April 15 today. A sunny 17 degrees! Our first short-sleeves day of the year (the kids have been out in short sleeves but it doesn’t count until the adults are comfortable in short sleeves!). The birds were singing like crazy this morning — especially the cardinals. But not everything is singing yet. The spring peepers have awoken between April 12-15 for the last several years. This year, nada. Not surprising when you take a look at the state of the pond and surrounding forest (I can’t actually get to the pond, but you can see why below). They are still in their frozen winter state under that snow.
April 15 view towards the pond
April 15 – the wood shed roof broke under the weight of snow
The snow melted around the house first, so the daffodils are almost in bloom (the ones that survived the winter). And we do have a few shoots poking through in other beds.
Guinea pigs enjoy some fresh grass. Daffodils not quite in bloom.
Iris shoot (April 15, 2015)
The guinea pigs got their second outside run of the year today, and nibbled on some fresh grass. That must have tasted good after a long winter of mostly dried food. And while they were out there, I spring-cleaned the front porch, now 95% snow free. It felt good to brush off the winter cobwebs, both physically and metaphorically. Spring is most definitely here.
witches whiskers 