March 26, 2005

With the first few days of less than freezing weather, the rumors of spring abound. The first glimpse of the Redwing black bird, and the swelling of the pussy-willow catkins all serve to quicken our hearts, and renew our anticipation of the season. The first warm days are inevitably followed by late season snow storms, and this only makes the promise of redemption a more urgent affair. We tend to get some of the deepest snow in March, but it doesn't last for long.

The first spring flowers have such a powerful impact on our outlook. To take the time to notice the first blossoms, their early arrival, is to take the time to acknowledge life itself.

So, it's off to walk the By-Pass road, past the corn stubble in the barren field. John Reid has his maple sugar hose strung along the lane, and it seems like a good year for sap. We'll keep our eyes peeled for any small growing things. It's still early, and we still have patchy crusted snow everywhere, but we hope to find some hints of the coming spring.