Is This Winter's Last "Hurrah"?

A couple of days ago we could smell spring in the air.  Daffodils and ramps were pushing their way toward the sunshine, the buds on the trees were swollen, and my husband swears he heard a spring peeper.  But, now a few days later the ground is once again covered with snow.  This has been one of the snowiest winters on record for where we live in the southern mountains of western North Carolina.  What is most unusual, however, is that we have not been snow-free since mid-December.  In other words, it's been cold and I have the oil and firewood bills to prove it!  Needless to say, we are all ready for spring. Well, the forecast is for much warmer temperatures later this week and by the weekend it is supposed to be almost 60 degrees.  Perfect weather for the Organic Growers School which will be held in Asheville, NC this year (http://organicgrowersschool.org/).  Since I'm a board member, track leader, and exhibitor, I will be "working" a great deal, but I've scheduled time to attend presentations on small-scale poultry production, grass fed beef, and pasture management.