We almost missed the bus

The first spring rain fell last evening. It settled the dust and brightened things - and is enough, I suspect, to encourage some blooming. We will watch and see.

Only the dandelions bloom in the fields. Yards* boast of paperwhite narcissus, snowdrops, forsythia, and redbud blooms. In a few places early iris have sent up scapes.

Paddy girl and I walked late...late for a week day. Traffic rushed by. We watched children at the stop line up and climb on when the school bus arrived.

We are not the only folks up late/procrastinating. Newspapers rested in lawns - even in the lawns of those we usually greet on early walks. Maybe the rain lulled us all to rest a little longer.

Still, one neighbor wins the prize for procrastination. A Christmas tree had been placed curbside for pick-up. Yes, a Christmas tree. No, this was not yard refuse, but a straggler from the holiday.

No walkers joined us today. The cattle dog who lives near the park spoke, a mockingbird serenaded** us as we skirted the edge of the woods, and a snail ignored us as we headed for home.

The lights came on and we stopped to let the children load.

Dandelion

Snail was the only thing moving slower than us.

"Ho, ho, ho!"

 NOTES:

*Older yards have started blooming. These are the yards with heritage bulbs and flowering shrubs. Minimalist yards are, well, minimalist. They have grass and trees. Some days that sounds good to me.

**Oh, the mockingbird - if you don't like the tune, wait. The mockingbird has a song for everyone.