Spring fever doesn’t wait for spring

I am looking forward to the warmer weather that is forecast for this week. There are lots of outside jobs that need to be taken care of. As I have mentioned before, our larger plants tend to be hoarders. Give them anything made of plastic and they will be happy. They have built up quite a collection this year. Some of the more desperate ones will resort to using their flexible branches to slap me in a futile effort to keep their treasures.

Their rivals, the evil squirrels, are also hoarders. They stash their treasures inside the front porch soffit. We really do need to clean that area out before the next litter of baby squirrels appears. 

The soffit is the perfect place to raise baby squirrels. It is out of the wind and rain. Predators are easy to see. The only real drawback is when the babies come out of the nest. That fall to earth is dangerous for the little ones.  

It is too early to mess with the garden. Some years we set up the grow lights and start tomatoes and other crops inside before taking them to their forever homes in the garden. We aren’t doing that this year, although I did buy a package of spinach seeds that will soon find out that growing in a pot is preferable to lolling around on a rack of seed packages that are all screaming, “Buy me! You know you want to.” 

Even though spring doesn’t officially arrive until March 20, spring fever will hit on its own timetable.

The spring fever I am referring to is the burst of energy that comes when winter is finally and truly over. There is an overwhelming urge to clean everything in sight and take care of all those chores that didn’t get done over the winter because it was too cold and dreary.  

This spring also marks the birth of a new baby in the family. One of my daughter’s step-sisters, Rachael, had a baby girl last week. She named the baby Astrid. For the time being she is staying with Chrisie, my daughter’s half-sister. Both daughter Beth and Chrisie were with Rachael when Astrid made her appearance. Astrid is a healthy baby who will no doubt be cherished by her extended family. 

Astrid’s birth gave me an excuse to shop the baby aisles. I bought a sleeper and a couple of bows. I could have purchased so much more. All the frilly, girly outfits called out to me. Knowing that there were plenty of other people shopping for the new baby I resisted, but it wasn’t easy. 

Concentrating on outside chores and welcoming a new baby are far more pleasant than reading about how the virus dubbed COVID-19 is plotting to take over the world, or at least the humans.  

Working on outside chores is far more productive than listening to the political candidates that seem to believe that screaming will garner more votes than talking in a more reasonable volume would. Then, again, politics seem to be more of an us against them policy. Doing what is best for the people and the earth gets lost in the process. I do miss civility and unity. 

Spring may not be here yet but it won’t be long before it is. This warmer weather is just a tease. The aptly named snowdrops are up. They are the first flowers of mine to bloom. The early spring crocus, yellow winter aconite and the hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, will be the next to put on a show. I plan to enjoy the warmer weather while I have the chance.  

Winter isn’t over yet but the end is in sight. I only hope that the weather forecaster is correct and we will be blessed with warmer temperatures for a few days.