It is an absolutely spectacular February day today. The sky is cerulean blue, the light is crystal clear, the lawn is waking up and sprouting green tufts around the edges, and the blackberry brambles are sending advance scouts over the fence into my yard.

I am observing all this (on the right) from my home office window, wishing I were outside. It’s still a tad cold – my thermometer reads 42 degrees – so it’s not really shirtsleeves weather, in spite of the glorious sun spilling over the yard. Still, I’d prefer to be raking leaves, pruning roses and shrubs, and pulling our hyperactive weeds.

Panda has decided something is living in our woodpile, and is spending part of each day barking at it. She’s probably right, there’s a little heap of some sort of droppings near it. I hope it’s not a raccoon! Our doggie is a little too brave for her own good, an actual encounter with a wild animal would teach her a few things.

Spring’s hesitant return to the Puget Sound region shouldn’t be an insulated, behind-glass experience. I think a lunchtime walk will become part of my routine on work-at-home days. Panda would love it. My waistline would definitely appreciate it. My frame of mind would improve! The only downside would be the requirement to come back home and return to my electronic workday window on the world.