The Magical Wonders of the Outside Experience

This winter was spent in the jungle of my living room, with doors closed to other areas of the house, curtains cloaking the gray outside, and a New Mexican-flavored down comforter on top of my body. Which is to say I did not leave and barely moved because I did not like leaving or moving and because I did not remember how the cold could be so cruel.

But now, amazing.

Springtime (fingers crossed it lasts until June) in Kentucky is like breathing air again after being dead for a while. I love that the non-Gism trees are just getting buds on them so that I can watch the exposed squirrels playing on the naked branches and see where the birds are making their nests. You can't see that in the summer because of all the leaves.
I love that one day there's nothing out by the front porch and the next we've got bright red tulips and fluffy pink hyacinths. It's like a little surprise party, thrown and decorated by Mother Nature.
I've wandered into no fewer than six trees trying to get a closer look at their blooms. I just love the contrast of the cold, dark bark against the delicate, bright blooms and the soft blue sky... And that I wear glasses or else I'd be really embarrassed that, yeah, I'm blind by stabbing myself in the eye with a tree branch that was still attached to a tree.
It's true that every day in California is like this time of year in Kentucky, but when you factor in the thrill of change, Kentucky is winning. At springtime anyway.