Here are some pictures I took on Sunday, April 4th.

Bob, Lady, and I had a wonderful quiet 3 days at Thicut. It was the first time in probably 40 years that I've actually slept overnight. Bob has never. It is SO quiet during the night. No car sounds or neighbor sounds. During Saturday, we heard the dirt bikes somewhere in the woods and motorcycles on 151, but other than that, birds and rushing water kept us company.

I cleaned cobwebs and dust bunnies and chased (MILLIONS) ladybugs from sunny window to sunny front door while Bob cleaned brush from the front field and sprayed Roundup on MORE barberry. We raked some of the winter debris off the yard, cleaned out between the barn and (3/4th full of water!) Well, and even trimmed off the dead parts and tied up the rose to the barn.

Along with ladybugs inside, the TICKS are outside. Lady was unscathed, but Bob and I picked several off ourselves (is there a 'Frontline' for people?).

We walked up the Grassy Lane to the falls to marvel at the rush of spring water filling the swimming area and obliterating the slide. It was just white water all around. We walked along the brook from there to the bridge in the 'flood plain' left by the now receding water. The other swimming hole and slide (nearer the house) were rushing whitewater too. There was hardly any indication of the dam we build "every summer".

We watched the fish in the pond. Lady watched their movements so carefully, we were afraid she'd fall in. Bob agrees that there are at least 13-14 of all sizes. Forsythia and daffodils in full bloom, flowering quince about to bloom and magnolia will bloom this week.

Spring has Sprung! Aunt Sandy, thanks for letting us stay!

Here are pictures of the water under the bridge and down path. These were taken on April 1st. Bob and I are spending the weekend here to get some dust and cobewebs out and explore the woods. It's supposed to be great weather! Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

Saturday was sunny and 45 degrees. The daffodils near the house are blooming! I cut some forsythia to see if it will bloom this week inside. The fish are still happily swimming in the pond and as I was walking around, I discovered the white Lenten Rose blooming! in time for Lent! Sometime this past week the oil man came and filled the tank to about 13/16ths full. I couldn't find a bill anywhere, will talk to ARM to make sure she received one in the mail. Bob and I plan to spend Easter weekend at Thicut inside (cleaning cobwebs and muddy floors) and outside (cleaning up twigs and branches in the yard and walking in the woods) in preparation for Anna Ruth's return.

St Patrick's Day and the fish are alive and 'swimmin'. We had a terrific rain storm over the weekend, and sometime the power went out because the stove clock was blinking. I reset all clocks and light timers. No limbs/trees down, so I guess the wind was not too bad. The daffodils are up about 3 inches, forsythia tightly closed still. We're supposed to have wonderfully warm weather this week, so I'm looking forward to more life!

Spring is springing! The temperature is 59 degrees; a bakers' dozen fish, plus a beautiful orange baby with a black tail swim merrily in the pond! The two dead ones were a good meal for some lucky animal (or snake?) because they were nowhere in sight. I did pull out the pump filter which was floating on top of the water and when I walked around the yard, I found the 'barley ball' (?) that was floating in the pond last year to deter pond scum. Did a raccoon scoop it out and decide it wasn't good to eat? It was all the way behind the large rock east of the pond. I retrieved it and left it next to the pond. I fed the fish and stood watching them for quite a while: mesmerizing. the daffodils are about an inch to inch and a half out of the ground by the garage. I couldn't resist clearing the leaves around some clumps.

It's definitely looking and feeling less like winter and more like SPRING! The sun is out, the snow is gone and the ice in the pond is only tiny pieces. Unfortunately there are 2 large goldfish floating on the surface! Too bad! I didn't see any other fish at all. Hopefully that means the little ones are still sleeping peacefully on the bottom. The temperature is almost 50 degrees F and I was so tempted to open up the doors and windows and let some fresh air in. I opened the blinds in the solarium to let the sun on the plants. The ground wasn't quite so muddy/squishy today. Lady enjoyed herself and the car (Bert again) didn't get as dirty :) There are reports of snowdrops in Guilford, no evidence at Thicut, yet...

The oil tank reads about 5/16. I think that will be enough until Anna Ruth comes in April. I HOPE we don't have much more cold weather ahead!