The Long Winter

I'm not entirely convinced that we're going to have spring this year. I think it's entirely possible that winter will hang around until a feisty hot summer rolls in and shoves it out of the way, in a way that my beloved gentle spring was too polite to do.

Hopefully my dramatic side is just getting the best of me here, but I know I'm not the only one feeling the chill and wishing for some warm spring air that will actually stick around long enough to warm me (and the garden) up.
.
So since it's April and my normally bursting-with-blooms garden is still fast asleep, I've been spending more time appreciating the few things in my garden that have actually bloomed despite the wintery weather...
​

The daffodils are still going strong, and I'm still sniffing them every time I walk past...
​

As is Thomas the kitty, who always seems to be near this particular plant. Probably because it popped up right in the middle of his catnip patch and he's hoping that will pop up soon too.

​Its been a long winter for us all.
​

Even for Bolt the Border Collie, who usually likes to spend the nights outside but who lately has started begging to be let in. I don't blame him, we can only handle so much. Especially when one of the four seasons overstays its welcome by infringing on one of the other three. And also, especially when that season isn't one of the pleasant ones.

When Bolt is outside, you can usually find him near that same daffodil clump that Thomas is so fond of...although I think it's less about enjoying the daffodils and more about enjoying harrassing the cat.

Neither one of those animals seems to be interested in the plum tree, though. Even though it's also blooming and amazingly doesn't seem to be any worse for wear after that last batch of frosty weather froze just about everything else solid...including me.

As soon as my fingers unfreeze I'm going to cross them so maybe I'll actually get to enjoy ripe plums this year!

And maybe eventually I'll get to enjoy some other blooms in the garden, too, because surely this long cold winter will eventually give up.

If it doesn't, I'm going to have to file a complaint with Mother Nature...after I figure out how to do that, of course.

I've never been great at legal stuff.

​

Oh well, I guess I'll just go back to gazing at the only other thing in bloom around here--the perky pansies in the kitchen window box.

I am good at doing that!
​