Some years ago when I turned the calendar from February to March I thought "Before I turn the calendar again I will be a mother." Yes, March is Anne's birthday month. That morning I could not have predicted the bountiful blessings she'd bring to my life.
My birthday month is half a year from now. And though I admit that autumn is my favorite season, I am more than glad that we're in Anne's birthday month and not mine. There is much to love about spring. The shelves under the grow lights in the basement are full of sprouting seedlings: leeks, kales, onions, spinach, lettuces. Soon there will be perennial seedlings joining them.
The chickens are laying very nicely now. They've come through the winter in fine form but this morning are a bit annoyed by the new layer of white outside their door.
This morning March is holding onto winter. An absolutely beautiful, and perfect snow, is falling.
There's an older gentleman who works at our local Walmart who is a real life cowboy...he rides in the Wild West Days parade every summer and gives stage coach rides at the annual event. He told Jerome the other day that he has a 40 year old horse who correctly predicts the arrival of spring every year by when it begins to shed its shaggy winter coat. Thirty days later spring will arrive to stay. The claim is it's never been wrong. This year's beginning of spring? March 10. I love stories like that. We'll have to wait and see, but the red wing blackbirds have arrived, and some have heard robins as well. Maples are swelling, daffs are popping up along with the eager tips of resurrection lilies. Lots of green near the ground around perennials and buds swelling on my favorite clematis behind the potting shed. Gotta love it all.
Last year there was a late freeze that hit the grapes and apples especially hard. Every year I hope that spring will move slowly, steadily in a forward direction. In March of Anne's birth year, we had just that. A perfect spring. I was out taking her for walks in the old hand me down buggy every day after bringing her home. Stopping in the local park, sitting in the shade, feeling so very blessed.
And by turning the calendar it all comes back to me. Vivid. Real. Beautiful.
Welcome, March.
Roll on March 10th!!! The March when I was born there was thick snow on the ground. The winter had been particularly harsh and I was born two weeks overdue. I would have been born March 10th! I hope our springs are good ones this year. There is so much I want to plant and grow. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful memory, Sharon. As you know, our Kate was born at the beginning of March also. I too feel very blessed by our terrific daughter. Wish I could sit down with you for a cup of tea. Somehow I'm feeling very wistful this particular March... Hope spring comes soon.
ReplyDeleteKate, Anne and Gretta... March babies all. We three are so very blessed. xo
DeleteIt's so wonderful to read your reminiscence about Anne as a little one! I do hope that you've been having less of the stormy weather and wow, it's already the 13th! Has Spring shown up in your part of the world? I do hope so.
ReplyDeleteIshrat
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It's so wonderful to read your reminiscence about Anne as a little one! I do hope that you've been having less of the stormy weather and wow, it's already the 13th! Has Spring shown up in your part of the world? I do hope so.
ReplyDeleteIshrat
xxx