IT'S FINALLY HERE! SPRING, THAT IS!

I think we've finally crossed over into the wonderful new season called Spring. Let me show you a few pictures and I think you'll agree. All the old timers in central Wisconsin have been moaning about the extremely long, wet winter (snow and rain), and, believe me, they are humming a new tune now that the days are in the low 50's. It's amazing how attitudes change.

Our pond was free of ice last week. Only shortly later, the pussy willows began to blossom.

Karol and Sarge (now OUR dog...with full time responsibilities) can now enjoy some rest on the pier.

AND THE BIRDS ARE BACK.....

 

As soon as I hear "flicka, flicka," I know that spring is surely here. When the ground has thawed, they search for grubs and bugs.

This year the white-throated sparrow came right up to our kitchen window. They have such a nice song with "old, Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody."

While the gray, black, and red squirrels are with us all winter, their behavior changes in the Spring perhaps because they've begun to raise their young ones.

Brogan Albers, graduate of UWSP, active participant at Peace, a year-long English teacher in China, stopped by to talk about his engagement to Jacskie from the Philippines. We enjoyed some good conversation over good, central Wisconsin pizza and beer.

This afternoon I stopped by Andrew and Suzanne's new cottage. No swimming yet, but kayaks and paddle boat and canoes were out in the water. Not pictured is Rachel who was out in a kayak.

Still another sign of Spring is new life - Black Angus calves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And perhaps the most obvious sign of Spring are the flowers. Yesterday the first daffodil opened.

The crocus are small, but very easy to see.

While the pansies are from the garden shop in town, when planted in hollow oak stumps, they become extremely attractive.

These forsythia will open their buds tomorrow.

And let's not forget the garden. The radishes have just popped their heads.

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Strong stalks of rhubarb are bursting out of the ground.

The garlic spent the winter underground, but now with the weather above freezing, the garlic quickly grows.

The onion sets, planted as soon as the frost left the ground, have developed a root system and are beginning to send out their shoots.

I hope too that you are enjoying Spring

Spring for me is a wondrous time of the year. As I watched the snow melt and the green begin to show, I was also blessed to celebrate Easter. Easter is the BEST as we remember Jesus bringing life to the world through His death and life.