Although the "official" first day of spring hasn't quite arrived, in my book, St. Patrick's Day marks the start of the season of green. Despite the still chilly weather (and wind!) there is no missing the evidence of spring: tender golden-green shoots peeking up through the sodden garden soil, swollen forsythia buds and the feeling that the sun is getting warmer.
It sure was one memorable winter....not too bad at all until the one-two punches of snow in February and it just didn't stop coming. The cold was brutal. Driving was particularly hazardous, with the narrowed streets, ice and mountainous snow banks that obstructed any clear view at an intersection. All that contributed to a lot of time not doing much after work. I just didn't have the fortitude to brave the miserable elements and go anywhere or do much of anything besides surf the net or read. Oh, I did lug in firewood, but otherwise, was undoubtedly a total couch potato, a cringe-worthy description but true nonetheless.
So this little glimpse of early spring means it is time to abandon the scourge of Facebook and get to some projects around the house and spending some time outdoors. I have a few overdue interior painting duties ahead of me, but waiting until it's just a little warmer to open the windows and let some fresh air in. And the dooryard -- now that the snow is starting to melt, the piles of sunflower seed hulls have emerged around the bird feeder and are now being tracked into the house every time someone comes in. The seed hulls, and some mud....which reminds me that I need to get the old pickup fired up to get some pea stone for the walkway.
The barn and house need some scraping, priming and painting, too. Old houses just don't hold paint too well. The barn is stained and has been a little less maintenance-intensive, but this year it needs a little work, too.
When the remaining snow is pretty much gone from the north-facing slope I'll have the garden tilled and maybe for once, get the early crops in on time. Somehow the last of the lettuce crop always bolts, because it gets too hot.
And I would like to get all this done by June 1 to get an unobstructed summer of sailing in. No big deal, right?
