“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
– Thomas Merton
Spring
Searching for Signs of Life
No one would argue – at least not up this neck of the woods – that this has been a long, long winter. So when I went walking on a recent sunshiny day, I went searching for signs of life – Spring life! And here’s a small sampling of what I found.
One of two brave little wild crocus poking its head up
among the dead grass and leaves.
Bunches of daffodils were just waiting for a little more sunlight, a little more warmth. While I didn’t find any in bloom yet, there were truly “crowds of daffodils” everywhere, in people’s yards, by the river, in the midst of wilder areas I passed, ready to grace us with their golden trumpets.
Hiding and shy within the shade of an old abandoned garage, these snowdrops just pushed aside the dead leaves — I may be small, but I am mighty!
Here and there in yards that would soon have busy people raking and clearing and mulching were occasional small bunches of crocus in bloom.
“Never stop pedaling to power your dreams.” ~Terri Guillemets
You pedal, little crocus. You pedal!
Spring … we’re waiting …
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
~Hal Borland
Happy Spring!
First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus —
Crocus.
~Lilja Rogers
What’s Blooming
Despite it being March, we in the Northeast have experienced record high temperatures while other parts of the U.S. have experienced severe weather conditions never seen in their areas before.
Locally, that translated to the blossoming of flowers, trees and shrubs that would not have normally been seen for at least another month. The photos here were actually taken a week ago – I’m just getting around to posting them – and by now – March 27, it’s likely the magnolia flowers have fallen to the ground and the tree is budding. 
But the sunny daffodils continue to send new flowers and the myrtle is here to stay. (Well, here until the deer may wander down that particular street.)
Despite rising to a chilly 32˚, we’re warmed by sunshine and a clouded, rich blue sky. By afternoon, we all want to go out and play. It’s finally Spring!
“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
Still A Dreamer 