Today started with a pastel sunrise — through mist with plenty of frost on the ground but a clear sky above. By noon the temperature was over 70° F making for a georgeous day.
The signs of spring are here, I heard spring peepers last night when I left church, then again at the crossroads. I opened my window and listened as I drove along Cribbs Road. They are calling again tonight into a clear, starry sky. With reports of declining amphibian populations I was not sure they would still be here. I have only seen one of them, which someone caught and put into a jar at my grandmother’s house a long time ago. As I recall, the trick to catching them is to listen for their call as they are small, about the size of half a walnut meat and a brownish color. Their toes have sticky pads so they can climb almost anything. When they call they inflate the skin of their throat.
The daffodil buds are starting to color, suspect if tomorrow is as warm as today they will be bursting out.
In another sign of spring I washed the car, at least the portions I could reach, this morning. Between the warm sunshine and gentle breeze the clothes I washed and hung out were dry in a couple hours, even the denim jeans. Bode continues to protect our place from invading robins, chasing them when they come near the porch if he is out.
I dished up a bowl of soup and took it and an orange out on the porch to eat at noon. Bode joined me with a bowl of kibble. I had to shed some layers of clothing to get comfortable, it was a shirt sleeves kind of day.
Another cousin about my age passed away over the weekend from a massive heart attack. His wife is a long time friend. We had been planning to get together at the 40th anniversary of our high school graduation this summer. Instead I saw her at the funeral home this afternoon.
Spring!
