Spring Stirrings

The sky has been gently overcast all day, but the rush and rattle of yesterday's wind

gave way to stillness.

A mockingbird sang in the old appletree, a bluebird balanced on the tip of a maple twig.

I went around the gardens at dusk with the barn kittens in attendance.

Only another gardener would be excited by these small but very promising signs of spring.

Here a clump of lemon balm presents fresh aromatic leaves.

This Yellow Simplicity rose is the first to show swelling pink leaf buds.

My efforts to focus here were hampered by Sally the Kitten who wanted to help.

The southernwood has wintered well and has the tiniest fronds of silvery green like miniature tassels here and there on its branches.

The air was soft and balmy. Although there was no spectacular sunset there was a brief afterglow when the trees and barns stood in silhouette.

I heard the peepers tonight!

I sat on the front porch as evening drew in with soft greyed edges, a mug of green tea cherished in my hands.

The voices of the peepers rose and ebbed, audible even when cars drove by.

The air smelled of awakened earth and of the freshness left by a brief afternoon shower.

Coming inside when I could no longer see where I was putting my feet down in the pasture, I was welcomed by the homey scent of bread not long out of the oven.