The Chill Is Gone

In these, the last hours of winter 2011, our latest news comes from the garden right in the front of our house. Yesterday, as we were exclaiming over how fast last week's piles of white concrete are now slushy piles of ice crystals (that make horrible snowballs), Jay suddenly pointed to the ground, nearly incoherent.

"Look! Look!" And there, racing to be the first growers to come back in the spring were the beautiful, exquisite pointy tops of daffodils.

Yes, it was a long, cold winter. Why do you keep on asking that question?

Which brings up a wonderful point. Yesterday morning, I had a conversation with one of my authors, Vivian Moore. Vivian wrote the book about the ruffed grouse that stayed for three years on the farm she shares with her husband. (See the book's cover below.)

"I've lived in New England nearly every minute of my life, 25 years here in the Upper Valley," I said to her as we shared signs of spring. "And I never fail to be amazed at how fast spring comes when it finally arrives."

Vivian, who's a nature watcher from way back, answered that she thought it was because those of us who would rather be outside than in become more observant over time. We see more, appreciate more.

And continue to be amazed.

This is the cover of Vivian's wonderful book,
PADDY: A RUFFED GROUSE CHOOSES OUR FARM.
It is available on Amazon.com