signs of spring

I haven't heard a robin singing or seen crocus growing...but I have seen signs that spring is coming to St. Petersburg. Yesterday the rooftops were covered by men with snow shovels. They were shovelling the melting snow off the rooftops and onto the sidewalk below (pay attention, pedestrians). We've had highs around 5C for the past two days. All the snow is melting. And, if the snow isn't shovelled off the roofs, it will melt and flood the buildings below. Hmmm...repair the roofs or employ masses of people to perform this dangerous task every year... You choose.

All last night the sound of heaps of snow and ice falling to the ground in a mighty whoosh could be heard. It wasn't the shovelers, it was just gravity pitching in. The drainpipes are melting, too. Many are as big around as a pasta pot. When enough meltage occurs, the ice falls with a might crack to the pavement below.

Spring is coming! Or, as a Russian friend said last night, "Mud season is here."