Signs of a Pending Change of Seasons

In the shadow of our well

Buds on the willow tree

Tiger lilies along the driveway

While my eyes are starting to crave the green of spring, I feel a little sad to see winter slip away.  I've loved the coziness of these cold days - hot cocoa, steaming soups on the stove for dinner.  A feeling of closeness and quietness and introspection.  Excuses to withdraw, stay at home and, perhaps, forestall the work of making new friends and building a new community.

But that time of hibernation is drawing to a close.  Soon it will be time to emerge and blossom into our new community.  I'm thankful for the slow warming that will occur over the next few months, the time to work slowly back into extroversion of summer.

I'm planning our garden and looking forward to taking the kite to the beach again and I can't wait to see what our yard looks like in the spring.  The thaw is beginning and will continue unabated until spring is in full bloom and summer is well on its way.