It's Warm Out Today

It was a beautifully warm day today and even though it rained for an hour or so, it was wonderful to be outdoors. This morning, before breakfast, I sat on the back steps and just listened to the birds. As I sat there, two hummingbirds buzzed past me on their way to the feeder and at least one hundred gold finches flocked into the garden to begin their daily repast. This is clearly my favorite time of day and I could sit outside for hours sipping my coffee and just watching the avian activity in the backyard. All of the trees, including the plum tree pictured above, are sprouting leaf buds. Even plants that have looked dead for months are coming back to life.

Before the rains came, we mixed up several loads of our special garden mix and prepared the vegetable beds for the spring planting next weekend. As we gazed into the tallest trees surrounding the property, we could see the silhouettes of a flock of cedar wax wings. I expect they had just finished stripping the trees of holly berries, a spring ritual here in these parts.

And so begins the cycle once again. I suppose it is the cycle of life. But I think of it as the cycle of expectation and anticipation as I notice each new bird, each unfurling leaf, each plant coming back to life, and each new flower that I did not notice last year. It keeps my senses sharp, makes me grateful, and excites me about tomorrow.