With a slight crispness in the air and a thin glistening frost covering the stretches of grass that have emerged from beneath the rapidly melting snow, James and I set out on our early morning walk together. As we quietly strolled down the road, the sound of rushing water and the chirping of robins filled our ears. A little further down, the sun broke through the woodlands, casting rays of filtered sunshine ‘cross our path. I looked up and spotted a bluebird perched on a tree. The glorious sights and sounds heralding the coming of spring. Such a joy to take in nature’s beauty early in the morning. Quiet. Peaceful. I love this time of year, the earth awakening after its long winter’s rest. I often wonder if people who live in a warm, sunny climate year ’round appreciate nature’s bounty, see, smell, and feel it’s beauty as we Northerners do, when they are surrounded by it most days of the year?
I look forward with great anticipation to the activities we can do with the dogs – more walks, longer walks, never wondering if the roads have a covering of black ice. Romps in the woods together for hours. I daydream about spending time tending my perennial gardens, adding new plant species and increasing the beds. While I spend hours in the gardens, the dogs hang out on their wooded hillside scouting for “wild things” that scamper through the woods. And, the lazy paddling treks in our kayaks down the Connecticut River. A trip to Maine, more kayaking there. So much to look forward to as the seasons unfold.