Hello, Lovely {Signs of Spring}
☆ March 2, 2011
Today, the snow is melting so suddenly and completely, I hear sounds of waterfalls as the the melt runs over the large gravel of the driveway, then plummets steeply down the draw, creating a fleeting lake below.
I love the beauty of winter, the severity, the glitter of ice in the air. But I hate the separation it requires. Layers of clothing. Shoes. Having to keep my shelter buttoned up and closed against the cold.
Today, I’ve had the front door and the back door flung open since dawn.
Air from outside, the breath of Nature, moving through my space. My bare skin moving through the air as I tiptoe about the yard in a loose camisole and bare feet. Hours spent outside, no barriers between the earth and my body.
No false layers between the air and my body, nothing between the breath of Nature and myself. I need her breath on my skin to feel fully alive, fully free. Winter robs me of this. But not for much longer. Not today.
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41 Responses to “Hello, Lovely {Signs of Spring}”
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MY NEW BOOK!
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March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:16 pm
I don’t wanna hear about it. Haha!
(This is why: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-29_metric_e.html) -34ºC windchill!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:18 pm
This is lovely, I can almost feel it :) It’s chilly and windy here, today, but the sun is out which makes me feel like the end is near!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
Everyone down here is basking in the sun, and whining when they have to come back inside for class. The feeling of the sun warming your skin and the breeze fluttering your hair, dipping a foot in the fountain when you get too warm.
Almost-spring is gorgeous.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
Even though it is still cold here in central Wisconsin, the birds are converging in the trees and singing up a storm! Spring must be on its way!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:46 pm
There are those that are drawn to the outside and those that fear to leave the inside. I fling the sliding glass doors open when it rains so that the aroma fills my home and senses, lighting a fire for the contrast as well as the warmth. No false layers is an ssential part of my being, allowing myself to feel fully human. Thank you for this shared experience.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Exactly how warm is it? It must be pretty warm if you can go out in bare feet!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 1:14 pm
Heh, my 6 1/2 year-old nephew would appreciate that image; he’s yet to meet a puddle that couldn’t be improved with a little splashing…
Here (central coast of Ca.) the weather is still cool and grey. I welcome it, because it means the green will last that much longer.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
I love Almost-Spring. Spent a few days at a hot springs here in Colorado. Snow flurries in the evening, warm days splayed out in the sun wearing my swimsuit.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 2:20 pm
HOW did you take that pic is what i wanna know! did you jump? :)
March 2nd, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Lovely post! I shared it on my Facebook page. I like how the reader doesn’t need to know anything about you or where you live to feel the joy you are experiencing!
Thanks!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 2:54 pm
Say goodbye to the cold distant lover winter is . . . here comes the intimacy of spring!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 3:19 pm
I lived in LA for years and now live in the wilds of New Hampshire. I appreciate the arrival of spring so much more deeply then I ever have in my life because of the starkness of winter. It is beautiful in it’s own way but I revel in the warmth.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
aaaaah,how nice for you Shreve..not sure what your temp. was, and there is nothing I like more than open windows, and fresh air…however, unfortunately for us here, we still have a way to go, before we can walk barefoot and in tank tops…enjoy, Mother Nature has her way of saying she’s not ready to give up her winter grip just yet…
March 2nd, 2011 @ 4:26 pm
Eszter ~ well, YES of course i jumped!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 4:57 pm
I *love* this picture Shreve! :)
Happy Spring!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 5:01 pm
Vitamin D, FTW!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 5:51 pm
ahhh spring is in the air!! i have learned after many years of living in wyoming that when it is 35 or 40 and the sun is shining and the WIND isn’t blowing, it is nice enough for no coat and short sleeves-very suprising after growin up in Ohio!! we are at about 33 here right now and it is pleasant out!! gardening being planned and windows open during the day when i am home.
just lovely
thanks for sharing
March 2nd, 2011 @ 5:58 pm
Yes, spring in the air is the most exciting of feelings … it’s slowly and intermittently coming here on the Canadian west coast. High winds today, sun, then blowing rain, then the sun back again in full force. Amazing!
I wanted to send a comment because I’ve noticed that in the last few photos of Charlie, that there’s a new depth developing in his eyes, his face. Perhaps he is reflecting the love in his environment!
March 2nd, 2011 @ 7:16 pm
27 degrees here in Chicago near the Lake (5 blocks, Lake Shore Dr., and some park land away) right now at 7:15 pm; not quite spring yet, but it was sunny today and that counts for a lot after all the gray days we’ve had lately.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
Oh I am so with you … the first time you feel the fresh new growth after the snow melts and the heat of the spring sun is just magic. And the smell of the soil, honeysuckle, grape hyacinth and my dog’s muddy wet fur. The best.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 11:35 pm
Phoenix, Arizona. High about 80F. Cool evenings in the mid fifties. When out in the desert now you cannot imagine the smells and scents that you experience. There is an astonishing variety of fragrant trees and bushes in the desert of Arizona that flower this time of year. If you simply look at a list of all those plants I am referring to (I would so love to list them), just the names of those plants themselves is really a sensory experience. I do so love words, and spring.
March 2nd, 2011 @ 11:47 pm
While I agree that nature is wonderful and grass under bare feet and sunshine on bare shoulders are amazing things, I feel as connected with the world in heavy winter garb as I do naked in the summer. I feel as joined with all things on the corner of Peachtree and Peachtree in Atlanta as I do on the high banks of the Au Sable river in the heart of the Huron National forest. I breathe air, drink water, tread the earth and rejoice in life in any and all surroundings.
This seems so negative, but I do not to wish it to be so. I am happy for your pleasure and wish you a wonderful spring!
March 3rd, 2011 @ 7:20 am
Not only do I love this picture, but I felt so much warmer while I read! Thanks!
March 3rd, 2011 @ 7:38 am
Gosh, that is beautiful!
And I envy you so very much. :) Still three feet of snow on the ground here and -20 Celsius. Gah. Catch some freckles for me. :)
March 3rd, 2011 @ 7:46 am
ah pre-spring! there is nothing quite like crocus peaking through the snow after a -30 winter. While I enjoy winter, there is something about spring that seems to get the spirits souring….birds returning….plants peaking up through the snow.
Speaking about spring etc, is Daisy pregnant and when is she due??
No doubt you have answered this before, but I’ve been rather busy lately and seldom have time to follow how your farmily is doing.
March 3rd, 2011 @ 8:38 am
Here in Texas the weather is beautiful – 70’s in the day and 50’s at night. I love this time of year because summers are so hot. Don’t know how you guys live in -15 degree cold.
March 3rd, 2011 @ 8:43 am
Oh how I can’t wait to be in a tank top & barefoot & have my doors & windows open. Can’t quite do that yet.
March 3rd, 2011 @ 9:58 am
It is freezing here in AB, Canada. Longest coldest winter in a long time but your picture and words give me hope as I too am longing for fresh air in my house and sun on my face.
Your photos make me ache to be able to capture the same energy from my camera Shreve. Haven’t had a good shot in ages. Keep inspiring me xxoo
March 3rd, 2011 @ 10:47 am
Beautiful photo!
March 3rd, 2011 @ 10:52 am
i put on my polka dot covered rain boots the other day and tried to capture a cell phone picture of me jumping in a puddle. compared to this image i failed miserably, although i have a feeling the song in my heart was just as great as yours. win!
March 3rd, 2011 @ 11:24 am
So jealous, it is snowing and -22c up here in Edmonton alberta, CA. I don’t think we will see mud like that until august:)
March 3rd, 2011 @ 7:20 pm
my sentiments exactly…Chicago is slowly trying to shake off its winter coat…
March 4th, 2011 @ 1:46 am
Hello from another Albertan that used to live in California. My garage is flanked by 6ft high snowbanks and I am thinking of starting up my motorbike on the snow packed driveway as a prayer for spring. This winter has been brutal.
I worked in Ft McMurray for the first time last month and saw a lynx in the headlights during a night-time drill site transit. We both stopped and looked at each other. What a supremely elegant animal. as big as a lamb, with big feet and floppy fluffy white pajamas, horn-tip ears, a beard, and it moves like a vampire.
March 4th, 2011 @ 5:44 am
That is a tricky shot. How in the world did you get that picture?
March 4th, 2011 @ 9:55 am
Just got back from a cruise, and discovered your book about Charlie, in the ship library. It was one of the best books I have ever read. After doing dog and cat rescue for 17 years, it made my heart feel so good to have a happy ending. One of our blessed dogs was either a coyote or fox mix. She passed away 3 years ago from cancer, but had a wonderful life with us. I love your writing – what a gift!
March 4th, 2011 @ 9:59 am
You bring me such joy, Shreve…Thank you…
March 4th, 2011 @ 10:11 am
Rockrat – you must be my neighbour, my snow banks are even with my 5ft hedges and back porch! Winter in Alberta, nothing like it!
March 4th, 2011 @ 4:50 pm
We’ve had lots of rain up here in WA, but the next few days are going to be lovely. The birds have started chirping in the morning, so spring is definitely on it’s way!
March 4th, 2011 @ 6:10 pm
That’s it, 80 degrees here, summer is back !
Re omelette tweeter: I love omelette,runny ones, with cheese and tomatoes and mustard.I cook tomatoes in a pan then toss the eggs and mix everything together with onions…..Yummm.
Don’t digest the eggs well anymore though, meringues, love meringues, and floating islands.
March 4th, 2011 @ 7:04 pm
Mud puddles!
So many memories going through my mind of growing up in South Africa, and almost NEVER wearing shoes. Running around outside, barefoot everyday. My sister and 4 brothers were also outside playing and eating black berries off the vines, growing wild on a fence. Picking passion fruit and guavas off the trees. Unreal.
My favorite thing to do was play in the rain, and squish my feet in the muddy water…it made silly bubbly sounds….and of course we made mud pies!
Dream world.
March 6th, 2011 @ 11:32 am
Wow! You make the mud look pretty and fun!
You are a natural photographer. I can’t get over how amazing your pictures are.
Thank you Shreve for sharing your experiences of Wyoming country. You are a brave and dedicated soul.
Here in southern California, our version of winter is departing. After experiencing severe weather elsewhere in this country and other parts of the world. I have learned to relish every drop of rain in Cali, every gust of the Santa Ana winds, every temp below 50! And I do so appreciate the sunny summer weather too.