SPRING!!!

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

I'm so glad winter is over, one quote wasn't enough!!

So... spring is here and it's time for winter cleanup. It was actually quite cool yesterday, but today is supposed to be 50 and sunny! I did a LOT of pooper scooping again yesterday (how does one smallish dog make so much poop?), I rejoiced that my former neighbor and his two chows were gone as I cleaned up the area of lawn nearest his house (for the last time!!! Every pile I scooped, I said, "Never again." -- it's the little things that bring us joy).

I raked the grass -- it's nearly as smooth as glass from the weight of the snow. It looks much happier now and ready to green up.

All my crocus are coming up yellow which is a bummer. I don't love yellow flowers much anyway, AND I bought a bag of "mixed". Only about 10 have bloomed so far, so maybe I'll get some pink and purple ones soon?

I lost the tops of several rhododendrons, but the plants themselves are still alive, so they'll come back (though they probably won't bloom this year, darn it -- since they create the buds for spring in the previous fall).

And -- WOW!!!! -- branches are everywhere!! Birch trees (and pines, but we don't have any on our property. My DH has a personal vendetta against pine trees) were especially hard hit in the ice storm. We lost a couple out back completely, and the ones who lived look like spears with little nubs sticking out. Will be interesting to see how they do.

DH proved it was spring by whipping out the chainsaw. Oh, yes he did! And, down came those broken birch trees. Vroom, vroom... I swear he grunts like Tim "the Toolman" Taylor when he's out with his "toys".

I hear rumors that the bears are waking up as well, which is a little early for them. I don't usually start bringing in my feeders at night until the end of April, but am considering doing it now.

The chipmunks are awake and tormenting Dakota, we somehow picked up one big, fat gray squirrel at the feeders (we usually only have red squirrels), the birds are singing up the sun in the morning (I hear my cardinal pair even now -- I wish they would visit in the sunlight, and not just at dawn and dusk), I'm keeping an eye on the tree where a bird make her nest last year. I sure hope she does it again!

And, in no time at all (end of May), Pillar Place will once again open for business (and I can take out that silly Swallowtail Pupa that's been in my basement since AUGUST and put it outside to hatch). Ahhh... the circle of life. We won't discuss the voles... grr...

How did you celebrate spring?

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You Are Blooming Flowers

You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future. You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions. You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane. You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.

What Part of Spring Are You?

Well... not really. But the picture is pretty!!

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