Well, some of our 3 inch snow melted, but now it's snowing again. When the ground was all white day before yesterday, the pair of mallards who usually hang around for free lunches around nesting time came back to Chez Lauterbach to dine. Everything else was covered, but here's wheat, cracked corn, milo and stuff like that. Big excitement on the part of the big people. Is that a sign of spring? Can't be. Garden is mushy muck, wasn't tilled before pro football season started, and I'm hoping I have enough leaves to do a Ruth Stout no-till garden this year. I usually plant on St. Patrick's Day. Should have planted shallots last fall. At least my chile seeds are germinating. Hurray for them! Margaret L