“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind”

There was a flash of brilliant blue across my vision as I walked home to our cabin from the ranch today.

There are rows upon rows of different vegetable seedlings sprouting in the warm, humid greenhouse. They are full of hope with their slim stems straining to support newly unfurled leaves. They almost shout at me when I open the greenhouse door, “Wheee, Yoo Hoo! When do we get to go and play outside? The answer is, “Not so fast young sprouts.”

The horses and dogs are shedding their long winter fur coats and when we walk around the ranch lands there are bugs starting to rustle about in the old wisps of last year’s wild grasses. The raccoons and skunks are waking up and scuttling about the barns and chicken run looking to still their hunger pangs after their long cold sleep. Our massive log pile has shrunk down to a modest stack, the wood stove is no longer stoked 24/7 for survival mode and of course the days are stretching themselves further and further into the evening hours.

And what of that dazzling blue you ask? That is the return of the Mountain Bluebird from the south. They are peeking in to the ranches nest boxes that have been cleaned out and repaired in expectation. They bellow their intricate heart piercing song and investigate every part of the warming air that is their kingdom, like children returning to a beloved old play ground after a long absence. Their joy lifts the spirit.

So is this spring? “Not so fast” warn the locals. Winter can rush back out of the Rockies like a frigid ghost tearing all signs of spring away from our open, welcoming arms. So we wait and watch and hope while the bluebirds thrill us with their bright antics.

Listen here to the Bluebird song

Post By Virginia Cross (8 Posts)

Virginia has been a wanderer her whole life. She is seldom lost however and has made an art out of plunging her roots deeply into whatever soil she finds herself. She is usually in the good company of her husband of 35 years.

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