My friend, Susan, invited me to go along when she took her dog for a walk on Sunday.  There is a dog park along the Mississippi river in south Minneapolis and there was a lot of activity.

This is the first time I've been within a stone's throw of the Mississippi.  It was much more docile (and brown)  than I had expected.  I've spent quite a bit of time around the Redwood River and the Minnesota River, so it was about time I met the Mighty Mississippi.

It felt wonderful to be back out in nature again.  It's been a long winter.  The dogs greeted one another in the style one might expect while their owners stood and smiled proudly.  (I have to admit I get a little embarrassed watching them, but then, I'm a cat person.)   Oh! And guess what.  We saw flowers.  Little white, wild ones.

It seems like the trees, the ground, and the water were all the same shades of neutral.  But I have a feeling that's about to change.