Thursday’s Thoughts About Spring…

azaleas with two colors of blooms on one bush

Around our house the arrival of spring is very evident.  The azaleas are blooming, as well as the dogwood trees.  We’ve been watching the birds flit and fly around for at least three weeks.  A couple of bluebirds have recently become quite annoying, as they have developed an obsession with the side mirrors on our cars!  The birds flutter about, looking at themselves in the mirrors,  leaving a mess behind on the mirrors when they go!   One day last week, those same bluebirds spent an entire morning trying to fly through the sliding glass door of my daughter’s house!  They were very determined, but unsuccessful.

I think “my girls”, aka “the chickens”, have become hormonal!  I’ve been witnessing some strange behaviors from them lately.  I do believe one of my girls thinks she’s a rooster!  I saw one hen actually “mount” another hen the other day.  Then yesterday, one of the hens ran up and “flogged” me.   Flogging is normally what roosters do. ( They run and jump up at you, trying to scratch you with their spurs.  Thankfully, hens have no spurs.)  Flogging is one of the reasons I chose not to get a rooster.  I’ll chalk this strange behavior of my girls up to “spring fever”, and hope it disappears soon!

Like most people, I associate spring with new life.  Our family has another new life in progress this year.  Daughter-in-law, Jennifer, had her first doctor’s appointment on Monday.  She had an ultrasound done, and she was able to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time.  What an exciting time for her!  Hearing that heartbeat for the first time is always so memorable, especially for a first time mother-to-be!  Jen got a good report, but was referred to a perinatologist as a precautionary measure since pregnancy among cervical cancer survivors is still relatively new at this time.  Praise the Lord for advances in modern medicine!  Just a few short years ago, this pregnancy would not have been possible.

Spring always makes me want to plant something!  Although we planted two rows of “cool weather” vegetables in our garden, last weekend, I still have many tomato, squash, and cucumber plants begging to be transplanted!  Some of my tomato plants are already twelve inches tall!  I currently have them growing in large styrofoam cups.  I think I might take a chance and plant about a dozen of those plants today.  We have enough buckets to cover that many plants, should it decide to frost again.

a close-up of the year-round tree

Spring means it’s almost time for Easter.  I spent most of the day Monday putting out my assortment of Easter decorations.  My year-round tree is now adorned with butterflies, birds, bees, and a few shinny eggs.  My collection of Easter bunnies is scattered throughout  the living room, and into the kitchen.  Next week, this time, I’ll be planning the menu for Easter lunch!  I’m looking forward to our yearly egg hunt, which includes our adults, as well as the grandchildren!  We still haven’t found all of the eggs from last Easter!

That’s about it for what’s happening around our house this first full day of spring.  What’s happening around your house?