Is It Really February?

I could tell when the sun was coming up this morning that it was going to be a beautiful day. On days such as these, I am itching all through breakfast just to get outside. The three of us headed out for a short walk before Ryan left for work. I love it when we do that, when we take a moment and start the day together. The weather has been nothing short of glorious the last few weeks, far nicer than our weather last summer. Really. By the time we returned from our walk it was hot. Not warm, or temperate, but hot. Rylie was in no way ready to head into the house, so we had some fun with a little bit of water. I gave all of our plants and fruit trees a drink. When Rylie tired of helping me, she made a small puddle in the yard and had a grand time running back and forth. She has three words for water that she uses quite specifically. Wa wa is for drinking water. Splash is for the bath and wash is for fountains, bodies of water and puddles (the latter she let me know just today.) Strange that just yesterday we were all about warm and cozy sweaters and today it is sunny water play.

I have noticed all the signs of spring so many weeks early this year. The birds are visiting our feeders, the few trees around these parts that do lose their leaves have buds already, and I spot flowering trees every time we are out. One of these days I will remember my clippers and get a cutting or two. I love the sunshine and it is hard to complain about an 80 degree day in February, but I hope that the farmer's are holding up ok with the drought. I worry about that. And I worry about what these strange weather patterns may mean in the larger context of the natural world. I know that most of the country has been experiencing above average temperatures this year, I just hope it is all cyclical and will balance out. I have faith in the wisdom of nature and hope that these weather patterns are not man made. I was on the phone with my mom the other day and she told me they had a thunderstorm one night last month. A January thunderstorm in Michigan? One thing I do know for sure is that is bizarre. And my sister (also in Michigan) said it has been in the 60s. Is it really February?