The Red Oak Tree-- Winter or Spring?

This young red oak holds on to the 2012 leaves just as it held them last fall when I first blipped it. Truly these are the last leaves to fall off... and the pussy willows are just starting to show their soft grey catkins. I have three black pussy willow shrubs with dark red stems that have been out for weeks. Awoke this morning to 7ºF (-13ºC) Everyone the humans and the trees agrees that this is abnormally cold for late March.
Come on, Red Oak, throw off your old clothes and welcome spring 2013!

Subtext: Week Seven Begins
Renovation and Elf report for today is brief, I think. No regular activity because Elf # 2 has finally been able to welcome his 4th daughter into the world at 8:15 this a.m. So, he's home enjoying fatherhood, or so Elf #1 reports. Both these elves take fatherhood very seriously. This afternoon Elf#1 came by with new hoses for the washing machine.
The installation of the hoses is rather funny. It is a stackable laundry with the washer on the bottom. There is about a foot clearance between the dryer on the top and the ceiling. Because the machine is in a close space Elf #1 must climb up over the back, across the top and get down to the floor on the other side. Quite an Olympic feat to say the least.
He brought his child's cute babysitter with him.[Referred to as a hottie, I believe]. I did verify that she was NOT the girl friend to whom Elf #1 now refers emotionally as his "common law wife". He will not try to get the $40,000 from her or even part of it. He feels she needs it to start a new life. He talks fondly of her.
Yesterday afternoon at quitting time the cute babysitter brought Elf #1's 12-year-old daughter, K. here to view the gorgeous, huge hotel-like shower that her Dad has built. She's a beautiful rosy-cheeked, little girl, happy and sweet. She's had a recent haircut and the only blond now is a streak in front that doesn't look too shocking. $330 in correction work went to the stylist. The Elf says she's missing her 9-year-old "sister" who left to live with her mom.
Elf#1 looks very much calmer and less "shocked" today.
Tomorrow might be a 'normal' work day if #2 shows up to help with the heavy work of installing the bench into the shower wall.