After a very mild winter, one of which I am most thankful for, our spring came early. The Daffodils were up and blooming by mid February and the Hyacinths which usually are just beginning their bloom have bloomed and are going dormant now.
Spring has come early to Oklahoma. But with it also comes the unstable weather. I wanted to work in the yard, raking leaves to burn or mulch. I discovered quickly that the most calmest day could change with a snap of the fingers or should I say, the start of the rake as I raked leaves into a pile. All of a sudden, a slight breeze would appear from no where and then get stronger until all my work went right back to where it all started.
It is the same way with the mower. I got it out one day when it was nice and calm and before I had made one round the wind had suddenly appeared and from then on, I think I received more of the dirt and mulched up leaves than was left on the ground.
I don't remember having this much wind in Oklahoma when we lived here before but now there are days when I'm housebound somewhat due to the wind blowing. It is too much to do any raking and forget about burning the pile of leaves if I do get them raked.
But I also have one other little problem. One night, it was calm and I took advantage of the lateness of the evening to rake a nice large pile of leaves into the driveway. I was raking away and heard a noise. I turned to see two of my kitty cats running and jumping in the middle of the pile and digging away as if looking for treasure. Reminded me of my own daughters when they were young and we would tell them to rake up the leaves only to see them jumping in the pile and having a ball. Needless to say I was able to get the kitties away and burned the one small pile as the sun set and darkness set in. Making sure the embers were out, I retired for the night hoping the next day would be nice enough that I could burn the rest. But when I am raking now, they seemed to think it is play time.
But the next day Mother Nature had other ideas. First, she turned on the wind to blow the pile of remaining leaves into all the nooks and crannies where they could pile up and collect and when she turned off the wind, she turned on the faucet. Yes, rain with all its glory of thunder, lightning, wind and downpours. For over 48 hours, we could only look out to see the puddles forming.
It was a great thing for the yard and flowers and trees and after the drought we suffered last year, the soil soaked up the moisture and the trees were taking in as much as they could. With the new leaves forming, they needed the good drink and they got it. The pollen they had been shedding was being washed away leaving yellow streaks on the sidewalk where it had formed into streamlets from the rain.
Ah, the occasional break with the sun peeking through and sometimes even giving us the clear blue sky only to cover up again with storm clouds and more rain showers. Mother Nature does like to tease during the spring time. At times, her fury is unleashed as the storms increase causing damage but we know her temper will subside soon and the gentle rains will go away along with the storms, or most of them.
As we progress from spring into summer, the storms she gives us are more severe and more threatening but are few and far between, but at the time, we head for cover waiting for her vengeance to end and praying that we have escaped her fury.
But then, we can have the most loveliest of days, perhaps a very gentle breeze but warm sunshine and the joy of being outside with nature to enjoy the beauty it gives us. To take walks or to sit on the porch to listen to the birds and as I like to say, watch the world go by. To visit with neighbors and friends is one of the joys of springtime and being able to be outside.
I think I like the springtime the best in Oklahoma. The days are warm and to watch the waking of the trees and flowers after their winter nap makes each day seem special and alive with the new life. To put up with a few rain drops occasionally can be a nuisance but I know it is a requirement so I bide my time knowing that once the rain is gone, the sun will shine and it is springtime in Oklahoma.
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