The changing time of year. But this year it is slow…or I am!
Not this year but last! My guess is these crocus will not be up for another two weeks or longer.
The back yard, a hill which faces north and is always slow to warm, is still 90% covered in snow. Several sugaring operations entirely missed making syrup in March for the first time ever. Snow still deep in most of the sugarbush. When the sun finally came out this week enough to warm things up, the sap flowed like crazy.
The view out the back window this morning!
Some great times on snow shoes, not too cold and not too hot. Even in the sun one day last week, however, the wind was brutal. My friend, Rob, reported skiing in wind chills below zero. Mud season will be hell this year, though the ice on the rivers has been forgiving and floods will probably be few and far between. Many are asking “Is it March or April?!?”
And our new solar panels heated the whole 60 gallon tank to over 150F. Everyday a bit more of the ground exposed, bugs flying, birds returning: what amazing changes all powered by the tilt of the Earth toward the Sun.
Last night lightning in the middle of the night, followed by booming thunder and rain hard enough to be heard even if most of it was falling on thick snow. No bulbs sprouting yet but pussy willows showing fuzz and we grilled burgers over the weekend. Several beds in the vegetable garden have begun to reappear, though planting early peas still seems weeks away.
I bought another bouquet of tulips this week, lovely on the table here in front of where I work and a reminder of what will be blooming in the weeks ahead.
Bits of winter and pieces of spring, all mixed together.
Still Learning To See 
Ah, John–I love how you find tidbits of wonder and fascination in EVERY kind of weather! 🙂
I have to counterbalance a lovely wife who can get pretty snarky this time of year!! Hugs, John