SPRINGTIME IN NEW ENGLAND

It’s just a date on the calendar but that doesn’t stop folks from enjoying any temperature above freezing in New England and picturing how green everything will be in a few weeks. That’s a stretch because right now the landscape is still painted in wheat and burnt umber with several shades of grey. Hard winds swirl old leaves into the air making our cat crazy wondering what the faluke is going on outside.

Early spring up here means corn fields turn into rice paddies, mud season has begun and frost heaves finally dissolve leaving pot holes and large tarmac cracks. Along with crocuses pushing up through slow melting snow piles, the only thing budding on a tree this week would be a plastic container catching sugar drips from the maples.

We’re still grateful for the extra daylight because it’s pretty hard seeing where the road sides are located in the dark. Many of the white stripes painted along the edge have long dissolved making it impossible to see where the fields begin and the road ends, especially in the rain.

The people at the humane society also tell us there’s more stray animals giving birth about now. Soon they’ll be flooded with all manner of baby felines and canines in their wonderful shelter. Please try and remember them when you have old blankets you no longer need or if you are considering getting a pet.

Spring cleaning is still big in some homes. Windows have to be washed because the winter storms plaster a combo of crud that makes it hard to see the sunny views we’ve so missed.

We have a nutty bird who insists on building a nest in a space between the roof and a column on our front porch every year. My cat sits right inside the screened-in porch and stares at the creature who is so stubborn, no matter how many times Jack throws out the old nests, or how many times I scream when we surprise each other, I know she’ll be back in that same spot very soon.

I can’t wait until the buds show up on our forsythia and azalea bushes. They will explode into the most beautiful mélange outside my living room windows. I’ll be sure and post photos when that happens.

About last week’s blog…..

The Union Leader in New Hampshire published “Maple Beyond The Morning” in its’ Wed. issue. Benton’s sugar shack has been producing maple syrup for 150 years! It is now being operated by the sixth-generation family members!

To the reader who wants to know about obtaining great maple syrup in southwest Virginia. I found The Bland County Family Farm, which has had ten years of tapping in that area. Their web page is: http://www.Andersongrassfed.com as they also sell beef.

Hope you are all enjoying the “pre spring” landscape and warmer temperatures wherever you may be.

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