Can Spring be far?

Local character study #3: Black Squirrel looks over shoulder, oil on canvas board,  8" x 8"

We've sprung forward and I'm extremely grateful to have the one hour extension to my painting day.  The sap must be running because the rabbits have begun girdling my small trees and I'm almost ready to wage war.  But the squirrels as yet have no tulips to mangle, so I'm painting them as though they won't soon be my mortal enemies.