Impatient for Green

We have had almost two weeks of thaw.  Yesterday the thermometer made it past 60°F.  Today it's more seasonable, but it still melting out there.  I get a little depressed when I'm driving around town.  Downtown, most yards are almost empty of snow.  The light is definitely stronger and longer, and the avian population around my yard is definitely excited.  Yet my yard is still full of stuff that used to be snow.  It's now more of a dingy blanket of  coarse ice crystals.  It's only when I compare then and now pictures that I see progress.

This was my yard 6 weeks ago:

From 2011-02-02

From 2011-02-02

Here it it is today:

From 2011-03-19

From 2011-03-19

From 2011-03-19

There IS a big difference.   I  can see that, when I compare the pictures.

There is hope, however.  I spied this on my way in from getting the mail.

From 2011-03-19