Winter and Spring

I have been longing for spring and to be outside in the garden… but we aren't quite there yet.  It has been cold and windy.  That wind deters my longing to go outside.  The cozy fire in the stove is where I'm going to be for a little longer.  It feels like winter and spring have gone to battle; I'm not worried though, try as it might, winter can't prevail forever; spring is right around the corner.  Eddie has spring break next week, after all.  It will surely warm up then right?

We have done some spring cleaning inside and out, and that feels really good.  I got our kitchen cabinets, refrigerator and pantry cleaned out, and Steve got the outside cleaned, raked, swept and ready for gardening.   We have had a couple of nice spring snow storms that have brought some much needed moisture, and then it melted quickly into the ground, and within a day we were  seeing a little of that green grass we've been longing for.  The meadow larks started singing last week. I love the sound of them;  to me it is a sound of hope and joy. 

Like my longing for spring, I have also been impatient for spring flowers; I decided to induce my own springtime in the house anticipating the outside will follow soon enough.   Steve bought me some flowers, and I clipped and arranged them into all variety of jars, vases and glass bowls.   And now I have the beginning of my spring-time garden.  They bless me every time I come into the dining room and kitchen.

See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.

 The fig tree forms its early fruit;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Solomon 2:11-13