How do you make the mark of winter going into spring?

For me in the past week it has been hearing more bird activity at Northfield Square Mall in the mornings when I walk. In the food court, there are very tall palm trees. I would say some of these trees are as tall a two story house.

When I started walking in the middle of winter, you would hear one or two of these birds, maybe. But this past week I have been hearing – and seeing- more of them. The birds are beginning to pair up, calling for each other and flying about in that small tree-filled area. As I do my walk throughout the mall, I do not see or hear the birds. They stay in that small area. Hearing them makes me feel as if warm weather is about to get here.

Speaking of walking at the mall, I am beginning to notice more people are doing it. I am seeing all of the regular people who were there when I started. But now I am seeing others. It is girlfriends, couples, fathers and sons, and one set of girlfriends who has a young child in a stroller. It is getting a little crowded at times but this is a good kind of crowded. Everyone who is there is working on their better health – or in my case – to fit in skinny jeans by May.

Back to the topic at hand, which was sure signs of spring? Yesterday it was snowing when I took my son to his high school but by afternoon that snow was melted away. That is one of my favorite signs of spring. That means there is no great pile up of the white stuff, no long lasting snow on the ground to reflect the sun’s heat back to space.

And that can only mean sometime soon my husband will hoe a row for spring peas in the tradition of his grandmother. This year he will not do it in February as he has done in past years. It will have to wait for March. And March starts next week.

March signals the end of high school basketball. And it starts into the March Madness Final Four basketball tournament. How do my husband and his friends celebrate? They get-together on that first weekend of 24/7 games, play cards, drink beer and have a no-holds barred guy time.

By the time it is all over, well, spring has made definite inroads.

However, the best sign of spring by far is when I hear those four magical words.

“Pitchers and catchers report.”

Now starts the daily reports of Cubs and White Sox baseball spring training camp. Now we get to hear about who is playing where, if there are any spectacular last minute deals, how much is the MLB network is going to have to edit what Ozzie says in their new reality series called The Club. Oh yes, baseball is back!

Do you have any sure signs of spring?

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.