Celebrate #VernalEquinox and #InternationalDayofHappiness

Yesterday, the year's first appearance of purple finches at the feeders occurred after we had posted for the day. Just one finch, but we expect to see more now.

purple finch at feeder

Photo by J. Harrington

We also saw a report that the first sandhill cranes of the year had been heard about 45 miles South of here. That suggests they'll arrive in our local marshes this week or early next. A couple of Canada geese have already returned. We thought we saw them yesterday and are sure we saw them today. The smallest ponds are starting to show open water. Even our drive is slowly becoming ice-free. Maybe by the weekend?

the migrants are returning

Photo by J. Harrington

In celebration of today's official arrival of astronomical Spring [in the Northern Hemisphere], accompanied by actually warmer weather, the dog(s) and I have started to lengthen some of our walks. We share a sense of having been house-bound, more psychological than physical except for those polar vortex temperatures. It's a treat to shuck the weight of Winter-warm clothing from our shoulders and enjoy the diminishment of bitterly cold, snow-covered ground under our paws. We've not yet suffered Spring fever, but can feel it incubating. We doubt it's a coincidence that today is also the #InternationalDayofHappiness.

[in Just-]

By E. E. Cummings

in Just- 

spring          when the world is mud- 

luscious the little 

lame balloonman 

whistles          far          and wee 

and eddieandbill come 

running from marbles and 

piracies and it's 

spring 

when the world is puddle-wonderful 

the queer 

old balloonman whistles 

far          and             wee 

and bettyandisbel come dancing 

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and 

it's 

spring 

and 

         the 

                  goat-footed 

balloonMan          whistles 

far 

and 

wee

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