JULIE ANN STEVENS

Ten reasons to love Minnesota — and especially Lake of the Isles — on the last day of February 2010.

1.  Puddles are taking the place of icebergs.

2.  People and pets have ear-to-ear grins for complete strangers.

3.  The lake still doubles as a hockey rink —

4.  — and a cross country ski trail —

5.  — and a fishing hole.

6.  A man runs by in shorts —

7.  — and a tank.

8.  Someone stops to photograph a filthy crusty black snow bank —

9.  — and another uses a gloved finger to write a message in a surprisingly virgin stretch of white —

10.  “Have a nice day,” punctuated by a smiley face.