Spring at the Lake Shore

The ice is melted back about two feet by the shore of Crystal Lake except for the thin, clear patches around rocks and branches. If you look out across the entire lake, its the right color for water but its still substantial ice with a rough surface. That makes it look almost like the water in an oil painting...the right color, almost the right surface texture, but unmoving.

I took these pictures at noon today on the walk we shared (Charlie came too!) while Andy was on his lunch hour from working at home. That was about four hours ago. The temperature now is 65 degrees! And its sunny! It won't look like this much longer!

Spring!

Yesterday was our first day back from a lovely little respite to Arkansas for a long overdue visit with some of Andy's family. It was a sweet time of reconnection and rediscovery for us. And the fact that they are at least a couple of weeks farther into spring than we are didn't hurt any either! We were more than ready to soak up some sunny 70 degree weather and daffodils and forsythia and redbud. But look what I found in our yard when we got home! Crocuses and the fresh new shoots of our orange roadside daylilies! And note the absence of snow!

The Ice Departs

Crystal Lake: April 2, 2008. Fifty degrees and sunny! No April Fool's joke this time.

The Promise of Spring--Fulfilled!

We took a walk with Charlie just a little while ago and look what was waiting for us in the yard! Snowdrops! They come even before crocuses around here but I've never had any in my yard until we moved to the Cottage three years ago. I love their brave little bells bending to the wind and cold of March! Yes, it is only six days until the official first day of spring but it is a gray 40 degrees out there with a bit of a breeze. The kind of weather that makes you eager to put the kettle on for tea upon returning from a walk. I think I'll go do that right now!