What a difference a week makes!

As you can see... spring is here! And while it's cool and more cloudy than we like, we are seeing definite signs of the change. Our apple tree in the front yard is ready to burst into pink, and out at the vineyard the vines are trimmed and ready to start anew. In fact, the sap is rising in the vines... which if you look carefully, you can see in one of the shots.
I went a little crazy shooting photos of vines on Sunday. I love the texture to the wood and how interesting it looks under different lighting conditions. So here are the definitive signs of the new season in my world.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Today is the first day of Spring... really! And yes, Ed & I are home enjoying our first snow day of the now past winter season! Gotta love Missouri! Strange and exciting weather. And only this state would let approx. 1.5" of snow result in area wide school closings. Not that I am complaining, mind you; it's wonderful to get the gift of a Tuesday all your very own! But when you see how much snow actually was on the ground, you have to chuckle. So put your feet up, keep the fireplace blazing, it's a SNOW DAY! It's good to be a teacher!

Snip, snip, trim trim trim

Spent all of this weekend at our vineyard giving 1200 vines a "haircut" so to speak. Ahhhh.... spring! Time to trim all the vines in a weird sort of annual ritual that involves cutting away about 75% of what they grew last summer. People drive past and look at us hacking away at our vines... thinking, "What are they doing?! Are they trying to kill that vineyard, or what???!!" But we do it... every spring. And they grow... every summer. In a way, it's a nice cycle... one you can count on. And that's why I love it.
But for right now, it's time to go soak my right hand... I have a monstrous case of "clipper's cramp!" :-)

My students amaze me!

Okay, it's time to admit something I don't say very often.... my students amaze me! Tonight I spent 2 blissful hours reading their thoughts on the English Romantic poet John Keats. They were grappling with some pretty huge ideas like life, death, unrealized potential, and whether or not poet's could detach themselves from their personal pain and just immerse themselves in their poetry. Big ideas!!! And amazingly, they did it... and they did it beautifully! They make me feel so hopeful when that happens. I must admit there are times in this technological era in which we find ourselves, that I worry about whether or not anyone will continue to contemplate Keats' words, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty-that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." But every once in awhile, my students give me cause to marvel... and for a moment, I know the words will live on.

Spring on the Brain

It's March... so Spring can't be too far away, can it? Must admit to having the early stages of Spring fever.... so I decided to post a crocus. I know it's a bit early, but all my bulbs are up at least 2 inches in the garden. If it snows now, it won't be good for them!
Got my copy of "Pride and Prejudice" this week.... I love that movie. Watched it twice already. I was hoping that it might garner an Oscar for Keira K. but no such luck. However, it will always rank as one of my top picks to watch!

Think Spring!