I experienced a sure sign of spring this week. No, it wasn’t
a robin or a crocus. I simply finished the very last jar of my homemade
strawberry jam. Sandal weather can’t be far off now.
Every summer I have enjoyed picking strawberries and making
them into freezer jam. Now that I have a strawberry patch in my own backyard,
it’s especially enjoyable to watch the pretty white blossoms turn into plump
red berries. This spring I’m sure I’ll have lots of “help” from my grandson
Willie. Two-year-olds are so quick at spotting and plucking the not-quite-ripe
berries, not to mention squashing the big juicy ones with their tennis shoes.
Recipes for freezer jam are so quick and easy that you can
“put up” two or more dozen jars in a day, fooling your friends and neighbors
into thinking you’re quite the domestic type. While the jam “sets up,” you can
have the satisfaction of viewing your jars lined up on the counter, sparkling
like rubies. Yet to come is the delicious fresh taste of jam to enjoy all
winter.
Another sure sign of spring is construction of new houses.
Last week a man and his wife stopped to check into buying the lot next to ours
to build their retirement home. They were as excited as kids at the prospect of
choosing a piece of land and a house plan according to their own
specifications. Hopefully it will be their dream house. If they do purchase the
land, there no doubt will be a flurry of activity all summer with the digging
and construction work. I can already hear the sawing and hammering. There will be
lots of dirt piles to keep my little Willie busy.
Loaded clotheslines are another indication of spring. On one
of our recent 40-degree days, I washed my raincoat and hung it out on my
clothesline. I had completely forgotten the sunshiny-fresh smell of clothes
left outside to dry. MMMmmm...I enjoyed it so much! This summer I hope to save
on my electric bill by totally neglecting my electric clothes dryer. I’ll hang
sheets, towels - almost everything - to flutter in the wind.
We’ll soon recognize spring by the delicate blooms of trees
and shrubs. Yesterday my husband Wade ordered a radiant crabapple tree to be
picked up in April. I’ll have to decide where to plant it. Last spring we
selected a dogwood and planted it in the front yard in view of the picture
window. Hopefully in a couple months we’ll watch white blooms swaying in a warm
breeze. We’re also watching for some buds from the lilac bush we transplanted
from my parents’ backyard three years ago when we first moved into our home. I
always loved the bushes as a child; now if only they’ll bloom for my family to
enjoy the pretty lavender flowers and sweet fragrance.
Daffodils have always been one of my favorite flowers, so I
planted some bulbs near my front steps. They’re just beginning to peek up through
the muddy soil. It won’t be long now before my red tulips, pink hyacinths,
purple crocuses, and yellow daffodils will provide a very welcome bright splash
of color against our drab winter scenery.
As soon as the ground is warm enough for planting summer
flowers, I’m going to buy some Morning Glory seeds. I want to plant a few at
the base of my lamppost so the vines can climb up and encircle the pole. The
perky blue flowers always seem to offer such a cheerful hello to everyone
passing by.
There’s one sure sign of spring that I saved for last -
puddles (in my case, puddles left from the huge snowdrifts in our back yard). I
like to take Willie outside every day for some fresh air and exercise. Luckily
he had on his boots the day he discovered puddles. How he loved them! I wish
I’d had my camera to capture the pure delight on his face. He sloshed and
splashed to this heart’s content. I succeeded in getting him to keep his hands
out of the water, but his boots are still muddy up to Snoopy’s neck.
I’m sure the tri-state area (and the whole Midwest) is ready
for spring. I’ve already begun collecting travel brochures to plan a vacation
and looking through my fabric remnants for material for shorts for Willie.
After our long, cold winter, let’s get out and celebrate
this spring!
