Oh, this is just too marvelous NOT to share! Hello Winter Storm Zephyr!

Oh, this is just too marvelous NOT to share!  Remember when I last posted that spring in the foothills of Colorado is a wondrous thing?  Oooh-boy, have we got a WONDROUS spring day today!

YES!! Mother Nature is having some fun with us today!!

Welcome Winter Storm Zephyr!  

We desperately needed some moisture and last week we finally got our rain--but, of course it came packaged in massive scary thunderstorms with several tornado warnings.  But, rain is rain and it was wonderful!

We woke to rain mixing with snow today and for my walk with Molly (my Golden Retriever) we had the trail to ourselves.  No small wonder at that.  When we first departed the house it was more rain than snow and the fat heavy drops landed in the pond with mini-explosions of water, sending ripples to intersect with a pond alive with ripples.

 

The Poudre River Trail was tranquil and quiet as we walked.  

As we scooted down the muddy path to the Poudre River I was surprised to see it flowing higher and faster than just a couple of days ago.

   

The snow-rain mixture was beginning to lean more towards snow at this point, which was good since my waterproof boots were waterlogged and my down gloves soggy and cold.

 But, I was rewarded by continuing to walk as through the foggy mist rising from the reservoir I was glad to see the Canadian Geese with their quickly growing goslings.

  

As I neared home I was reminded that yesterday our crab apple tree was rich with white blossoms and today it was white with icy snow!

Saturday

Today

And, as I recall from my previous post just a few sunny days ago, I urged you to take a moment to stop and smell the lilacs as we don't know how many lilac seasons we're granted in each lifetime.  So, I did that just that today--after knocking off some snow first!

So, from my west deck, I am enjoying a perfect Mother's Day and all the moisture Winter Storm Zephyr shares on its way east. That it's coming as an all-day snow storm is a gift only Mother Nature could devise!

Welcome spring!

Ah, SPRING in the foothills of Colorado is a wondrous thing! 

As each piece of the world has its unique tribute to the relinquishment of winter to the embrace of spring, here in the almost-high country it is its own celebration.

Last year, our meager precious moisture arrived not in winter but in April and May.  Consequently, those determined daffodils tried to emerge with each warming spell, only to get dumped on with snow again and again.  Those poor veterans that somehow survived to raise their mashed and dwarfed golden trumpets were victorious--one of spring's tiny triumphs that year.

This year, we received some of our cherished precipitation during our winter months and had a winter worthy of a fine coat and warm boots.  (You can tell, no doubt, that I LOVE winter!)  This year those daffodils, no doubt leary of popping up too soon, had little to contend with in the form of snow, ice, slush or other forms of early spring water.  In fact, I'm still waiting for spring's first rain, the kind that doesn't freeze into a scary sheet of ice on the front sidewalk, but rather fills the air with the fragrant smell of RAIN!

Those perky bright daffodils, secure with the reserves found in a bulb, have been happily swaying in the recent winds, proclaiming to all that spring once again is firmly in charge.  Pink and purple tulips have now joined the parade and a couple of days ago our crab apple tree decided, why not?

   It is lush, fragrant, opulent in its covering of blossoms.  I can't resist stopping in my chores throughout the day just to bury my face in its blossoms.  With each gust of wind (and, it's been rather gusty lately) the petals release and briefly experience that moment of defying gravity!  High they fly, maybe catching an extra swoosh of wind for a brief suspension before falling, gently, like snowflakes in a snow globe.  Across the greening lawn they scatter, reminding me of petals awaiting the step of a bride.

My neighbor's lilac bushes are blooming as well and I confess that in all the world, to me there is no perfume like that of spring lilacs.  I simply can't resist meandering over just to breath in deeply, close my eyes and savor the season's brief Lilac Time.  There's only one a year and it emerges and disappears so quickly that even if one has the best of intentions to go smell the lilacs, if one misses the moment one must endure a bunch of seasons before the fleeting opportunity returns.

So, here's my message today, Go, smell the lilacs.  Breath in the fragrance of spring and release winter to seasons past.