happy bub burst day!

okay, okay, i know all you readers are scattered all over the world, and bud burst day may not be at all appropriate for your right now (especially you in the southern hemisphere). but it is a big, BIG, deal hear in the north. winter is five months long in this part of the world, and by months four and five, we all get a little desperate*.  like the cottontail rabbit that peaks out from under our deck once a day in march to nibble at the spruce tips, we will do almost anything for a little green. rain is forecast for tonight, so by the weekend we should start seeing bud bursts everywhere. and our world with be new-growth green for several weeks. ahhhh…..i love it.

* you may wonder why we minnesotans choose to live here, even though we complain about the weather a lot. first, you must understand that weather here is front and center. it dominates our daily life. today, for example, was 82 degrees F, tomorrow will be in the 50s. this is not unusual for us. so, weather is what we talk about. all the time. it’s part of the culture. every plan outdoors has to consider the weather. i check the weather at least three times a day, and this is not because i am compulsive. it’s necessary if you plan on being outside for any part of the day. wather here can change hourly. sounds strange, i am sure. but, there are a lot of reasons other than weather, that draw us to this great state: family ties, good schools, kind neighbors, a state government that works, clean air, fresh water, lake living, affordable housing, a strong economy…in other words, most the things you might want, you can find in minnesota. and the price we pay for all that abundance, is two extra months of winter. for most of us, it is a good bargain. for those who can afford it, a winter home in a warmer climate is the best of both worlds. nothing is free, and march is our price.