Happy March First! (a couple of hours early)

Four of the six months I'm spending in the Panhandle have passed now.  Two to go.  And as we enter March, month of my only child's birthday, my mother's 85th, St. Patrick's Day and the coming of Spring (HA!  Not in Chicago....) I have some interesting tidbits to share with you:

POPULAR BELIEFS in MARCH

There are many superstitions about March. We often hear that "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." This means that the first day of March is often stormy, and the last day is mild and warm. Another saying is, "April borrowed from March three days, and they were ill." This refers to the first three days of April, which are generally rough and blustery like March. A third saying calls the first three days of March "blind days" because they are "unlucky." If rain falls on these days, farmers supposedly will have poor harvests.

Source - World Book Millenium 2000

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Cold Be Damned

I don't care if it is only high 50's; I am determined to walk the beach today.  It's sunny.  I'll survive.  (And I lament how wimpy I've become against the temperatures after having wintered away from Chicago these past years....whereas I used to only feel cold if it dipped below the 30's, now I shake and shiver in the 50's.  I admit it;  I've acclimated.)

Want to come along?

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We'll cross onto the beach by Beachside II and Finz restaurant...

But we won't see anyone in this weather at the concession stands....

And only a few brave souls sheltered from the wind on the beach...

But the sea is as blue/green as ever....

And glistens....

(Ooooo, enlarge this one...it's stunning!)

Just a very narrow sand path to walk, the remainder of the beach being too soft to negotiate any traction...

But we could wave-watch all day....

Mesmerizing...

Let's walk down the other way, because what's that I see....

(I feel like I'm writing a children's book...)

Little kite-flyers.

And a few more brave souls (although I've used one of those beach cabanas and they are toasty!)

And my little momento....the sole shell I saw on the beach amid fowlprints....quite a rarity, as the sand here is known for it's white purity and shell-less softness.

And by the way, I posted this while getting a headache and an ulcer watching Canada versus USA in the Olympic Gold hockey game....overtime and all....and now my headache is even bigger.  After an incredible USA tie, Canada wins in overtime.  :(

I need aspirin.

But I'm a good sport:  Congratulations, Canada!