area where my ball sat.

I lined up mp my shot and had 118 yards from the green. Just as I was about to shoot I noticed a alligator in the weeds not 6 feet from where I was standing. I wished to hit anyway but when I did the alligator slapped the water with his tail and disappeared into the lake. The women shreeked and yelled but my hit was not affected.

This is a common occurance here and I was used to it , theresa blamed the trauma on the next shot she made, as it was not great. We all laughed the incident away but you have to be careful when you golf with the critters. Two years ago Theresa and I were golfing and again I hit a ball into the water. When I approached the ball I noticed a small coral snake by my ball. I invited theresa to see it as it is the most deadly snake in Florida. She did see it from afar. I was quiet about it as people here kill snakes on general purpose. These rare snakes have a role to play and must be protected. It is the price to pay when we play in their back yard.

Thank God It's Over

Yesterday I packed my golf clubs and headed to the Royal Tee for our Tuesday men's golf. It was 6.30 am and the temperature was 3o degrees Farenheit. As I went to my van it was entirely covered in white frost. The bird bath was frozen solid and our roof was a clean white. I took a few pictures and let my van warm up and listened to the radio. The happy announcer declared in a joyful voice that the big freeze was officially over.

What station did I have? I didn't look over from where I sat. I drove the 4 miles to the golf course only to see all the shrubbery and flowers still covered with frost cloth. When I arrived there was a strange stillness about the parking lot. Two cars filled the 200 spaces but I was not influenced. I dragged my 40 pound bag filled with 14 clubs and about a 100 golf balls to the nearest cart and drove to the pro shop.

The Englishman was there as usual and notched my card before telling me that the course was closed until 11 am. I wandered into the cafeteria and bought a green tea and waited. Only my partner Ron showed up for our 7:19 am tee time. Looking at the course it was a winter wonderland with white frost covering the entire length and breath of the course. Egrets large and small huddled along the banks of the lake and two eagles clung to the branch of a dead pine. Steam poured from the manhole and small wild parrots sat with ruffled feathers on the grate.

It was s surreal sight for Florida and I drank the fleeting beauty as the sun would quickly erase this nature painted phenomenon as surely as she painted it.Ron and I spoke little for a while but were both knew what we were treated too. Within half an hour the beauty faded to be replaced by dying vegetation and a scene of sorrow.

People started to arrive and everyone discussed the weather and the fact that the big freeze was over. Because of the hour few witnessed nature's way of telling us the power she possessed and despite the tremendous losses over the past ten days she gave a final indication of her love to all who open their eyes to her beauty.