Monday

The excesses of early spring! Or, more accurately, of the day before the official start of spring! It's sunny and beautiful, a touch cool, but with a promise of good days ahead. I have a perfect retort to the usual Ed comment when we read the news and feel the hopelessness that comes from.... well, reading too many news analyses. He'll say --let's go to New Zealand. Neither of us has ever been to New Zealand and by now, I don't want the long flight there anymore than he does, but it's a statement that acknowledges a desire sometimes to just run from all that you see and hear.

But you can't get me to play that game now! Who wants to go to a country where Fall and Winter are the seasons just ahead? We're done with Fall and Winter (for now)! Imagine, going from one set of Falls and Winters to the next!

Spring begins tomorrow.

The little girls in the blue box are growing. One week old and they seem twice the size of when they first came. And oh, can they navigate their space: with speed and alacrity!







The bigger box is ready and waiting, but for now, we keep them in their little safe blue cradle.

Breakfast, in their company, in the sun room.





Ed is eating eggs today. All of a sudden, we have an abundance of eggs! Henny and Peach are going at it daily now and even Java throws in an occasional small brown egg. What were we thinking in getting additional hens??


We go for a walk to the local county park. We haven't much time, but we can't not go for a walk on this brilliant day.






The small pond is fully melted... Might the turtles be out on this sunny day?






They are! Spring is here a day ahead of itself!






Turtles and ducks, ducks and turtles...






As our path veers towards Lake Waubesa, I am stunned to see this sole fisherman, just at the point where ice turns to water. You could not get me to step onto the lake one foot from the shore.






Snowdrop pick up time! And no, she does not look to be three years old today. At least twice that! When did she get to be such a big girl?






We go to the park by the lesser lake, mostly unfrozen by now, though not completely so.






Oh, it's so good to have freedom of motion! To not worry about mitts and scarves and caps and snowpants! To romp and tell tales!





(yes, she loves bright colors!)





On our walk back to the car, we spot them! Oh, when you get to be a regular in the neighborhood, you know which yard will show them off first. Indeed! A plethora of snowdrops!






Back at the farmhouse, I remind the one and only Snowdrop with a big S that there are leftover cupcakes. We had talked about Ed loving leftovers. She reassures me now that she, too, loves leftovers. Cupcake leftovers.






Today the little cheeps are a week old. It's a good time to let Snowdrop give them a little pet. (Perhaps you notice that I am wearing sunglasses. That's because my prescription sunglasses came in the mail today -- advance birthday gift from Ed!  I'd never had prescription sunglasses before and I just love them to pieces! Bring on the sun! I am, for once, ready for you!)






Snowdrop wants first to touch cupcake. It's a humbling experience for both.






And so this is my good bye to winter. Dear winter... You gave us some spectacular days! See you in nine months. For now, step aside please. Spring is here.