It's beginning to look a lot like springtime....

everywhere you go. Take a look at the birds and bees, flying once again. With flowers and the grass you'll have to mow.

So it is the first full season of 2017 (winter started in 2016). Even though spring technically began on March 20, ol' man winter kind of hung in there for a little while. But now I think he is leaving spring alone to do her thing.

With spring comes a newness to the year. People emerge from their cocoons, letting the world know "here we are!" The sounds of children playing fill the air, overpowering the sounds of nature. The sounds of adults with "their toys", motorcycles, muscle cars and lawn equipment drowning out everything else. There are only pauses of peace, where you can hear the natural sounds of spring.

On my travels, I make a concerted effort to look and notice my environment as it slowly changes. The barren and bleakness of the woods are in transition....red buds are on the trees, and on my carpet (ugh!). Small flowers are pushing through the reminisce of 2016's leaves. The sounds and sights of animals returning are wonderful and to me sorely missed, unless I see them on the side of the road, motionless.

Curtains and windows open, moon roof as well. Laundry hang outside to dry. Pastel rules the kitchen and a spring cleaning list awaits. My patio is calling to be swept and cushions to be placed in the chairs. The awaiting is over...my time is to be spent in the splendor of the beautiful outdoors.