Growing

The Maple tree in the front yard had a real, honest-to-goodness leaf on one of it's branches today!  I've been inspecting all the trees on the property regularly for the last week or so and it makes me feel great to see the first sign of green on the brown and barren branch.  There are ten trees planted on the property, but I have been watching only nine of them.  The tenth is a beautiful Blue Spruce that requires no confirmation of it's health.  It is a magnificent green-blue all year round. 

We bought the house towards the end of October and did not move in until December.  At that time of year we expected the leaves to be either turning color or brown and they were. The season gave no clue, and since it was a bank owned property, I have no idea how long it had been sitting vacant with the lawn, trees and plants untended.  This first Spring is a little worrying, because I can see portions of the lawn that have completely died back, and there are four Birch trees that show varying signs of distress.  I'm pretty sure two of them are not gonna make it, and the western half of a third one is not looking well at all.  The fourth one?  It's a toss up.  There is some sort of activity going on, but it is well behind it's brothers in neighboring yards.

All the shrubs have been trimmed, one of them is budding out, and there are four rose bushes in one corner of the back that have been pruned, in anticipation of a bouquet for Carolyn.  Appropriate fertilizer has been spread in various places and I'm hoping for the best.  We enjoy being outdoors, and even though Carolyn is having more and more difficulty, we hope to spend time on our simple, but ample, deck this year.  

The BBQ is ready for us and for the victory dinner I have planned with the neighbors, but I still have to set up the table and chairs.  They are in the garage,  feeling lonely and unused,  patiently waiting for my hand and wrenches to bring them to life.  They need not worry, it's gonna happen soon.  This spate of forty degree highs is forecast to end this week and the temperatures are expected to rise into the upper fifties and lower sixties the week after.  That will for sure bring life to our outdoor haven and joy to our hearts.

When the family at home was a little larger, we were able to notice the kids started stirring a little earlier in the day, and began staying out a little later when the calender showed it to be the end of March.  There was a fresher, springer motion in their steps this time of year.  It's wonderful to be surrounded by healthy, living, growing things and springtime polishes and renews the spirit.