What a difference a week makes

 We left last Tuesday morning for eastern Kansas, and the aspens weren't leafed out, and the pasqueflowers were trying to protect themselves against the cold.  When we returned on Sunday, the aspens are green, the pasqueflowers are fully open, and the holly is blooming.  

I swear to you I am not making this up.  It was 95 degrees both days we were in Manhattan, Kansas.  I wasn't the only one griping about the temperatures.  The only saving grace was the wind, which kept the humidity to almost tolerable levels.  

Aaron (24) texted last night around  8:15 that there were three bears down at the pond below the Whites' house (20).  He was seeing them on his outdoor cam, one dark, two light. I'm assuming that's the same mama bear and two cubs the Fickerts saw last week below the lower pond.  MFLers, they are out and about, so be aware.

We hiked up Veenstra's trail yesterday, and there isn't a speck of snow to be found.  There are, however, water ponds from snow melt, and Dempsey found the muddiest one, of course, to plop down in.