Where icicles hung the blossoms swing
Despite the measurable snow and the freezing temperatures within the past week, that quintessential symbol of hope "Spring" has finally sprung. Here's what I love about spring:
Those early days as the sun starts to return when, if you breathe deeply and slowly and hold really still, you can actually watch the grass grow greener by the minute.
Shirt sleeves. One more example of how everything is relative. In September 60 feels chilly and moves one to grab a jacket. In March, as soon as it gets above 45 it's time for short shirt sleeves to welcome back the sun.
Crocus. Daffodils. Tulips. Forsythia. Just for starters. Soon, flowering plum. I love the tangible evidence that something so apparently dead can show new life and in a big, beautiful, colorful way. I especially love how the blossoms don't shrink or bow under the fallen snow, but burst their bright shows of color up through snow with a hint of wanton rebelliousness.
Tossing out the alarm clock and waking up to the birds (not in the Hitchcock sense...these are just happy, harmless little nesting birds). I don't even mind that they wake up earlier and earlier--and earlier--clear into summer.
Warmth. Through a sunny window. On a blanket lying on the grass. Against the brick on the southern exposure of my house. This warmth seeps in and thaws even the coldest and darkest parts of my soul.
Moderation. Stuck between the chill of winter and the heat of a Utah summer, spring offers just the right mix of temperatures. The seasons we have here are good for people like me who have short attention spans.
Let there be light. Despite the percentage of Finnish blood running through my veins, I need light. I am always relieved to kiss the SAD good-bye and fully embrace the light again at the end of a long dark winter.
Spring really awakens much more than just the flowers, grass, plants and trees. Spring arouses every one of your senses. Watch the renewal of life. Feel the texture of warmth. Listen to the return of the birds and the bees. Taste the breath of the sun. Smell sweet daffodils, soft cherry blossoms and perfect lilacs.
Kites, kids playing outside again, a break in the silence of winter, my 10-year-old wearing her swimsuit and cleaning off the slip-n-slide as it warms to mere 50, bubbles blowing, digging down deep in the warming soil. It's all good!
Happy Spring!
Comments
Love your tribute. I love spring, but I'm not ready to tackle the yardwork that needs to start. I totally missed dumpster days, so now I will have to find a new way to get rid of all the yardwaste that doesn't fit in the green can. Maybe next week I'll get that springy motivation.
Did I totally kill the mood of your blog?
Beautiful writing. I especially loved the image of the flowers being wantonly rebellious! Ahh, spring! Makes you want to sing "Here Comes the Sun."
I am missing Spring. Lubbock has trees that have bloomed but the grass is still trying to turn green (the grass usually turns green in early February). Alas, we did have about 1" of snow last week. I made my one and only snowball for the season.
Last October we planted nearly 100 bulbs in our new flower bed. Because the winter was so dry and mild, all my bulbs suffered and only a few have sprung up. They are so tiny and only one has bloomed. It is the sorriest looking flower bed we've had in 7 years.
So, y'all will have to use your green thumbs for me. There's always next year... If ever I get a free Saturday, I might plant some new flowers just to have something growing.
Julie--thank you. I love the word wanton and any time I can couple it with rebelliousness I'm a happy girl.
Lyle--I left the "weed" in because until you all came along my "garden" was bare but for the weed. It looks better now, thank you.
Today is a gloomy day and I'm hungover with Benadryl and Allegra, so I'm glad I wrote that when I was a little more chipper.
I love the scenes of people DEFYING the cold, going outside anyway, because the calendar says it's spring.
You are my sister because I too am smitten by the dash mark (-). I think in dashes. I love the northwest (hailing from the beautiful Willamette Valley, but I adore Seattle). I have always loved the movie "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead" even though I have never seen it--the title alone merits my admiration. I also love Loreena McKinnitt and "Eats Shoots & Leaves" and I'm just dying to read this!)
You are my superior in that you are creative enough to have named a child Piper. Beautiful.
And did I mention how much I'd love to see some of your quilts?
Blog on sister friend!
But speaking of the birdies. Thinking about lying there awake and listening to the birdies in the morning also reminded me that soon we will be lying there awake and listening to the crickets in the night--another favorite pastime of mine. It's not that I can't wait--because it would be a shame for spring to pass too quickly--but the promise of summer nights will get me through more days like today.