SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT JOE'S POND!!!

OK, SO IT'S A LITTLE OVER THE TOP TO GET SO EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING AS COMMONPLACE AS DAFFODILS POKING THROUGH THE EARTH, BUT AFTER THE KIND OF WINTER WE'VE HAD HERE AT THE POND, ANYTHING THAT SPEAKS TO US OF SPRING - WARMER WEATHER, BARE GROUND AND OPEN WATER, BUDS AND BUGS, GETS THE HEART PUMPING.

I HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND DOWN THIS MORNING, AND THERE THEY WERE! ONLY LAST WEEK THERE HAD BEEN THREE FEET OF SNOW COVERING THEM. THE DAFFIES ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AND WHILE THERE'S STILL A BANK ABOUT THREE FEET DEEP ACROSS THE WALKWAY, THERE, NEXT TO THE HOUSE, IT'S SPRING.

ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, IRIS AND DAY LILIES ARE SHOWING, TOO, BUT THERE IS STILL SNOW COVERING SOME OF THOSE. IT'S A HOPEFUL SIGN, THOUGH, AND IF THIS NICE WEATHER KEEPS UP FOR A FEW DAYS, THE ICE WILL BEGIN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND THINGS WILL BEGIN TO HAPPEN. BEFORE WE KNOW IT, WE'LL SEE OPEN WATER, EVEN.