"First Breath of Spring" blossoms covered by the last icy breath of winter.

 

H left for the beach for three days, last week, with the Mehaleks. They had a great time. The air was in the 70s, but of course the ocean was much colder. I think that's the first time he's ever left us for days. I cried when they drove away. Then we all had a wonderful weekend--me and R hanging in Girl Town. But we missed H and it was so good to have him home. Hard to believe, sitting here looking at a world covered in ice, they were on the beach having fun a week ago. 

 

The world is covered in ice but the roads were strangely clear this morning at 4:30. So I went off to work. There is a huge old overgrown shrub that shades part of the cow lane down to the dairy parlor. Each of its several thousand branches were sparkling, back-lit by the light over the parlor doors this morning. It was, otherwise, very dark outside. I opened the lane and sent the cows down and almost each one had to pause by the icy shrub and lick a branch. They looked like middle schoolers lollygagging on their way to class. I can't think of an image more evocative of this part of the country than stately old Loblolly Pines with thick rain-soaked black trunks and bright green needles limned with ice. The farm was gorgeous today. Be that as it may, the boss and I got morning chores done as fast as possible and called it quits just to get back inside for hot coffee to warm our hands.