Oh my, a beauty day. No rain or wind, cold but not frigid, and on a Saturday! I was out in the yard most of it cleaning out the gardens. Only the coming of dark, and stuffed full yard waste bins, pulled me back inside.

Under the natural duff I found the beginnings of perennial rebirth; nubs on the cusp of emerging, and early bloomers pushing up bright green blades of faith. Lenten rose blossoms stood out from the crowd; their quietly dusky flowers facing the earth atop long, slim necks.

The promise of spring heralds the middle of winter.