This month has flown by as I've become busier with more things. I have truly come home and life is back to 'normal.'

I am sorry to say that this has been a light snow year and at this writing, there is very little left. But the skiing has been decent, what little I've done.

I went snowshoeing with a science class one day. Hadn't been on my snowshoes for so long, I almost couldn't remember how to attach them to my feet so I watched everyone else. Didn't want to look too uncool in front of the kids.

Our ski school program at the school ended on March 21st. The very next day, I was out in my garden pulling weeds that had taken over while I was gone. I figure I hauled out the equivalent of 15 wheel barrel loads from the garden, flower beds, and along my driveway. I was devastated when I saw them reveal themselves as the snow melted. In fact, the very first thing I saw when I drove up my driveway in January were thistles that had gone to seed. The very next day I went out and pulled off all the seed heads. Well, now as the snow melts, there are 10 times that many heads laying on the ground. Believe me, not one will be left by the time I'm done.

So I've spent many hours cleaning up weeds and starting garden seeds indoors. I started to work at Trail Creek Nursery part-time again (my favorite job) and after planting seedlings into bigger pots every day, I'd come home and have to plant seeds for my garden. So now my dining room table is covered with flats, waiting to produce seedlings to be transplanted into the garden.

I was visited by my dear friends, Mark and Sandy from Odyssey and we had a great time, reminiscing, eating, and catching up on our present day lives.

On March 19th, I turned my beautification project over to the boy scouts who are going to build, attach to business fronts, and plant 72 boxes of flowers. The response was overwhelming and I was very happy that people got as excited as I was. Our goal is to have the boxes in place by May 15th and planted around June lst.

I had two band concerts the last week of March and have been preparing about 25 students for solo festival, to be held next Saturday. So lots of extra time has been spent at school this month. It's been hard to find time to do as much walking as I'd like to do.

I had another idea for Earth Day that I'm presenting to the school faculty this week so I'll let you know next month if it happens. My principal told me I have too much time on my hands to think. He was joking, but maybe I do. Life could be so much simpler if I didn't keep making work for myself.

March Totals:
Alpine ski 17 hours
x-c ski 2.5 hours
snowshoe 1 hour
shovel snow ¼ hour
walk 28 miles
bike 78.6 miles
garden work 10 hours
nursery job 31.75 hours

After you finish this school year, do you plan on moving to a warmer area? I think you said you didn't have plans past the end of the school year when you first got back.

I don't know how an active outdoors woman can live in 20 below freezing. It is year-round biking weather here (Arizona) but, of course you have to bike at 5AM in the summertime and be done by 7AM!!!!

Just wondering if you will remain a teacher?

--Jan Svendsen, Arizona (one of your year-round followers)

I have no plans to leave this beautiful, cold area. My home is here and I love the cold. I much prefer the negative 10 to positive 25 degree range and the cold does not limit my activity. As long as I can dress for the weather appropriately, I'm happy.

As for teaching, I plan to return, at this time, for a few more years, I think. I'm always open for ideas and sometimes our best laid plans get changed for some reason. But, at this time, all is status quo.