Thursday, March 18, 2010

A new shade of blue



By mid February winter blues of a slow-and-steady-few-inches-here-and-there kind of winter had set in around here.  So when we saw a big winter storm coming our way, we were actually looking forward to the change of pace and the beauty of lots of fresh clean snow.

That is until the storm got here and dumped 24" of wet, heavy snow in 36 hours on top of the 2 1/2 feet we already had plus another half a foot a few days later with more inches in between...we lost count.  It snowed every day for 6 days.  We went out into the yard a few times without our snowshoes on and Matt and I were both up past our thighs with more snow underneath!  Now I know that plenty of other parts of the country were hit with snow, lots of it and in unexpected places, this winter so I am not really complaining, just explaining why the additional 6 inches of snow-cone like snow this past Saturday just about threw me over the edge.

Since Monday, however, I am seeing a new shade of blue.  It has been amazingly beautiful the past few days and the sky has literally been a shade of blue I have either never seen before or never noticed before.  Electric blue, to be precise.  So despite the 2 feet of snow still on the ground, I KNOW that spring is here.  First the purple finches came back to the feeders, then we heard robins in the woods and two barred owls calling to one another, and today a hairy woodpecker was chasing a downy woodpecker away from the suet feeder.  Pretty soon we will see bear tracks, hear the peepers in the pond and see the ferns begin their alien-like emergence. 

And sandals, oh sweet sandals!  Nothing like a good late winter snow storm to give you spring fever.  What are you anticipating this spring?

peace

5 comments:

Amy Maddalena said...

Ah, spring is coming to Pittsburgh, too. The boys are celebrating the return of the mud. They eat better, sleep better and play better, and their hair smells like fresh air :) Pretty sweet.
Wow, I can really see how your kids resemble each other in those snowsuit pics!
miss you!

Matt said...

Spring and sun and fishing season!

Unknown said...

Spring is here. I've seen robins and the feel of the sun on my back has been awesome. I put together a Beach Party at school for PTA because of the hard winter. Everyone had a blast.. and I wore flip-flops and capri pants.... and painted my toes... first pedicure of the season... compliments of my birthday present you guys gave me. love you. Jenny
P.S. Electric blue is the right shade to describe your picture.

Amanda said...

Sara :)

I love you, girlie! And the color of blue sky of which you are talking is a common occurence in Colorado. You should ask a certain brother of yours about it after he ventures out there in another month.

I miss you! I'm sorry I won't see walls of snow just for fun when I hopefully see you soon, but I'll be glad to sit in the sunshine with you, Matt, and the kids :)

Much love,
Amanda

Sara said...

Jason out west, oh yea! I miss the Rockies. Someday when our kids are early teens and never want to me seen with us and think we are so lame, we are going to capture and force them to go on a summer long backpacking trip in Wy after we drive across the country together! Can't you just see it? It will be the best and worst trip of their life. I just love experiential learning...