Signs of Spring

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, how I love spring! For north Texas, this winter has seemed remarkably long, dark, and cold. Maybe this was because I was shut in my upstairs office writing madly for what seemed like endless days and weeks. Maybe it was because we didn't have our usual little spikes of warm days (usually we have at least one winter day when we can bathe the dogs outside, but not this year.) And last week we had our hardest freeze yet, down in the teens, and the plants on my front porch that I had been babying all winter succumbed, even covered with three layers of blankets.

Debs' Japanese maple

At any rate, I am so glad to see the sun. There are delicate little pink buds on our Japanese maples, pale green leaves are unfurling at the base of the hydrangeas, the birds are waking me at dawn, and the last few days I've been hearing a migratory warbler. Yesterday I put out the hummingbird feeders, and a few days ago I bought the spring Boston ferns for the sun porch, hoping they will inspire me to clean my downstairs desk, abandoned for the winter. This week it may be warm enough to think about buying the ferns for the deck and the porch. And maybe, just maybe, uncovering the grill!

And as this year spring is coinciding with the finishing of one book and the starting of another, I'm feeling an almost unmanageable urge to SPRING CLEAN! Things get so neglected when I'm writing. Every cabinet and shelf and closet and dusty corner needs a proper clean and sort. And there are outside projects, too. The flowerbeds need mulching, the pots on porch and deck and patio need replanting. The house needs power washing (not my job!), the windows need cleaning (ditto.)

Debs' hydrangea

So where to start on all these things? Or maybe it would be nice just to sit in the sun and read a book...

What about you, dear REDS? Are you bursting with spring energy (even if you can't quite see spring yet?)

RHYS BOWEN: Here in Arizona it has been unnaturally cold and wet (for us. If it drops to 50 degrees we freeze. I know. We are wimps). But it has meant I haven't been able to swim as much as I like. Also I have been so incredibly busy that the months here have just flown by. I had to finish a new stand-alone, do the promo for The Victory Garden when it came out at the end of February--oh, and we bought a new house and MOVED. The new house looked perfect in every way--new counters, cabinets, bathrooms, paint, windows, floors etc etc.  So why is it that I asked John whether we had now subscribed to the handyman of the week club? The plumber/electrician/garage door man/other electrician for outdoor lights/landscaper to remove tree/man to deliver rocks for garden/other handyman to put in towel rails and hang drapes. So please don't talk to me about spring cleaning! We are unpacked, the house looks perfect, we had a housewarming party and that's all the cleaning I am prepared to do. Of course we drive back to California at the end of the month and the house there will have been untouched for 3 months and need a good clean. Our garden will need a good weeding. Luckily there are Miriam and Francisco to do those!   But Debs, in preparation for moving I did weed out and donate an awful lot of stuff! Does that count?


DEBS: Absolutely, Rhys! I think we should all move at least every ten years, just to get rid of stuff. And we've been in our house, gulp, almost twenty-five...

LUCY BURDETTE: I'm not complaining you understand, but it's been HOT in Key West this winter. So that means something different about spring--it's going to get hotter! That said, the trees and tropical flowers are in full bloom and beautiful. And I've discovered new allergies, including one to the flowering of mango trees. Who knew? I'd love to spring clean Debs--it's the most satisfying endeavor. However, I am in a madly writing phase, so contenting myself with using up what's in the freezer!

HALLIE EPHRON: On my way home from the supermarket yesterday I saw the FIRST sign of spring: flowering witch hazel. Though I've seen a few snow drops poking their wary heads up before they got buried in the last blizzard. It really is starting to feel like spring.

Here in New England, we had the weirdest winter. NO SNOW until practically March, and then 2 feet. We should have a spectacular though late spring with all the pent up energy in plants ready to burst as soon as it's warmer. Which should be tomorrow. Or the next day. Or maybe the day after that. 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Yeah, I got nothin'. It's mud season up here in Maine, that special time of the year when the ice and snow melt under the strong March sun and then refreeze when it drops down to 10 degrees a night. My unpaved driveway is full of ruts and puddles and potholes big enough to swim in appear daily on the surrounding roads.  I heard a weird creaking sound outside my window Saturday morning. Turns out it was bird song! It's been so long I had forgotten when our little feathered friends sound like.

Debs' forsythia

JENN McKINLAY: I'm in AZ with Rhys and this winter has been unreasonably dreary. That being said, the past few days have been marvelous! I've spent most of my time outside, hiding from my people who all seem to have come down with some flu bug that I am determined to miss out on. No FOMO, here, I assure you. I have house projects bursting out of my head, so yes, I am go go go on spring cleaning, painting, gardening, tiling, roofing, you name it! Hurrah, spring has sprung!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I am on a huge throw-stuff-away kick. I gave Jonathan two big green bags and said--fill these up for Goodwill.  I am wondering what the best way to get rid of two sets of dishes is. I am going to open the upstairs closet, close my eyes, and donate every single thing.  If I don't even know what's there, I won't know what's gone.
I am also going to do away with every towel and washcloth and sheet that's not perfect.
And I took nine boxes of books to the library.
In other news: our snowdrops are flourishing! And it's almost time for the ducks.
And. I hope I'm right on this. I took my winter coat to the cleaners.

DEBS: Oh, Hank, that's what I want to do, too! But I have to take a deep breath and tell myself "One little thing at a time." 

READERS, is it SPRING yet where you are? Tell us what you most look forward to! (When it finally arrives.)