It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like ...

SPRINGTIME.

Okay, I realize it could, in theory, snow here until well into May. But I do believe our weeks of massive, three-day-long snowstorms are winding down. Something in the way the sun is tilted, and the way it lingers in the southern sky a bit longer these days. (Sidenote: three cheers to the congressman who decided to move Daylight Savings up to March - is it totally ridiculous? Absolutely. Do I love him for it? Anyone who gives me light is beloved in my camp.)

This morning, Woodstock woke up to the twitter of birds. As a matter of fact, she woke up yelling, "Birdies! Tweet tweet. Tweet tweet." Then wanted to go upstairs rightthisverysecond to investigate as to whether or not the birds could be seen. It's been months since the birds visited us before noon. We lie in the shadows of The Frontier's largest mountain range, and the sun doesn't reach us for awhile in the deepest freeze of winter.

Today, I'm working from home for a few hours - we had to leave the office as the server needed rebooting. No one has to tell me twice to leave early on a brilliantly sunny Friday afternoon. No one actually has to tell me to keep working either - Woodstock is napping and it's still too cold to actually enjoy the aforementioned sunshine.

Last February at this time, I was knitted deep in the throes of a bitterly cold, emotionally dark winter. And I was dreaming of lucious shrimp paneer - one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. Well, that and paneer masala at Bombay House. (If Jane is reading this, this would be the first recipe I want from your Indian excursion - in addition to a good dal). This February has flown by ... a rash of doctor's visits to confirm I wasn't dying (ha - I just might if my breakfast doesn't stay down), visits from my mom and sister, a speaking gig at a really cool event last night, in-law visits this weekend (*crickets*), and then ... end of the month.

And March means, at least according to the calendar/sun schedule - spring.

It's so exciting, Woodstock and I might just celebrate with steamed asparagus tonight. After all, it's my favorite spring veggie.