A (Small) Break from Winter

This has not been the prettiest of winters. I usually post pictures of snow and ice and bare trees, but this winter is more about mud and gray days, clouds and rain. We did have some nights near or below zero, and some pretty cold days too, but overall it's been much milder than predicted. Of course, we still have plenty of time for "snow on snow on snow," and for the icy wind to make moan, to quote a favorite poem by Christina Rosetti.

I must admit I miss the "real" winter. I like being snug inside, seeing cardinals bright against white, to hear the wind howl while I sip coffee by the fire. Right about this time of the year, though, I start thinking about spring, and gardens and flowers. The seed catalogs have come and I'll be placing orders pretty soon. I even have a place in mind for some early planting of lettuce.

And then the grocery store brought out the blooms! They have early forced bulbs every year but this year for some reason the price is lower than I can ever remember.

$3.33 for a pot of blooming tulips? Really?

And $.99 for a pot of perfectly pretty primroses?

Marked down bouquets?

I cannot resist. There is nothing that brightens a dull day (boy, I am full of alliteration, aren't I?) like fresh flowers, even if they've been encouraged to bloom in an artificial environment.

I'll take 'em.



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