Things are hoppin’ here in Ohio, with the switch back to sunshine and warmth. We are ready for April and Easter and chocolate bunnies and real bunnies and all things pastel. We had a minor setback here when some local Polly Positive decided to wash all the winter coats and put them away while it was still March.
OK, I’ll admit it. It was me. But let’s all just be thankful that I did not also wash the mittens.
…or this could have been much, much worse.
To be on the safe side, I will leave all the mittens where they are until next winter.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, the snow disappeared in the sunshine, leaving this crocus looking particularly hopeful. It amazes me how a delicate plant can burrow a perfectly round hole through something like a crumbly dry leaf, without the bud bending or the leaf shattering. A crocus flower will flop under the weight of a large raindrop, but it can slice its way through an obstacle like a knife through butter. Maybe the key is moving very slowly. This is comforting to me, since slow is my modus operandi. (Had to throw that in for all those enthusiastic new Latin fans out there.)
It’s a petal powered drill bit of sorts.
This feels like the perfect spot to say something truly profound about life, but I can’t think of anything. Can anyone lend me a soaring and inspiration metaphor? It would be a nice touch.
~~~~~~~~~
In addition to floral musings, I have been working hard on growing out a disastrous haircut, identifying the source of the kitten flatulence problem, and pondering the next potential fork in the road. More to come.
jane, candid 
Hi Jane,
I like this. Growing up in England, the first flowers we saw were the snowdrops. You don’t see many in Ohio but for me they were always a promise of better times to come. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote a poem about them “Many, many welcomes, February Fair Maid..”
Regarding the flower drilling through the soil, I got a card once which said “Every plant that ever lived had to push through a lot of dirt before it could see the light”.
Thanks, Linda, for the beautiful thoughts! I love those quotes. Glad you stopped by and hope to see you again!
Cool pictures! I agree, the crocus breaking through the leaf needs a profound caption. Not sure what it should be though. Maybe something about defying stereotypes. I keep telling my daughter that she can be both beautiful AND tough. Feminine AND able to keep up with the boys. That picture makes me think of that combination of qualities. I don’t know how to articulate that into a catchy caption though!
A kitten flatulence problem? The thought makes me giggle, but I have no words of wisdom for you. Just like I have no solution to the problem of adolescents in my house who find their own flatulence to be amusing and who flaunt it whenever possible. Good luck with that.
Jane, loved the article. Living in FL, I SO miss the crocuses of spring, the sweet buds that signal Easter vacation, warmer days, and the final weeks of school that lead into summer. No need for anything more profound. You already waxed poetic and served up a fresh reminder of how plans are folly, play is divine! Thank you!
Thanks, Debra. You are so encouraging and I always appreciate your comments. Go play today!
Oh my gosh Jane, I had a friend visiting from Florida for a couple of days this week and I took him to the Holden Arboretum. The trees in bud, the bulbs in bloom, the spring peepers vocalizing all over the place…it was like walking in heaven.
I love spring. Can you tell?
Your crocus photos made me smile and smile!!!!!
Thank you for a lovely beginning to my day.
Hugs!
Karen :0)
Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
“Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens.”
“What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.”
Joel, you’re funny! I think it is finally safe to put the mittens away (but I won’t)
Hard to beat a “disastrous haircut, identifying the source of the kitten flatulence problem, and pondering the next potential fork in the road.”
If it’s any consolation, I’ve been digging through old photos and have concurred that life is a disastrous sequence of bad haircuts.
Oh, and I’ve heard hair grows faster in spring. 🙂