Signs of Spring

It is the middle of April, and there is clear evidence that spring is upon us:

My front garden is in full bloom with dancing pastel tulips and my beloved bleeding hearts. 

The various denizens of the little pond community outside our back doors have all returned from their winter homes, and so, as we open up the windows, it is common to hear the ducks and geese and redwing blackbirds and robins and mourning doves and killdeers.  The cattails are coming up from the depths, fresh and green, and the bullfrogs are out each evening serenading the lady frogs for all they are worth.

Here in the midwest, the pollen count is off the charts, and people around town are sneezing and sniffling and struggling with swollen, itchy, watery eyes.  The forecast for the weekend calls for rain, so that might help some.

The 3rd quarter report cards have been distributed, and my wonderful kids are beginning to see the end.  They are coming to that point in the year where they are ready to move on.  So much growth has happened, and they will be leaving me soon.  I think that all of us are feeling a little wistful about that.  I've had such fun with them, and they have been such eager and enthusiastic partners in the process of learning.  I will launch them on their way in about seven weeks.  I am awfully proud of their success, but I will miss them... 

I, once again, managed to prepare all the family taxes and get that off to the state and federal taxing authorities.  The added challenge this year was doing the final set of taxes for Master's father.  He always had his taxes done at a local tax preparer, but doing it ourselves saved us the nearly $300 fee that they always charged him.  I was nervous about the whole business, but TurboTax is my friend, and once we managed to gather up all the various receipts and documents, it seemed to go relatively smoothly.  I always fuss about "doing the taxes," and once it is done and filed, I feel as if spring can really begin, and I can relax and enjoy it. 

Our regular walks are no longer a battle with the weather.  We have way less trouble fitting it in while trying not to get caught in a storm, or having to worry about ice, or...  It is that precious sliver of time in our seasonal rounds where the temperatures are mild and pleasant and the time spent outdoors is comfortable and enjoyable. 

Nothing too exciting in all of that.  I know.  It simply is what it is -- the passages of our lives, and the acknowledgement of how good it is to be waking up from the long, long winter to another spring's promise.

swan