At last another sunny day after a rainy Sunday and heavily overcast Monday, both days bringing in windy, much cooler temperatures. Our brief flirtation with warmer days and clear skies over, it seems, for the present. The thermometer dipped to the freezing point last night, and although this morning was bright and clear, it was also cold.

But since we were planning to go out this afternoon, we decided for an earlier ravine walk and set off well geared with warm jackets, head coverings and woolen gloves. And oh yes, our sturdily reliable cleats pulled on securely over our boots. Both the boots and the cleats are well slathered in dry mud, and today's outing just added to the coating.

To venture out even at this late stage after spring's arrival is to risk a slide and a fall, and whatever would result from either, so we feel it's prudent to continue wearing the cleats, and we're not the only seasoned ravine trekkers who continue to do so. Though truth to tell, we failed to see many people out walking the trails in the past several days.

The ravine's reputation for its springtime transition gives many people pause for second thought, that they would vastly prefer to avoid the mud and the still-remaining ice and snow conditions that pose such a challenge to balance on downhill forays.

They're missing unexpected treats. We consider them treats, in any event. This morning we had the first sighting of the very first of the spring flowers that erupt from the forest floor. Hard to believe since frost hasn't quite departed its depth of presence in the soil, but there they were, a small colony of delightfully bright yellow coltsfoot flowers.

Elsewhere, bright green mosses have been freed from the weight of snow and ice that kept them prisoner over winter. Woodpeckers have been busy in the ravine, rat-a-tatting contentedly away, and chickadees and nuthatches flitter about everywhere. We even saw a goldfinch for the first time this spring.