New  Spring

So many things have been written about Spring,

The flowers that bloom, the birds that sing,

What more can I add to the words that are written?

Except to tell you that I'm really smitten' _ with Spring !

There's just something about the newness of things,

That spring in your step, and how your heart sings,

The cute baby rabbits, the robin's new nest,

Oh, and the flowers and all of the rest;

The new shades of green, and the blue of the skies,

The song of the birds at the mornings sunrise,

We all say goodby to the winter's gloom,

And greet a new world that's beginning to bloom....Ah, Spring !....jen

 What is it about Spring that makes us so eager for it to come each year ? Is it the promise of new life, of an earth reborn? This transformation from bleak and cold, into an almost magical place of blooms and birds and fresh new growth;

Sometimes it comes quickly and seemingly overnight, one morning you wake up and see your first crocus, delicate purple blooms, was it there yesterday ? I don't think so...it's almost as though it sprang up "just for you", all at once you see the robin searching for earthworms, brought to the surface by the Spring rains, the doves, in pairs, cooing to one another, you see tree branches with swelling buds, and fresh green patches on the lawn.

The sky is bluer, the air is cleaner, white fluffy clouds float in a sky that looks cleaner and softer than before,,,You kneel and place your hands in the rich warm soil, it feels good to be here again, with the earth, the warmth of the sun, you don't even mind when the sprinkles of rain hit your shoulders, knowing once and for all that the seasons have come "full circle", and Spring is here and now !

Wow ! Talk about March winds ! We are sure having them today ! We had tornado warnings and watches until almost one pm, most of the counties in the area were included...Now the sun is shining and the sky is that awesome blue you get after a storm, with large fluffy clouds that are being blown about by the the strong winds.

The winds are still still gusting to 45 miles an hour, and it often sounds like the the roof will lift off...The worst of the storms are over, but we are left with the WINDS OF MARCH !

 Today we heard the call of the outdoors, and we answered it ! Piled into the truck, drinks, snacks and camera, and headed to the lake; The sun was shining and it was a warm sixty degrees, but the wind was really blowing!.

We stopped first at one of the roadside areas that front the lake, watched the wind buffet the water, small white caps and waves on the water. The geese that winter over here were sunning themselves on the grass, or feeding in the water, undisturbed until we started walking towards them, then they gave out honking alarms to warn the others. We drove to both boat docks, at the first one there were at least a dozen trucks with boat trailers, fishermen braving the wind to get in a day of their favorite sport, at the west boat dock, which is a little more secluded we saw only one truck and trailer, we got out of the truck and sat on the grassy bank and watched the play of wind on the water, and talked about coming back to this quiet and peaceful spot at another time, when the conditions are just right for dropping a line in the water. it was a good afternoon and made us both yearn for warm summer days......jen

This morning reminds me of the damp misty mornings in Florida, the same hazy look to the landscape, even the same smell, wet earth and damp leaves; The background is faded, the sky is the same color from the ground up, like a veil has been placed over all.

Of all the trees in the neighborhood, the oak trees are the only ones that have retained their leaves through the winter, My oak in the backyard has leaves of burnt umber and seinna, and are heavy with moisture this morning.

As I watch a beautiful bluejay perches on one of the limbs and sits surveying the area, flying now and then to different points in the yard, almost as if he is scouting the terrain, staking out his territory.

I see green leaves of prennials coming up through the leaves that have protected them through the winter....The ice is gone now from the pond and the water looks dark and cold, no sign yet of the bullfrog that live's there, he is still there on the bottom, waiting and dozing, waiting as always for Spring !

I went out looking for Spring today,

searching for signs to point the way,

The air was warm, the breezes mild,

and what I found brought forth a smile.

Underneath the layer of melting snow,

little green leaves are beginning to grow,

The branches of dogwood and crabapple too,

have little buds that are peeking through !

Snow lingers in my flowerbeds,

it's still too soon for their sleepy heads,

I know that Spring can be false or true,

that skies can turn from cloudy to blue;

But as I walk this wet and muddy ground,

I'm pleased inside at what I've found,

A promise of hope, and things to come,

and "signs of Spring "?, Well I found some !......jen

45 More days till Spring,and it's bitterly cold here today, with a high of 16 and a low tonight of 6 degrees ! With weather like this it's been hard for me to get excited about a garden, so I looked through my photos for inspiration and found these....

This was our first really big garden, I think we planted everything we could in the space allowed, a lot of hard work but so well worth it....

We planted chinese cabbage that year and did great, so beautiful and so tasty,wonderful in stir fry and salads....And of course I had flowers. they are wonderful in a garden.

So now I remember why I wait on Spring, and why I endure the cold Winter months, because without winter there would be no spring, and that would be a terrible thing...So I look through my pictures and I remember the sunshine, the feel of warm earth in my hands, the sights and scents and joys of the garden, and I will wait for Spring like I always do...and it will come,,,it always does....jen

I am beginning to think there will be no end to winter ! At least our winter, everytime we get a break in the weather, another storm arrives, seems the snow has been on the ground forever ! Today we had that kind of styrofoam snow, little particles of round pellets, our dog KD came in today covered with these tiny white pellets of snow;

We are under a winter advisory tonight and can expect another three to five inches of snow, Oh joy !, It pretty much looks like we will have snow all the rest of the week, with temps ranging between thirteen to thirty and as low as eleven degrees,,,

Oh well, what is they say we can't do anything about, death and taxes ? I think that should include the weather, Can't do anything but love it or complain about it ! Ah, just let it snow !

"The day is quiet, there is no sound except the creak of frozen boughs".......jen

Upon the frozen ground the birds still seek forgotten seed,

mice nibble on whatever is there, they are not picky in their need.

In the tangle of the arbors vines, under cover of the leaves,

small birds have found a haven here, and the mourning dove sits and grieves.

The creatures know Winter and accept their fate,

they adapt to the cold and lack of seed, they bide their time and wait;

For Winter with her cold harsh hand, that brought this change upon the land,

will soon begin to lose her grasp, this cold and frozen world won't last;

When the days grow longer and the sun climbs high,

this frozen world will melt and die,

And Spring will open up her eyes, and awaken the sleeping earth,

and once again a season will die, and another is given birth !.......jen

 "Our Rocky Mountain Girl "

Just an old fashioned girl from the "foot" of the Rocky Mountain's,She has brightened our days with her journals of family and friends and adventures; her sometimes funny and always touching stories are a delight to read.

She shares these stories with all of us, generous and giving in nature she is a delightful addition to this online community; Tomorrow morning she starts another adventure with her husband and best friend, We are not here to say goodby to our friend, but to let her know that we wish them well and hope the weather and the roads are good for travel.

She goes out of her way to welcome new members to this site, always knowing just what to say....GROUP HUG'S FROM ALL YOUR FRIENDS !

She gives encouragement and support to all of us, she is one of those genuine people, a rare and treasured gem....

Safe journey my friend.....Jen