Outside the Friends Diner, which straddles the Syracuse neighborhoods of Eastwood and Lyncourt, promise of BBQ season.

The Syracuse TV station weather guy said Wednesday morning shall bring one last snow.

He called it the last gasp of winter, as a matter of fact.

I hope so.

As I walked with Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, this afternoon prior to the last snowy hurrah, I kept my eyes open for any signs of spring.

And the first one, serendipitously so, was in fact a sign. Placed outside the Friends Diner, it advertised the weekly chicken barbecue to come.

I closed my eyes and imagined the smell of food well-charred, eaten outside, sitting happily in the sun.

A block later, I spotted the front yard tree, below.

I do believe those are buds up there in the branches.

I closed my eyes and imagined the smell of leaves and blossoms, emerging…