Spring is here in our beautiful Green Mountain State.
The chickens are laying again, our weeping cherry tree next to our front door is loaded with blossoms and honeybees, and the robins have returned.
Growing up I used to dislike Spring. I think it was because ‘stick season’ seemed endless and in April everything is even more brown than normal, given the abundance of mud after the snow melt and rain. It felt long, and I just wanted greenery and a pool to jump in.
Isn’t it fun to watch yourself evolve?
I’ve gone from someone who, up until 5 years ago, would proudly exclaim “Fall is my absolute favorite season, EVER!” Nowadays, I’ve come to recognize that I love all the seasons. I don’t really have a favorite anymore. They’re all unique and beautiful and gift us different things. And the honest truth is that I would miss the changing seasons if ever I lived somewhere where they weren’t so dramatically different. The older I get, the more I deeply admire, and even crave, the changes in nature. I look forward to them. They’re rejuvenating, refreshing and inspiring. I love the first red maple leaf as much as I love the first lilac bloom. I adore thunderstorms rolling in across the Adirondack’s as much as I love nor’easters and a mug of raspberry hot cocoa in February.
It’s all about perspective.
Speaking of perspective…
On April 8th our house was directly in the line of totality for the solar eclipse.
For weeks, we teachers shared with our students the excitement and awe of this momentous occasion. We talked about the sun, the moon, space, Baily’s beads, ‘the diamond ring’, and solar flares. As parents, we saw our kiddos came home from school with eclipse glasses and fun facts about animal behavior. Our local businesses prepared for all of the extra tourism and traffic with eclipse t-shirts and special ice cream flavors.
The day of the eclipse, Carl smoked pork belly and ribs, I made eclipse bread and cake, and we had ourselves a porch party with family. The local news live streamed and neighbors gathered and cheered simultaneously as our world went dark for 3 minutes in the middle of the day. Our solar lights went on, ALL the mosquitoes came out at once, and I instantly cried. It was unlike anything else I’ve experienced in my lifetime. It was magic. It was a gift. It was a true celebration.
It’s moments like that where you realize how small you are in a giant, amazing, universe.
A few days after the eclipse I got to experience another momentous occasion in Vermont. The return of the peepers. It always makes me smile when they arrive because it feels like a little present. Like they’re singing “warmer days are near! Listen to us cheer!”
As I picked up the kitchen after supper, I noticed the sunset was gorgeous and pink. Immediately, I went to our back deck to snap a photo (because, yes, I’m one of those people) and I heard them down in the ravine behind our house just as loud as could be. And so I stood there, quiet and content, wrapped in a blanket I’d crocheted the winter before, and listened to the peepers and watched the sun set.
What better way to welcome Spring in Vermont?
One Response
Well said as always!🥰