Feb 9, 2014

There Will Be Waiting Yet


Today the snow returned, and then the light. I sat for a time in the backyard, watching the snowflakes sparkle in the sun while they fell from the sky like tiny stars.  

This time of year is a tease. While eastern and northern folks don't even hope for signs of spring until April, we often see movement in late February. The snow melts, and even as the frost comes and goes, the most opportunistic plants push forth. It is not unusual to see the green of chickweed and little chive shoots this soon (delightful in an early-spring potato salad.) But this morning, glancing at the inches of snow lingering on the garden beds, I realize that I'm still in for a bit of a wait for those green gifts. 

I'm making potato salad anyway.

I've had my head down these last weeks - working my way through winter the only way I know how.  Shovel snow, feed the birds (and now the hungry ducks and deer come too,) trudge along through year-end and tax-time work at the office, snuggle cats, light candles, meditate, leave offerings, and then...breathe. 


Still, there is the slightest shift - barely perceptible - but it's there. I saw it in the mountain sheep ewes coming down the hill yesterday, heading low into the valley as they do when the grasses start to show at the edge of the roadsides. I saw it in the swans returning - just a few - but they are coming back to stop over on our lakes before they head to other destinations. The little pumpkin farm to the south of us has new covers on their greenhouses where they grow bedding plants for sale. The orchardists and those that tend the vinyards have been seen wanding through their rows of trees and vines, inspecting.

There will be waiting yet.  Which may be good for me.  As much as I long to see the earth again, I have work sitting in neat piles, and people wanting things from me - and I've been resisting. I'm only half-awake here, barely into the second week of February, and if the ground thawed tomorrow I know myself enough to fear that I'd toss my tax files into a corner and plunge my hands wrist-deep in the ground and not come back inside for any reason.

There are also many plans for this year.  Ideas and journeys and all sorts of adventures that make my mind swim with delight.  While I could easily lose an afternoon to dreaming about such things, I'm working on keeping my concentration on the tasks at hand, which often proves terribly difficult for my wandering brain.

My month thus far has been filled with distraction, but also with gentle forward progress.  

How is your February faring?  

9 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

snow snow and more snow. i could not be happier. i finally have the winter of my dreams! however, we will start getting weird spring days mixed with very cold temps. i am counting down to fall!

Rommy said...

Oh, I can relate! I am waiting for the warmth to return so my rambles outside can last a bit longer. My dog however thinks the snow is wonderful.

thewiildmagnola said...

A wonderful post. Of course I always enjoy photos. Hauntingly beautiful words, how your disappearing winter looks and feels.

Great share!!

VintageSage said...

I could not have put it better myself.

A Garden of Threads said...

Oh yes beautifully said, but there are several feet of snow covering the garden. I wonder from window to window gazing out and dreaming of green. But I can feel the earth stirring deep within, spring slumbers but is starting to awake.

Nichola said...

"working my way through winter the only way I know how. Shovel snow, feed the birds... trudge along" I hear ya! Beautiful post :)

Bogaman said...

Way to much snow and cold here. I eagerly await spring. One of my favorite times of the year.
This could all be said better, if I had your gifted tongue. X.

Unknown said...

Great post. I too, have been keeping the bird feeders well stocked. I've done alot of organizing and decluttering of the house. Since I'm starting wake up with the sun, I've been doing quite of bit of journaling in the morning. When I'm not doing that,I'm knitting. Not to mention pouring over dozens of seed catalogs and sketching the layout for the new gardens I'm planning to add this year. Yeah, I'd say I'm ready for spring.

Rommy said...

I just nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger award http://kestrilsrhythmsandgroove.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-bit-o-sunshine.html