The last day of winter.

Only a few snow piles and banks remain from the true New England winter we have just enjoyed. The brown grass from last fall, the bare branches of trees soon to bud, and the remnants of my winter pots are all that give color to an otherwise gray landscape. Yet I want to remember this past winter especially. We got snow before fall left us, and it seemed to snow all the way through the 90+ days, giving us that magical blanket of white. Many days were too bitter cold to venture out, but when the mercury rose a bit, I took a couple occasions to don my snowshoes and trudge through the wooded “trails” and even fall to make a snow angel or two. My two favorite travel companions and I did not head south to warmer weather, so we kept the fireplaces glowing and caught up on chores that we would typically push off for another day when we weren’t having fun in the sun. I ordered my seeds on time and tended to indoor transplants. I did some reading curled up in a blanket, and began a habit of drinking hot water with lemon. And, of course, celebrated abundantly the Christmas holiday and my birthday. I simply survived this beautiful winter because right in the middle, literally, my beloved mother passed away, took her last breath and stopped me in my tracks to hoping for more. More time with her, more visits with her around the pond when the swans will return, more time to welcome the robins back together, one more time to hang her mother’s day planter, one more walk in the spring air and say hello to the forsythia she loved so much, one more time to help her with her spring cleaning, one more time to eat harvested peas I planted in March. She was and is such a beautiful soul. So, as I say goodbye to winter, and soon hello to spring, I know she will be with me as I turn my soil, and make soup from the harvest, and greet the birds, and…it will be all new. Mom, I love you xo