Changing Seasons

I love watching the seasons change. Especially in these early days of transition. With high temps above freezing during the day, there has been significant melting of the record snow this winter brought. All that moisture in the air, and below-freezing temps at night means re-freezing. This is bad on my sidewalk in the morning, but it also meant that I saw trees coated with frosty whiteness as I was driving at 8:00 this morning. They were beautiful! I tried to get a few pics, but the camera on my phone isn't the greatest. Anyway, you'll have to take my word for it...it was beautiful!

I know there are a lot more signs of spring coming. And, coming soon! On March 19th of last year, I got a picture of the crocus in our yard. They were just about to bloom, and there wasn't a speck of snow in sight. In that same spot, right now, there is still a pile of snow that is 4' high. I think the crocus will have to come up through the snow this year (but, that's normal...last year wasn't).

I love winter, but if we didn't get any more snow this year, at this point, I'd be ok with that. I'm ready for a transition into spring, a new beginning.

March 5, 2011

“What a difference it makes to come home to a child!”
― Margaret Fuller

I mentioned yesterday that everything seems cold and dark and dead in winter in Minnesota, but that's not entirely true. You just have to look harder to see the life...Usually. There are always birds around, and every time a new coating of snow appears, so do the tracks of squirrels, rabbits and other critters.

But, there are other signs of life that make themselves known, very loudly and very clearly! The life of a newborn baby fills this house with sights, sounds, and wonder. (Between the car seat, bouncy-chair, diapers, crib, cradle, bins of clothing, changing table, dresser, blankets, etc., etc., Scarlett Rose Cayetano has also filled this house with STUFF! I had forgotten how much a baby “needs.” )

In Scarlett's short life I have already had a couple of those moments when a completely monotonous situation suddenly seems monumental to me. Seeing MY daughter walking through the grocery store with HER daughter the other day was one of those moments.

We had gone our separate ways to tackle our lists. When I went to find her again, I saw her across the store, and she looked like any other mom making her way through the produce department. For a moment, she wasn't just the person my daughter had become, she was a fellow MOM. She had a little BABY with her. If I hadn't know her, I might have wondered how old the baby was, if it was a boy or girl, if the baby was crabby or a "good" baby, if the mom could appreciate the journey she was just beginning. It's hard to put all the feelings that went through my head in that instant into words, but it was kind of amazing.

I am blessed to be able to witness and participate in this new chapter in Erica and Shane's life!

Hiatus No More!

Hello, all! (If there is anyone still reading, that is!)

I know it has been a long time, and frankly, the lack of pressure to post frequently (or at all!!) has been kind of nice. There were times at the farm that I thought to myself, "Oh, geez. I haven't blogged in DAYS! I'd better post SOMETHING." Sometimes it seemed like a chore or burden, but for the most part, knowing that people were actually reading it was a great motivator. The good-posting days were when I'd start writing something, and by the time I was done, even if the post was nothing like I would have imagined, I'd be really happy with it. It felt good to share a story, or a moment, or a feeling. On the not-so-good-posting days, the really long, hot, tiring days, sometimes the good feeling came from knowing I'd done it today, so I didn't HAVE to do it tomorrow.

Lately, inspiration is a bit lacking. It seems as though there is no life around. Everything is cold and dark and dead.

Now, finally, signs of spring are starting to appear. Longer days, stronger sunshine, more and more days that register ABOVE the magical 32º. Although there is still snow and cold temps, spring feels inevitable.

I am going to get back into the routine of blogging. The subject matter may vary considerably more than before, but hopefully there will be things of interest.

Welcome back!