Spring will come along in its own time

I woke up to snow and ice this morning. I could hear the month of March cackling, “April fool. Just because the calendar says spring, it doesn’t mean anything. Mother Nature can do whatever she wants.” This was followed by uncontrolled and evil sounding laughter, or it would have been if months could talk.

The sun shining through ice covered branches is truly beautiful. The ice not sticking to the driveway is even better. 

The warmer temperatures of last week gave me an infusion of energy and the desire to clean out the flower beds. I also wanted to get a vegetable garden started, leftover foliage removed and a hundred other things necessary to make the yard presentable. I know it is too early for most of this. I did manage to pick up an entire bag of trash that the bushes and trees tried to keep for themselves. They don’t like it when I take their toys and take every opportunity to smack me in the face or grab my clothes.

A few weeks ago I bought a package of spinach seeds and planted them in a pot. The pot was so I could keep the plants inside and only bring them outdoors when the weather permitted. They have all sprouted nicely and have spent several warm afternoons on the side porch. 

I am hoping that moving the plants inside when I can’t keep an eye on them will discourage the squirrels, although I doubt if anything could faze those rodents. They have already begun making a cozy home on the front porch for their babies.

If I could convince them to leave my bulbs and other plants alone, I might not care if they nested in the eaves.

“April showers bring May flowers” is another saying that is applicable to this time of year. Listening to the news and talking to my daughter, Beth, it sounds to me that the April showers have gone overboard and began much too early. Massive flooding has blessedly avoided this area so far. There has been a lot of rain in Beth’s part of the world lately but she hasn’t had to camp out at work yet.

Pictures of the grands are showing up. This past week I have seen granddaughter Emma enjoying the watercolor paints my sister-in-law, Sue sent to her. Sue is an artist in her own right and creates some magnificent art. I am touched that she would share her passion with Emma. I am also surprised that Emma was trying to emulate the late Bob Ross with her narration on her latest masterpiece. I didn’t realize she knew who that was.

Grandsons, Jacob and Nicholas have been playing baseball. I have been told that Jacob is shaping up as a pitcher while Nicholas is a catcher. At first Nicholas turned away from the ball and consequently lost the protection of the padding. They have convinced him to face the ball head on and he is beginning to enjoy the game.

The old saying, “if March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb” didn’t quite work this year. It seemed to come in like the proverbial lion but I am wondering if the lion ate the lamb for lunch. The snow won’t last long if the forecast is the least bit accurate. The temperatures are scheduled to be all over the place and will surely change.

It may not be as warm as I would like but I have to believe the worst of the cold is over for awhile. As for April showers bringing May flowers, some of the little ones, like snow crocus, snowdrops and winter aconite are already in bloom. When it warms up a bit the rest will follow, each in their own time.