a spring day

I Meant To Do My Work Today

I meant to do my work today-
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across the field,

And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land

Tossing the grasses to and fro,

And a rainbow held out its shining hand-

So what could I do but laugh and go?

Richard LeGallienne

Our world is thawing, and yet, I've been saying for weeks, "Don't hope yet: there will be another snowfall. There's always one more snowfall." There was a gigantic snowfall about this time last year- something I remember because a friend and I braved the roads for the homeschool curriculum fair, an event Charlotte and I will be attending later this week. I've watched icy puddles dry up and gritty snowbanks melt, but I haven't let myself say, "Spring is here!" I am wise to Alaskan springs: they are merciless towards hope.

But! After the last two days, I am nothing but hopeful! Our temps have been in the mid 50s and all of the snow has melted from our "yard"... I should just say property. Those pics from Easter- pictures of eggs hidden in snowbanks- were only a week and a half ago! My world is thawing. Spring will color my world green soon... I am waiting and watching for the tiniest signs of life now. The sunshine that has sprinkled freckles across my daughter's nose and cheeks will soon beckon the trees and forest floors- and my swamp!- to unfurl in buds and sprouts of life. It's coming... we're expectant... it's almost here.

For now, I'm satisfied with pale bare toes and arms... pale until they're muddy anyways. My kiddos were outside all day yesterday and today. They rode their bikes, painted rocks, constructed pens for their farm animals (all imaginary- except for one black lab mutt) and followed their papa around while he dug ditches for snow to melt away from our property. I am content with 55 degree weather and the color pink- the pink that now colors my babies' faces.

One fun fact: Charlotte has an amazing ability to grow holes in her pants. The first hole is usually in her right knee. The pants in the picture above are only as old as January- when they were given as a birthday present. I don't know that you can see it so well, but there's a gigantic Charlotte hole at her right knee. I don't know how she does it, but she is prolific with holes.